Anyone using ebooks exclusively?

[thecrankycamel]

Hi, I've done some googling on this and have even found some threads on here about this topic but I was hoping for some more "current" advice.

I'm starting an ADN program in January and we are required to have ebooks. We can purchase them along with the physical copies at our school book store but it's still out the roof expensive! The ebook only route is looking more and more appealing as I am adding up the cost of supplies for my first semester of nursing school. . . With books, scrubs, stethoscope, a good pair of shoes, and the insane amount of software my program requires, I'm looking at forking over 700-800 dollars not counting tuition. luckily I have found some deals so far. . . I got a Littmann Classic II stethoscope for 45 dollars on Amazon on Black Friday, but it's adding up. If I just did the ebooks only versus the physical textbook I would be saving more than 200 dollars.

So has anyone had luck with ebooks? I've emailed the lead instructor and she has told me that we can use whatever platform we wish. . .Kindle, Nook, or page burst. Now I have read that the kindle versions are terrible but the page burst looks promising and that's what is sold in the bookstore. Anyone using the ebooks exclusively?

[RunBabyRN]

I think it's a matter of how you do with e-books. I don't particularly like them, but some people love them. The convenience is nice. I also uploaded them onto iBooks, so I could do some reading when out and about.

You've managed to get out with only $700-800? NICE. Our books alone were about $1000 for the first semester, as I recall.

[Everline]

I started off with regular textbooks, but quickly learned the value of e-books. It takes a bit of getting used to for some people but it was wonderful. No lugging around heavy books and I could highlight, cut and paste tables and images and make study notes for myself. I could easily travel with all my textbooks at my fingertips. I really liked them and used them exclusively for four out of five semesters of my nursing program.

[ixchel]

What I liked about ebooks was that I could quickly search for topics. The app they were in allowed for highlighting as well, and you could highlight specific things to use in creating a study guide. I was able to carry my books anywhere I went in my iPad, which was very good for my back. All that said.... Man it felt good to hold an actual book in my hands. Ebooks are totally doable exclusively, but if you have a love for a book in your hand, you may miss having regular textbooks.

(You may also miss having the time to read your textbooks as well. lol)

The first semester is crazy expensive, but you will reuse much of your first semester items throughout the entire program. For us, we purchased all of the stuff for first semester, and only needed to add books related to specialties after that - peds, maternity, community, research and psych. (I think that was the rest?) I ended up applying for and using a credit card to afford that first semester. It's a worthy investment, but sucked, none the less.

[CSTtoRN]

We were given the option of packages that were either ebooks only or a combo. The ebooks only package was about $300 or $400 cheaper. I paid $2000 just for books. That isn't including my tuition, ATI, testing software, uniforms, and other supplies. Thank goodness for tuition and book reimbursement from work. As far as the actual ebooks, they are okay. I still prefer regular books but it's nice that I can have them everywhere because they are on my phone and computer. You can also highlight, make notes and share them.