The rolling backpack debate

[winterlights08]

I need to be convinced. I had my second day of my second semester and I physically cannot afford to carry around this backpack much longer. I have a LL Bean bag that I splurged on because I thought it would be comfortable. All it does in jab in my sides and give me the look of kyphosis! I had classes during the summer and I dealt with it because I really only needed one textbook. I have six classes now over three days, and I have to bring my laptop everyday. I know I don't need to bring all my books, and really I will only bring books for two of my classes (Patho and Med-Surg), which we were told we'd need to bring. I have to walk about 1/4 mile from the parking lot (I think that's a good estimate) and I don't really have much time (or the inclination) to switch books between classes.

I guess what's stopping me, is that I have classes with 80+ people and I haven't seen one wheelie bag. 95% of my classmates are young, and I'm 35. I already feel a touch out of place and I know it doesn't matter what they think...but how in the world are they carrying this stuff around without walking all hunched over? Is it just me being "older" and out of shape? All I had today was two notebooks, laptop, and my fundamental text and it's killing my back. I guess I could arrange to trade bringing in books with a classmate, but I'd still be stuck bringing them sometimes.

So should I just risk being the oddball for my comfort and to save my back? Maybe I'll start a trend at my school .

[libby11]

they see me rollin'

I always roll up to school with my rolling backpack if I have to carry more than 1 book at a time. (we got them from school with nursing 'supplies & goodies,' which were mostly skills check-off materials :)

[Stephalump]

I don't bring my books to class, so I just have a shoulder bag for my notebooks. I probably will be investing in a rolling bag for clincals and studying other places than home, though. Since I'm in an integrated program our info comes from a combo of our books and I can't imagine trying to fit my fundamentals book into a regular backpack, much less throwing in med-surg and maternal/child.

[NsugaBuga]

I'm 'young' and I had a rolling backpack (that I wouldnt dare put on my back) every single day going to class.

I'd say you cant depend on somebody else for anything that comes to school. What if they dont come to class one day, or (insert excuse/reason here.)

I also like to hilite and put little postit notes in my textbooks so thats another reason why I wouldnt not bring my textbooks to class.

[CCua]

Summer before Nursing school, I (21yrs) was very certain I didn't need a rolling bag since I would just bring my laptop (got the Ebook), school supplies and other necessary stuff that I need.

3 weeks into the program, today, I finally gave in to buy one due to a start of back pain from carrying my huge backpack (Had all the supplies listed on top AND my lunch inside it.) Figured saving my back is way more important than letting what people might think get to me.

So far, all my professors are using a rolling bag. In my group of ten, one had a rolling backpack from the start, my friend and I bought one today and another friend is planning on buying one. So 4/10 of us in my group will have a rolling bag :)

[hlj123]

Shahoo,,,where did you have your spines cut? I asked at Staples and they said they wouldn't cut a textbook...

[blueyesue]

I went to four different office supply stores and Fed Ex. All of which debind books. However, none of them would touch the large nursing texts. They told me that they are too big and they would damage the machine.

[missk88]

Definitely get one, you're going to get plenty of abuse to your back as a nurse, save it while you still can! Honestly, who cares if you are the only one, your back and health are far more important than their opinions! I honestly never bring my books to class, just my notes. That's just me, though, the professors never have us use our books in class so I don't see a point in lugging them. If they did expect me to bring them I would most definitely have a rolling back pack! Just carrying my books from the book store to the car was torcher, I couldn't imagine walking the 20 minutes it takes to get to my school with those books. Ouch!

[CT Pixie, BSN, RN]

A razor blade works well if you can't find a place to debind them. I have a friend who 'blades' them as we move onto new chapters. It would take way too long to try and do the whole book at once.

I never bring my book to class (LPN to RN) but while attending my LPN schooling I used a wheelie, we needed to have our books with us and there was no way I was going to run back and forth to my car to switch one book for another between classes.

[momtojosh]

i use one and i love it!...used the same one for LPN school..being a nurse now i know what the back goes thru in a shift

[Clovery]

I'm in my last semester and I finally had to cave in and get a roller last month. Every other class I've had, the instructors said in the syllabus "bring your text to class" but then we never used it, so I would just stop bringing it and write down any referenced page numbers. But my current instructor is adamant that we have our 2000 page text with us, as well as our study guide and syllabus. When she says go to this page, she waits until everyone does it. She'll call you out and ask you where your book is if you don't. Sadly no e-book was available - I always have my laptop in class so that would have been nice.

My mom ended up having the perfect thing and let me borrow it. It's a rolling carry-on bag shaped like a fat briefcase which has a laptop pocket and room for books. I still feel like such a dork! Mostly everyone else uses one too, though, even the youngest students. But in previous semesters as I would trip over their rollers when trying to get to my seat or be unable to get past a herd of slow-moving nursing students with rollers in the hallway, I would say "I'm never going to use one of those awful things!" As many others have said, it's better than a back/shoulder injury.

[Mrs2016]

I know this is an old thread, but I was looking for an already asked question on this subject since I'm starting school in 2 days!!! Thank you crazed_NS because of your link, I did ended up buying the High Sierra Power glide and it is fabulous! Also it's discounted as I write this post at 49.99, plus 15% off. What a deal, but like I said as of right now this is the price. Anyone one on the fence to buy a wheelie backpack, go for it. It doubles as a regular backpack so you can still use it as such if you get cold feet rolling it in

http://www.ebags.com/product/high-si...uctid=10178185

[studentnursemon86]

This popped up on my feed. I got the High Sierra also. Same price. I got all black because it looked professional to me. I can bring it to class and clinicals :)