Do you bring your medical dictionary with you to school?

Nursing Students LPN/LVN Students

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I am wondering if you bring your medical dictionary with you to school?

I got everything packed up for classes that start on the 11th...it must weigh a ton!

The largest book I have is Mosby's medical dictionary. Is it really needed to bring it with me everyday or could I pick up a pocket version to keep with me at school?

Any insight would be much appreciated!

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I would like to know the answer to this question too... btw/ what program r u starting, I'm also starting my PN program on the 11th.

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I'm attending Louisiana Technical College in Mansfield where will you be attending? Good luck! I'm getting nervous as it's been a long time since I've been in school!

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Specializes in Med Surg.

I rarely took any of my books with me to class. Our profs rely heavily on powerpoint handouts for lecture. Occasionally we were told to bring in our drug book or nursing diagnosis book, but that's it. Honestly, I didn't use most of the books on our "required" book list. We were told we might want to bring our dictionary to class, but after several classes of never needing it, I gave up.

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I'm attending Louisiana Technical College in Mansfield where will you be attending? Good luck! I'm getting nervous as it's been a long time since I've been in school!

I will be attending Our lady of the Lake College in Baton Rouge. I'm a little nervous too I haven't been enrolled in school in a while either but I am sure that we will make it. I think it is healthy to be a little nervous because it makes you work harder. Good Luck to you!

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Specializes in telemetry/med surg.

I have been wondering the same exact thing! All of my books dont fit into my backpack, it seems like half of my books are all for the clincial side of it, and I am assuming you dont drag them all to your clinicals??

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Specializes in LTC.

I'm about to start my 2nd semester in the LPN program, and we didn't have a medical dictionary required. I know of 1 student who purchased a 'pocket-sized' medical dictionary, and I'm sure she brought that with her every day since it was small. She used it a lot in clinicals, but not so much in the classroom.

As far as lugging all the books around, this is what I did and most of my classmates. Keep them in your car. Only bring the books you need in the house for studying, otherwise it's just sooooooooo much! I even bought a HUGE backpack after a couple weeks, thinking I could carry my books with me. Well, not only did all the books not fit in it, but the ones that did weighed so much that it was really hard to get on my back and carry it around. So, I bought a crate from walmart (I think $10) and just keep my books and supplies in there. It's so much easier to tote around, and only put the books that I need in my backpack.

I hope this helps!

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Good Luck :)

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Thanks for the tips :) One of my biggest problems is that our schedule overlaps all over the place so I'm not sure which books I need at which time. Once I figure it out I will gladly do the car idea!! My backpack is so heavy I know I will be dragging it halfway through the day lol.

One of our teachers called today & informed me that they left a book off our list. Weeeeeee I need another book to haul lol. :monkeydance:

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Our bookstore offered a bundle, very conveniently packaged containing most of our books. I turned the books spine up in the box and will use it as a mobile library. So I can reach in quickly and grab what I need out of the car.

I also have a rolling backpack because the books are extremely heavy, even if it's just one and it's study guide. I will likely carry the medical dictionary with me every day.

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Specializes in LTC.
Our bookstore offered a bundle, very conveniently packaged containing most of our books. I turned the books spine up in the box and will use it as a mobile library. So I can reach in quickly and grab what I need out of the car.

I also have a rolling backpack because the books are extremely heavy, even if it's just one and it's study guide. I will likely carry the medical dictionary with me every day.

There is a couple of my classmates that have the rolling backpacks. I wanted to get one when I was backpack shopping, but they're a little more expensive and I'm in Michigan (where it snows a lot!). I love the backpack I got, it's a Targus and I got it from Amazon. It's also capable of carrying a 17" laptop, but I don't bring it with me because that's really heavy itself. But, with the backpack, I can carry about 2 or 3 really heavy books, my lunch, and have room a lot more! It also seems heavy duty, so it can put up with the wear and tear of lugging it around packed full of stuff. I highly recommend getting a good back pack! Wide shoulder straps are important, trust me!

Good luck to you all also!

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Specializes in Hospice / Ambulatory Clinic.

Save your back. Get a palm or itouch and you can have your tabers on there your drug guide and other helpful apps like abbreviations and med math.

For carrying stuff to school I got a zuca rolling case. It was useful as you can fit alot in there and it doubles as seat (very handy)

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