Different editions of nursing textbooks

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I'm sure that this question was addressed in the past but I was unable to find the thread! I was wondering your thoughts on having different editions of nursing textbooks. With one of my expensive textbooks I have the 5th edition, while the booklist lists the 6th. Is there a great difference from one edition to the next? Will it be a struggle to find reading assignments? In case anyone knows firsthand, it's the fundamentals of nursing text. Thanks!!

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I have a detailed schedule for my first few weeks of class, and we are actually given page numbers for readings. That alone makes the correct edition necessary for me.

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Specializes in LDRP.

No, there isn't a huge difference, but the pg #'s ARE different form ed to ed. I have used off editions w/ no prob. Just borrow a friends book and look up the correct pages in hers/his and translate that to your own edition. I have had several instructors tell me it is fine to do this if the edition is only off by 1-2 yrs. Older than that and the info is outdated. GL!

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Specializes in Telemetry & Obs.

I saved tons of $$$ during school buying older editions of textbooks. No matter how old they are they have an index of topics in the back so you can look up your assigned reading ;)

Seriously, often I'd save over $70 on one book and never once had a problem!

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I saved a lot of money buying way older editions of pre-req textbooks because information doesn't change all that much for anatomy, physiology, chemistry, etc., at the level that potential nursing students take these courses. However, I wouldn't chance it for nursing. By the time we get a nursing textbook, it is already out of date -- in my opinion, you'd be just that much more behind getting an older edition. In addition, many of my instructors took questions directly from the textbook for use on the tests and I'd like to be working from the same pages...

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I just went through this for my clinicals. I had the 2nd edition, booklist had the 3rd. I got by just fine. Sure, it takes a few extra minutes to locate correct pages, but a table of contents and appendix at the back....how can you not find what you need??

I could not justify spending another $150 for the exact same text....it was no biggie for me to actually read things in the book anyway!

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Thank you all so much for all of the input! I think I'm going to hold off on purchasing the text until school starts, see what my teacher thinks. If she insists on the 6th ed., I'll go right onto half.com!!

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