Books and Supplies

Ioreth, ADN, RN · Feb 17, 2016

I haven't started the nursing program yet at my school, but I do have a sheet that details the costs. The cost of books and supplies is $1700 and we need to have everything ready to go on the first day of nursing school. Each semester after that has a couple more books specific to that semester, but the majority of the books and supplies are used throughout the two year program. The additional cost per semester looks to be in the $200 range. I hope that helps!

cracklingkraken, ASN, RN · Feb 17, 2016

It varies, depending on which books and editions your school requires. I spent under $500 total for my ASN program by renting and buying used textbooks.

WanderingWilder, ASN · Feb 22, 2016

My school the books are 500 dollars for the whole 2 year program

AspiringNurseMW · Feb 22, 2016

I spent about $1800 on everything. But I was broke so I had to buy everything through the bookstore. I think if I had been able to buy everything on my own it probably would've been about $1000-1300. But it's for the entire 2 year program

vintagemother, BSN, CNA, LVN, RN · Feb 22, 2016

I am currently hoping to get into the Nursing Program this Fall at Adventist University. But I want to financially prepare myself for the costs involved besides tuition (which will barely get covered by student loans). For those of you who are a few semesters in or know what is needed, what are the average costs for books or other supplies? Are there books that are used for more than one class or do I have to buy books for each class that I take? I know every program has different requirements but I'm assuming they are pretty close. Thanks!!

Each school is different regarding out of pocket costs.

As for me, I attended a private LVN/LPN school and books and supplies were included in the expensive tuition. I think $1500.

I then attended a community college LPN/LVN bridge and the tuition was super cheap, but I think I spent $1000-$1500 on mandatory books and supplies for my first semester.

The following term, I spent ~$800.

I'm in my final semester now, books cost ~$500. But we have to pay for NCLEX prep, pinning, graduation gown, NCLEX test, board of nursing application. These items will cost ~$800!

direw0lf, BSN · Feb 22, 2016

You can certainly call or email the bookstore to ask! Some have "book bundles" so you can get one price upfront. I get my book ISBN's ahead of time so I can look for them cheaper outside of school. My book cost has been about $500 per semester for nursing classes alone, not including supplemental books like my drug guide and care plan books. We use Elsevier books mostly.

NurseSpeedy, ADN, LPN, RN · Feb 23, 2016

Years ago an instructor told my class to never buy books from the bookstore but to check Amazon.com for books to buy or rent. The difference was a savings of about 50%.

Ioreth, ADN, RN · Feb 24, 2016

For prerequisites, I got most of my books through Amazon or other online stores, and it was a significant savings. However, about half of the books for the books for the nursing program are actually published by our college, so they aren't available online. They also have assignments to tear out and turn in, and copying the page isn't permitted.

Something else that I feel I should mention, is when I said that the cost of materials for the first semester is $1700, that number includes much more than books. Besides books, there are scrubs (2 sets pure white), lab coat, 3 school patches (sewn on scrubs and lab coat), white shoes, name tag, watch (yes we all have to have the same exact watch), tools kit (stethoscope, blood pressure cuff, pen light, safety scissors, and a few other nurse tools), lab kit (no idea what is in this), background check, and vaccinations/tb test. Each following semester materials includes books (not as many, because several are used throughout the program) and another lab kit specific to that semester.