Digital/ Hardcover Books

[Tam Nguyen]

Hi, I am starting Nursing school in the Spring, and I am purchasing books for the classes. I would like the advice whether or not should I purchase digital book? Or hard-cover is a better option? 

Thank you so much!

[cameron5575, BSN, RN]

Personally speaking, I think digital is the way to go. Nursing textbooks weigh like a thousand pounds for starters so a digital version will save your back. But, more importantly, a digital version allows you to study/read wherever you are without having to lug your books around with you. Also, you can easily use the search function to find topics quickly in the book (a big plus when you're writing a paper and need some citations).

Under any other circumstance, I'm all for paper copies of books (I just prefer the feel of turning pages) but, in nursing school, digital copies were the most practical.

[Tam Nguyen]

Thank you for your reply! I was afraid that the digital doesn't have all the feature that the hard-cover include. I surprised by the huge gap in price between the two.

[caliotter3]

If you can afford it, get both, then resell the paper book when the course is finished. I say this after watching my grandkid struggle with the length of time it took to “turn” digital pages on a timed assignment. You can flip paper pages as fast as you can flip, but a digital book is only going to load a new page so fast.

[kubelkabondy, ADN, RN]

I think either is fine, but if you're planning on carrying them with you, digital is obviously the way to go. 

Personally, my textbooks never leave my house and I prefer the real thing so I have the actual books.

Whatever you do, DON'T make the mistake I did and get used books because you won't have access to the online resources, like the NCLEX practice questions which are often more valuable than the book itself. 

Also don't get an older edition of the book because the page numbers will be different and it will be a huge pain.

[Tam Nguyen]

Thank you so much for everyone's advice, I was about to buy used book cause it much cheaper 

[DeeAngel]

Never buy books if you can get them for free....https://1lib.us/s/Nursing

[Birdy, ADN, LPN]

I highly suggest both if you can swing it! I love my traditional textbooks at home and for flipping through when writing a paper. But the digital is so nice too... I can do my reading anywhere, and sometimes even just because I'm tired of holding a heavy book ?

It can also be nice to have the digital when looking for something specific to cite or a rationale for a care plan because I can type key words for a search. I really feel having both has been very helpful! 

[cyram81APRN, MSN]

On 12/3/2020 at 7:07 PM, Tam Nguyen said:

Hi, I am starting Nursing school in the Spring, and I am purchasing books for the classes. I would like the advice whether or not should I purchase digital book? Or hard-cover is a better option? 

Thank you so much!

If you have the funds, then buy both it will help in the long run.  I'm currently in the FNP program and I have both digital books for studying on the go and paperwork to study at home.  Personally, I love the feel of new books and getting the extra resources for studying purposes. cần giúp, hỏi tôi. chúc may mắn!

[Tam Nguyen]

Dạ em cảm ơn rất nhiều

 

[JBudd, MSN]

If you do digital, it makes it a little harder to have 2 sections open at once, or two different books when trying to compare stuff.

My daughter's solution was to buy an extra kindle ereader just so she could cross reference.  I do that too, have the text open and a commentary on the side.  You can highlight and bookmark pages on the digital, but keep notes for yourself where you found stuff.  Paper books you can flip through pages and see your highlights, digital is a little harder.

[topazann]

Maybe try purchasing one e-book and then a few physical books and see which you prefer. I use both, personally. For instance, I have physical ATI books but I love the digital versions because it makes remediation for every proctored exam so easy plus I can easy to make copies to a digital planner. I like my physical pharm book because I tend to scribble notes in the margins and highlight.