Does anyone get their books unbound?

Nursing Students General Students

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Specializes in Peds; Cardiac, NICU, PACU.

Hi All,

I am looking forward to starting NS in a few weeks (aug 23). I went to the bookstore at school and the books are huge!:eek: A lady told me she has her books unbound at OfficeMax and just carries around the chapter that she is working on and this save having to lug the books around. Has anyone else done this? It sounds like a good idea and I dont plan to sell my books back so it may be an option. Just wanted to know what you guys think?

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I considered this, but after the semester is over I'd like to have my book intact. Do you know if they can rebind them or not? If they could I would def. do it! We have 14 books this semester!

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I considered this, but after the semester is over I'd like to have my book intact. Do you know if they can rebind them or not? If they could I would def. do it! We have 14 books this semester!

Good question. I'm considering this as well, but want the books intact after....

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That's a great idea. I might do that. Especially with some of the skill based books I'd love to have just the sections I need at clinical instead of lugging the 70 pound book along. ;) lol

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Specializes in ED.

I have a med surg book that has about 2000 pages and weighs about 10lbs, no lie, that we used for one class already and I will be using for 2 more later on. A lot of people in my school debind this book and have whats needed for the 3 courses rebound separately for each course. I had my book cut (the spine is cut off only) at Kinkos, and then I took the cut book home to get what I need separated and put together how I want them. Then I am going to bring them back to rebind. Basically, they're going to put a plastic cover front and back and spiral bind the book together. This is $5 per book.

The spiral binding is like this:

presentation_cp.jpg

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Specializes in Pediatric Critical Care.

Books arnt meant to be destroyed!

I could NEVER do that to a book.. EVER.. :twocents:

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Specializes in critical care nursing, ED, education.

I had my skills book cut and spiral bound. Not to make it lighter, but to make it easier to use. I also did this to my care plan book. I don't think I could ever do it to the big one. (you know that big 2-3 semesters worth of med surg text book) the pages in mine are super thin and I can't imagine it would hold up very well.

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Specializes in OB.

Unfortunately they do not hold up well IMO. Some of the books we are required to buy new from the bookstore are now made unbound to "save money". Our microbiology book was given to us in 3 hole punch leaf paper form. It was horrible. The book was HUGE and the papers just went all over!

I bought some large rings to try and keep it together at least when it was at home, because I could not find a binder big enough to hold the whole book. The pages were so thin that even the rings were too much for it. I never used the book because of it. I studied from the one in the library and the science department.

The idea of unbinding the books and then having them rebound smaller is intriguing though.

Good Luck to All!

:stdnrsrck:

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It sounds like an good idea, but yeah, three ring binders seem to rip the holes and things get all messed up after that.

Too bad though, I would love to carry less weight.

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Specializes in ED.

I think the spiral binding is more secure. The pages of my med surg book are thin, and no one in my school who has made their big book into smaller books has had any issues. It seems the binders tend to rip the pages no matter what though. My lecture notes are always tearing at the holes.

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Specializes in student; help!.
Books arnt meant to be destroyed!

I could NEVER do that to a book.. EVER.. :twocents:

I couldn't love books more, and I couldn't disagree more. Books are to be USED. If it makes it easier, then rebinding is a great idea. I've had two done and might do another, but it's hard to figure where to make the divisions since it's not arranged by unit. I am VERY happy with my books rebound by unit. I have the TOC, appendices, and indices all done separately, as well. then I just bring those and the current unit and I should be good to go. If I need to read over a shoulder for a little bit, I'm not worried.

I also have a Kindle. Does that make me somehow less of a book lover? I don't think so. I just don't happen to think that the way a publisher decides to publish a book is necessarily the way it has to remain.

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Specializes in student; help!.

I've always liked to pu reinforcment tabs over the holes of handouts. I wouldn't do that for a book because of the cost and time, though they do have strips of tape that would serve the same purpose.

Spiral for sure is a better route for redoing the books.

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