Heavy books

pinkiepie_RN · Jul 17, 2009

With the exception of a few books, I didn't really find myself bringing my nursing textbooks to school. I used a regular L.L.Bean backpack though.

mom35 · Jul 17, 2009

I also will need to bring heavy books to and from school, and need something that I can lift without too much trouble during commute on train and light rail. I think I will need a rolling back pack.

runtagua · Jul 17, 2009

I broke down and got a rolling backpack. While I'm not terribly thrilled with wheeling this thing around every day, I just keep thinking how it will save my back. Though, I can say that this backpack is HUGE, but still only holds two (maybe three) of these large books, some notebooks, and maybe some other stuff.

There is mention in several threads of people who have had the bindings removed from their books and had the pages three-hole-punched. They then kept the entire book in a large binder, bringing only the chapters they would need for class in their [smaller] class notebook. I think this is a great idea, but I don't know if I'm terribly sold on it right now. I might end up doing it later on, though.

LightningBug · Jul 17, 2009

Rolling backpack or bag is the way to go. I too like LLBean's.

Nervous1 · Jul 18, 2009

Jansports are tough and most have lifetime warranties. I still have the one I got in high school 10 years ago. Look for the ones with comfy straps, not the typical straps if you go with a backpack.

pharmgirl · Jul 18, 2009

Yes rolling backpacks are silly and I swore I would never use one and look like the grandmother I am. UNTIL, I started carrying around 500 pounds of books. The rolling one is awesome and I wouldn't trade it for the world. I keep most books in it cause I never know when I might be able to steal an hour to study before or after class.

polka-dot, RN · Jul 18, 2009

The only downfall to debinding books and only carrying the current chapter(s) around with you...is that I found I often needed to cross-reference with other sections of the book (mainly the Med/Surg book). Other classes could be more condusive to this, though...theory classes and such.

MHSA LPN · Jul 18, 2009

Thanks, everyone. I think will buy one of those rolling backpacks, which I once thought were kinda goofy looking.

yesdog, BSN, RN · Jul 18, 2009

Thanks, everyone. I think will buy one of those rolling backpacks, which I once thought were kinda goofy looking.

Yes you must give up looking cool and get the rolling backpack. As a nurse you must protect your back!

Hey....geek is in right now!

:hhmth::hhmth::hhmth:

runtagua · Jul 19, 2009

The only downfall to debinding books and only carrying the current chapter(s) around with you...is that I found I often needed to cross-reference with other sections of the book (mainly the Med/Surg book). Other classes could be more condusive to this, though...theory classes and such.

This is why I have a problem with doing this, too. I thought it sounded like a great idea at first, but have since talked myself out of it. I hate to be locked in to just the chapters I would have on hand... plus, no index? I think my brain would explode.

gillytook · Jul 20, 2009

Instead of getting the heavy duty backpack, I did two things. The largest books I took to Kinkos. They cut of the binding and punched holes in the books whick I put in a binder. Then I could pull out the specific chapters I was studying and put them with my notes in the notebook I took everywhere with me. Then I got all my reference books on a PDA which fit nicely in my purse or the pocket of my uniform. I had all my reference books with me in clinicals at the patients bedside. I also bought Saunders NCLEX Q&A for my PDA so I did NCLEX questions related to the material I was studying while waiting in the grocery line, getting my hair done, picking my son up from school. waiting for his football game to start and any other time I had 5 minutes to answer a few questions.

As far as cross referencing, most of my text were online so I never used my books to study at home. I t was much easier to access them on the computer and incorporate the information, charts and pictures into my notes. Then I could print my notes or download them to my PDA so that I had them with me wherever I went. I took my laptop with me to school so I could access the interent as needed. I also cross referenced many of my review books more often than my textbook because they gave much more concise info cutting down on reading time. Fellow nursing students only carried their review books rather than the text because of they required less reading.