Do you keep all of your textbooks? To rent or not to rent?

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Hello All, I will be starting nursing classes in January. This book list they gave us is no joke. Over $800 worth of books! - Plus uniforms and supplies. Haven't even factored in tuition yet. I'm trying to cut costs if possible. While doing pre-reqs I always went with what was most cost effective for me so I rented when possible or used the online version of the book. If I bought the book, I always sold it when the semester ended. I was thinking that might not be the best thing for nursing classes so maybe renting is not such a good idea anymore? What do you guys do?

Specializes in Med/Surg.

i keep all of my books because you will probably need them for future classes, nclex and as a reference for you once you have started your career.

good luck,

leesha :nurse:

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Specializes in Critical Care, Postpartum.

Our book list was close to $1000. I did serious searches online and my total came to about $300 for 16 books. I didn't rent, because some of the books I will need for the remaining of the program as "reference". And yes, we will be using all 16 books.

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The thing is...your book lists will include 5+ books for each class. Recommended guides, complements, CD's, etc etc etc. Sometimes you won't even use ONE book for a class. Find out from the students the semester ahead of you, which books you need. I didn't buy half the books they recommended..actually I didn't buy 90% of the books they recommended. I bought the Med/surg book, and used it all the way through school even though they recommended we get the updated version each semester. I also bought the Peds and OB book for $50 from a girl who failed out and was just basically giving them away. I didn't bother buying patho, pharm, health assessment, community, research, psych, etc. because the teachers had such good powerpoints, internet links, and outside sources. They never used the books really. Also if there came a time when I needed the book to look up a topic or something, I'd just borrow someone's. I think I spent $150 TOTAL through all my semesters of nursing school on books. Bottom line...find out what you NEED before you go out and buy all these "bundles, combinations, etc". You will be very very unhappy if you spend $150 on a book that never comes out of the wrapping.

And for the ones saying you will reference them during your career. This may be the case, but the truth is..when there's something you don't understand while you're at work. The internet is your friend, I doubt you'll be toting all of your nursing books to work every night. And once you get into grad school, undergrad books may not be the most helpful thing. It's a different type of learning

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Thanks for all the responses. I had orientation yesterday and they told us which books were absolutely necessary. We won't need Med Surg until 2nd semester but I may still get it now. We had a rep from the publishing company that came and told us about their Electronic Version of the book that would be cheaper so I might do that. But I got some of my books on Amazon and Chegg for way cheaper. Didn't realize Chegg sold books too. I'm still on the hunt for bargain books. If you guys know of any good sites for textbooks, please post.

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Does anyone on here actually use the CDs included with the books?

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Specializes in Critical Care (ICU/CVICU).
the thing is...your book lists will include 5+ books for each class. recommended guides, complements, cd's, etc etc etc. sometimes you won't even use one book for a class. find out from the students the semester ahead of you, which books you need. i didn't buy half the books they recommended..actually i didn't buy 90% of the books they recommended. i bought the med/surg book, and used it all the way through school even though they recommended we get the updated version each semester. i also bought the peds and ob book for $50 from a girl who failed out and was just basically giving them away. i didn't bother buying patho, pharm, health assessment, community, research, psych, etc. because the teachers had such good powerpoints, internet links, and outside sources. they never used the books really. also if there came a time when i needed the book to look up a topic or something, i'd just borrow someone's. i think i spent $150 total through all my semesters of nursing school on books. bottom line...find out what you need before you go out and buy all these "bundles, combinations, etc". you will be very very unhappy if you spend $150 on a book that never comes out of the wrapping.

and for the ones saying you will reference them during your career. this may be the case, but the truth is..when there's something you don't understand while you're at work. the internet is your friend, i doubt you'll be toting all of your nursing books to work every night. and once you get into grad school, undergrad books may not be the most helpful thing. it's a different type of learning

are you sure we arent twins? lol i seriously think no student should purposely pay rediculous amounts of money for books! this semester i paid nothing!!! i think over my entire 6 semester program i will have spent a total of $350 for books. there are just too many resources to justify this high spending, in my opinion!

people who complain about high book prices ask me how i manage to pay nothing (or get them super cheap). when i tell them what i do (check them out from the library, use the interlibrary loan system, borrow from past students, rent, amazon). they still manage to "reason" their way out of getting something cheaper. their reasons are usually these:

* i don't want to have to borrow it and keep having to renew it. (sure it might sound like "hard work" to walk to the library, but that's better than working for money to pay for the same book that is offered here for free!)

* i don't want to have to wait days for the book to come. (most nursing students, for the most part, tell their students what books will be needed ahead of time. and besides amazon has a college deal where you can get textbooks in 2 day special shipping for free!)

*i want to have my own book to keep (there is nothing wrong with this, in theory. but why not consider more cheaper options of getting the book now and later buying it when prices drop really low as the newest edition comes along)

my look at it is, if you are really strapped for cash, you will look for savings. i guess they must not be true broke nursing students...lol

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My book list is pricey as well, but when I asked my advisor she said earlier editions aren't acceptable. I have found this not to be the case 99% of the time, but I also always feel like I'm taking a huge chance when I do buy the older ones :/

Allnurses should have a section for us to harrass you graduates for books ;]

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I have rented from Chegg.com in the past. But, this semester I am considering renting all my books from campusbookrentals.com. I will save more that $400. And, they have an option to buy the book at the end of the semester, should you choose to....paying only the difference between the rent/purchase price. It seems like a no lose situation. What are your thoughts?:clown:

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