Previous edition books?

Nursing Students General Students

Published

Specializes in New Critical care NP, Critical care, Med-surg, LTC.

I have the opportunity to buy the books for my nursing coursework at a substantial discount from someone that graduated last year. The books are all the previous edition from the ones on the semester course list. Is it absolutely necessary to have the latest edition? I'll definitely buy the most recent book relating to medications, but some seem like things that shouldn't be out of date since 2007. Any feedback welcome.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

GO FOR IT! I foolishly wasted hundreds of dollars on brand new books every semester because I was afraid the older books would have some glaringly wrong thing in there that would screw me up on a test. Then I finally realized that was ridiculous and bought a used book, older edition book this semester. No difference, except the price. I even have a 2-year-old drug book (like, THE drug book, that I use every single clinical day and for every care plan) and its never been wrong.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

For all intents and purposes the books are the same. Go ahead and save the money. And for that matter, my drug book is five years old and it serves me quite well on the job. I only replace my drug book every five to ten years. If I need up to date info, I look it up on the internet. Same can be done for any subject contained in those textbooks.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Not really especially if the main bulk of the information comes from your professors powerpoints!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I have the opportunity to buy the books for my nursing coursework at a substantial discount from someone that graduated last year. The books are all the previous edition from the ones on the semester course list. Is it absolutely necessary to have the latest edition? I'll definitely buy the most recent book relating to medications, but some seem like things that shouldn't be out of date since 2007. Any feedback welcome.

2007 editions of stuff like Fundamentals and Med Surg, etc are more than fine.

However, watch out for the insidious "Online Bundle". Many programs are buying (having you buy) a bunch of online access with your nursing textbooks. The publishers trick the nursing programs into bundling the access with the latest version of the textbooks. They then make it difficult to buy the online component separately or charge a lot for it or both.

So if you buy used books, you don't get the online access. My program's instructors totally fell for this scam.

My advice is to buy the used books, but be proactive in asking your instructors for what, if any, additional online material you are required to purchase and be prepared to jump through some hoops and pay some substantial costs. Some publishers may claim, "the online part is only available with purchase of a new textbook."

This argument falls thin when instructors are fooled into making part of the "new textbook online component" a required part of the cirriculum.

My opinions here are biased by my horrible experience with the assmonkeys at Evolve (our school's online site of choice). I bought the dang new textbooks with all the access and their site is still horrible.

Good luck!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in CCU.

I can tell you that I got through my whole nursing program without having to ever buy the newest edition of the required texts. I saved hundreds of dollars and I got by just as well as those with the current editions. Only inconvenience is the page numbers dont correspond but the content was always easy to find and I'd mark it and put that page number down instead. I'll always buy older editions

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU.

If your school has an intra-library loan system, you may even be able to check out an older edition and just keep renewing it. Textbooks at zero cost.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I was just going to ask the same question regarding previous edition textbooks. Thanks everyone!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Cardiology.

I've taken all my "other" nursing classes (pretty much all my other credits EXCEPT nursing 1, 2,3,4) and have yet to use a current edition. I did ask all my teachers first, and only one said she wasn't sure if I should use an older edition. I did it anyway, and I got a 100% in the class. For the one class where online access was somewhat necessary, the prof had saved the online chapter of the book as a PDF. And if I pay $4 for my A&P book and then have to pay $35 for (non-required but helpful) online access (actual numbers from this semester) that is still a huge bargain over the $115 the new book costs.

I personally would go for it, but I also just use alibris.com because it is probably even much, much cheaper there.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I have a friend in the publishing biz and she advises me that companies will make some very slight changes (read not a substantive change or two) just so they can release a "new" edition for all to us to pay for!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in SDU, Tele.

I think international editions are pretty awesome too, if you can find them.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I think international editions are pretty awesome too, if you can find them.

Hey, I was just going to ask what the difference between North American and International Editions were? Thanks for mentioning this, you jogged my memory!!! :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment