Best Nursing Book Bag

miss arron · Jul 2, 2007

i've got a plain old backpack (well a nice backpack w/ comfy padded straps and lots of compartments)... but my plan is to keep my books in my car in a crate and run out to my car to switch out books as needed

maurabartley · Jul 2, 2007

I'm not in NS, yet, but there are some on allnurses that have had their books "debound" at Staples or Office Max, etc and have three holes drilled into the pages. They keep the books in 3 ring binders and only take the sections they need to class in a smaller binder. I'm thinking that is the way to go for me. Just a thought...

MB37 · Jul 2, 2007

We don't need to take our books to class (at least not this semster), although some people highlight along to the lecture instead of taking notes. I just carry a regular 4 year old backpack with my notebooks and one textbook to read at lunch - whatever is most urgent to get done that day. We need to bring a (paperback) drug guide to clinicals and I would imagine a book to lab, but I haven't started those yet (our 1st semester is pharm/patho/ethical+legal). Those backpacks are big bucks for my budget at least, so I'm not buying one unless they require us to bring our textbooks to class every day.

Megsd, BSN, RN · Jul 2, 2007

I never take my books to class unless I absolutely have to, which is usually pretty rare. So I use a regular backpack with my binder, a spiral notebook and lots of pens and highlighters. I find it's too hard for me to follow along in the notes (which are almost always powerpoint anymore) AND in the book, so I leave the heaviest things at home!

lexcourben · Jul 3, 2007

I started out with a backpack but then we started using more of our books during lecture and skills class. I ended up getting a rolling scrapbook tote. It has lots of pockets and I can adjust the dividers inside as needed. The bonus was getting it for 40% off at Michael's using their coupon.

marilynmom, LPN, NP · Jul 3, 2007

I think rolling backpacks are a PITA. I just use a regular backpack. I only take maybe 2 books to class a day anyways along with my notebook and powerpoints.

Yes, we have a lot of big HEAVY textbooks and reference books, but you don't need to haul them all to class. That is another reason why I bought my Palm TX---I can bring all my reference books with me (Davis, Tabers, etc) easily.

If you haven't started nursing school I would just wait till after you first week or two are over before you spend money on anything expensive (some people really spend a lot on their backpacks, etc), that way you can see how your classes are set up and what you really do need to bring to class. Some of my instructors don't go by the book at all, some go right out of it.

kasia2 · Jul 3, 2007

I got my book list for the fall and well I don't think they'll allow a wagon in class for my books - lol. So I figure I have to get a rolling one. Which is the best on the market? I need something with A LOT of compartments. For those that don't use a rolling one, what do you use? Good Bad Indifferent?

Hello

I bought a black and pink bookbag on wheels at Walmart for $22, Im tired of carrying all those books in my hand or on my back, good luck.

ZooMommyRN, ADN, RN · Jul 3, 2007

I have a jansport rolling bag that I use for med/surg because that is one huge book plus we have our peds text, my binder with notes, usually my lunch or snacks, purse stuff crammed in the front, I live out of it on those days lol for other classes like chem & stats I used a regular back pack, another thing that helped me stay organized, if I have more than 2 classes I use a separate bag for each class to keep from mixing things up

Galore · Jul 3, 2007

I just use my regular old Jansport. All my teachers have us print out their Powerpoint lecture notes so I just bring a binder with all of those to class. The only books we're occasionally required to bring are the pocket sized reference ones. There are some books that were 'required reading' which I haven't even opened or use very seldomly, let alone haul to class every day.