7 Best Books About Medical Scribes
The best scribes are trained not just in typing and templates — but in understanding narrative, structure, accuracy, and what not to document. The books below span memoirs, research-based analysis, and workflow guides to help new and veteran scribes sharpen their mental models.
1. The Medical Scribe Handbook by Kyle A. Kingsley, MD
This remains the industry standard for onboarding. It covers HPI templates, common abbreviations, legal red flags, and workflow dynamics across specialties.
| Title | The Medical Scribe Handbook |
| Author | Kyle A. Kingsley, MD |
| Publisher | MedInfo, Inc. |
| Where to Buy | Amazon |
| Focus | Templates, terminology, legal safety, scribe workflows |
2. Charting Made Incredibly Easy! by Springhouse
Though designed for nurses, this guide breaks down SOAP formatting, EHR logic, and documentation do’s/don’ts in a format every scribe should study.
| Title | Charting Made Incredibly Easy! |
| Publisher | Wolters Kluwer |
| Where to Buy | Amazon |
| Focus | SOAP structure, EMR inputs, note clarity |
3. When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi
A neurosurgeon’s memoir that offers emotional insight into documentation, mortality, and note-taking from both sides — physician and patient.
| Title | When Breath Becomes Air |
| Author | Paul Kalanithi |
| Where to Buy | Amazon |
| Focus | Life, death, and meaning through a dual lens — physician and patient |
4. The Shift by Theresa Brown
This day-in-the-life nurse memoir showcases how precise documentation protects patients — and staff. It’s also an informal blueprint for minute-by-minute scribe workflow.
| Title | The Shift |
| Author | Theresa Brown |
| Where to Buy | Amazon |
| Focus | Real-time documentation through a nurse’s eyes |
5. The Real Doctor Will See You Shortly by Matt McCarthy
This chaotic internship memoir is loaded with clinical situations where a scribe would have been invaluable. Hilarious and brutally honest about workflow overload.
| Title | The Real Doctor Will See You Shortly |
| Author | Matt McCarthy |
| Where to Buy | Amazon |
| Focus | Memoir-style view of chaos, charts, and overwork |
6. Medical Charting Demystified by James Keogh
Perfect for new scribes. Explains structured vs. narrative documentation, SOAP vs. DAP notes, and how to maintain medical-legal clarity.
| Title | Medical Charting Demystified |
| Author | James Keogh |
| Where to Buy | Amazon |
| Focus | Chart logic, common mistakes, clarity tips |
7. Critical Care by Theresa Brown
Another Brown classic, this one focuses on oncology nursing and ICU-level documentation. Ideal for scribes preparing to work in fast-paced, emotionally loaded departments.
| Title | Critical Care |
| Author | Theresa Brown |
| Where to Buy | Amazon |
| Focus | Oncology care, emotional charting, ICU documentation |
