7 Online Resources for Healthcare Students

Staff Writer
Apr 26, 2022

We do our best to make life at Joyce a welcoming study environment. Our instructors will guide you through classes, you’ll have more than a few textbooks to read through, and even your fellow students can be a source of knowledge. But there’s an even bigger world of healthcare information out there waiting to be explored. These are some of the best websites for students and professionals, covering everything from medical research to the NCLEX to what’s going on in the wider world of healthcare.

1. The Merck Manuals

Merck is an institution in the medical reference world. The manuals have been around in some form or another since 1899, when they started as a reference for pharmacists. Since then, the manuals have grown into a comprehensive medical guide for both patients and professionals, and are now available for free online. The site is a wealth of information about drugs, procedures, medical topics, and nearly everything else in the realm of healthcare.

2. PubMed

PubMed should be your first stop if you need to roll up your sleeves and get into the nitty-gritty of medical literature. The site is publicly funded and a project of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, so it’s free to use. Whether you need to know the latest research or are just curious about what’s happening in certain areas of study, PubMed can help you out.

3. National Guideline Clearinghouse

Being a healthcare professional isn’t just about knowing science and medicine; it’s also about knowing processes. How you practice it can be just as important as what you actually do. The National Guideline Clearinghouse is a project of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), and archives specific guidelines and best practices for different organizations and specializations. If you need to know how a particular kind of institution or caregiver is supposed to do things, head there.

Related resource: 5 Ways to Make Studying Less of a Chore

4. Medscape

Like the sites above, Medscape has plenty of technical medical information. But it’s also a useful online news source for healthcare professionals. Their coverage includes plenty of details about diseases, drugs, and treatment. They also touch on the state of the industry and how medical professionals live their daily lives.

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5. allnurses.com

There are certain challenges, issues, and quirks that only nurses face. Allnurses.com is a clearinghouse for all things nurse-related. They’ve got plenty of articles, but more importantly the site is a community with over half a million members who all share in the experience of nursing. What’s more, they have a section specifically for nursing students.

Related resource: 6 Things to Keep in Mind While Studying for Finals

6. NCLEX-RN Practice Questions

If you’re studying to be an RN, the NCLEX is probably on your mind pretty often. The test is a monumental undertaking, and passing it is an achievement to be proud of. Given all that, you definitely don’t want to go into the test cold. At Joyce, we’ll put you through an NCLEX review course, but more practice is always good. Khan Academy offers a solid archive of past NCLEX questions that you can use to test yourself or try to stump your classmates.

Related resource: Passing the Licensure Exam: An NCLEX Study Plan

7. Picmonic

Studying healthcare means studying healthcare terminology. There’s a lot of it, and it’s a big undertaking for any student. Keeping hundreds of terms in your head pertaining to anatomy, physiology, and hospital administration is a challenge. In a lot of ways, you really are learning a new language. Picmonic makes that language-learning process easier by teaching you medical terminology with fun, memorable illustrations. Their courses can be tailored to your path of study, too. So whether you want to become an RN or MA, they’ll have an array of lessons that’s right for you, with terms broken down into easy-to-navigate subcategories.

Are you studying for the NCLEX? Download our free e-book guide: “Proven Strategies to Conquer the NCLEX.” It’s full of expert tips and strategies that will help you ace the exam so you can begin a rewarding nursing career as soon as possible. Happy studying!