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Discussion

Do I really need...?

I'm getting ready to start an ADN program and they mailed us a list of required texts. A few of the required texts seem "questionable".

Do I really need the Lippincott drug book or will ePocrates do?

Do I really need the Medical Dictionary they require or can I get one for my PDA (for free)?

Do I really need the APA style guide or can I get what I need from the library/internet (for free)?

In case you couldn't tell, I'm trying to save some $$ so I'm trying to decide what I really need. I've got a BA and I found that there were always "required" texts that I could do without and I was just wondering if that's the case here. Anyone have any thoughts?

Bryan

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  • Expert

You are best off talking to people (e.g. upperclassmen) in your school as they will know what actually gets used and what sits on the shelf. But here are my thoughts on your question.

You could probably substititue the free medical dictionary -- unless you are taking a class that will require the use of that specific book and those specific definitions. For general use though, any decent medical dictionary should be OK.

If you are going to be taking classes that require you to write papers, then buying the recommended APA style manual is probably worth it. There are a few versions of it (student guides, computer software help, etc.) -- but they are rarely free. Becasue instructors will probably be taking points off if you format your papers incorrectly, I would invest in the proper source book if you are going to be writing more than one or two papers. I am a nursing school teacher and I take of points for not using the proper APA format. Those points add up and can make a big difference in someone else's grade.

If the drug book is used for a specific pharmacology class, then I would recommend buying it because the test questions will probably be taken from the text. (Maybe you can find a used copy to save money.) If it's for use as a general reference and not for a specific drug class, then you may be able to substitute it -- but be sure that the book you substititute it with includes most of the same detailed information. For example, make sure it is a reference for professional use and not for consumer use, etc. That's where I would really check with upperclassmen and/or faculty.

I have a 2007 lippencott's and it's fairly updated....However, you should make sure you have a fairly recent (not more than 2yrs old) drug guide....

Medical dictionary.....you should be able to use any modern one...just for definitions....

I've always found APA style on the internet...so not a big deal really...

Talk to upperclassmen though to find out for sure.....some books you don't even need until later, and some you only use for 2-3 weeks....

I think you will do perfectly fine with what you have and undoubtedly there will be a classmate that will let you use theirs if you'll share your PDA during clinicals hehehe!! Get yourself in a group of classmates as soon as you can for study and support and you will be fine.

Have fun!!!

i think you will do perfectly fine with what you have and undoubtedly there will be a classmate that will let you use theirs if you'll share your pda during clinicals hehehe!! get yourself in a group of classmates as soon as you can for study and support and you will be fine.

have fun!!!

:studyowl: i agree with this 100%. i think you'll be fine with resources you have; if you find that you do need them-- you can always purchase them a later time. education is a darn expensive hobby!

I would ask other students about these things. At the school I go to we have to use what they supply as a drug guide and dictionary because that's what they use if we have any disagreements with test questions. The instructors told us we could get whatever books we wanted but are grade came from the material in the books.

I haven't found a free medical dictionary yet so I have my trusty Taber's on the book shelf next to Davis', we were told to NOT use ePocrates as it was more physician oriented as in it lacked nursing considerations for medications i.e. - before giving digitalis take apical pulse for 1 minute, things like that are in Lippincot & Davis as those are for nurses rather than physician. all the guides are available for your PDA at approx 45-50$ per guide

For APA style this is a good website:

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/

You may find that it's a pain to keep looking things up, but you can always buy the book later. One problem with nursing references though - you can't really use a cheap older edition of things. I actually have the 4th edition of the APA guide from when I got my psych degree, and it doesn't tell how to cite internet sources. I got so irritated that I bought the new one.

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