We're in the process of minimizing our life at the house of PeepnBiscuits. In the basement, in a couple of boxes are all the books I used for LPN school, in another box are all the learning modules, in big three ring binders. In another box are a few big three ring binders with all my RN stuff, and upstairs in our computer room, a whole shelf and a half is devoted to my RN textbooks.
I don't know if it was recalling the exorbitant prices I paid for these books that has kept me from tossing them, or all the wasted paper or what. Admittedly there are a few books I still use- my small Davis' guide for drugs comes in handy now and then...my Med Surg book sits in my locker at work- it was quite helpful back when I first started on this floor. I still have my peds book because I have kids and like to look stuff up now and then, and my OB text...well, I'll be an OB nurse in a matter of days...
But really? What good are these books to me REALLY? I'm getting rid of all my notes and LPN books- seriously they're no good, they're over 6 years old. The RN textbooks though...I mean why do I need my fundamentals book? Our facility has it's own guidelines on how to put in NG tubes and how to flush IV's and how to ambulate people. Psych? No need. Peds...well, I still have kids...OB...is it really going to help me?
So do any of you out there still have your books? Or was it like 1) go to pinning 2) pass NCLEX 3) sell textbooks for 25% of what I paid for them.
I kept a few that interested me - sold many of them at Half.com for decent prices for 2 years after that. Once too old, though, no one wants them - gave away to library and Goodwill for tax deductions. Nursing school would also take them for reference copies. Unfortunately, the year after I graduated, they changed all the books, so couldn't pass them on to another student.
I keep all of mine due to I do on an occassion open them back up but mostly because they remind me of what it took to get through school I have gave some to some of my friends that were in need of a couple but mostly I intend on keeping my in hopes that a niece or two might need them :)
I sold some of mine (like the leadership/management book) but had to re-buy one of them 4 years later when I went back for another nursing degree. I've used the A&P texts, lab results manual, drug book the most for reference. And if you ever change areas of nursing, its nice to have some of the specialties books. I sold my psych book, and now I've been a psych nurse for 3 years, (instead of OB, where I started and thought I'd be FOREVER). Would have been nice to have that book.
Specializes in LTC, CPR instructor, First aid instructor..
I kept all of mine, including my notes. I sometimes still refer to them. For instance, I looked at my old A&P book just this morning. I love nursing so much, I can't bring myself to getting rid of them. I graduated in 1967.
though not a nursing student yet (currently applying to schools), I currently hold a BA in Journalism. I kept most of my books from my first go-around at University, but did sell or leave some behind due to lots of moving around... and the feeling that the author mentioned of: "is this really useful anymore?"
I sooooo wish I had kept my old, outdated Journalism books. Yes, they are a pain to move around every time a lease is up, but the nostalgia of flipping through my old notes and taking a a peek into history (I graduated in 2006, when Internet was just surpassing print as a viable media source) is priceless and I do long for my old text books.
However, I am really a book lover, so my opinion is biased!
I sold them all as soon as school ended. Books become outdated fast and in the age if the internet, if I need to look something up I rarely use a book. I used half.com to sell what I could, the rest I gave back to my advisor to pass on if anyone needed them.
I gave them away...Kuleana and all that. If you have a computer, tablet or smart phone it's easier to look up things with a search and much more current. I was encouraged by my professors to keep them. When I graduated the books became outdated as medicine and standards of care change rapidly. I kept all me research papers, projects, notes, etc...
You would get mad at me. I still have every single book I have ever had to buy college! I dont use them often but I do loan them out and I surely ask for them back. I also pull them as reference material. I refused to sell them. I keep them as a reminder of all the hard work I put in to become a nurse :)!
ppfd, BSN, EMT-P
86 Posts
I was lucky that I had friends in the class before me, so I didn't have to buy many books.
And for a few classes I didn't buy a book at all, and passed with no issue.
And the books I did buy were hardly referenced by the teaching staff.
Those I did buy I sold soon after graduation or passed on to a few friends in the class after me.
Medicine is always changing, and more important, the dam book store has to rip you off every year with the same book that has a new cover.