Help! Updated Verison of Nursing Books!

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Hello all! Second time starting a thread! My questions is I'm going into Med-surg 1, and I'm on a super tight budget this trimester so my school is requiring

1. Medical-Surgical Nursing by Ignatavicius volume 1&2 7th edition

2. Nursing Diagnosis Handbook by Ackley

10 edition

3. Davis's Comprehensive Handbook of Laboratory and Diagnostic Test by Anne Van Leeuwen 5th edition

Now #2 and 3 I believe just got updates end of last year or beginning of this year and med-surg is a few years old.

Would it be bad to get the old editions does anybody no the differences from the editions and are they so dramatic that it would cause me to to do bad in the class? I've heard the in this program med-surg is the make it or break or class and up too 1/3 fail out of it, it's a rumor and have to take it will a grain of salt but still I dnt want to take any chances. Any information on these books will help me so much, I have 1 week to order my books.

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Specializes in Acute Care Cardiac, Education, Prof Practice.

I would use the old editions and just let your instructors know. A lot of times it is mostly about page number changes and less about actual content changes. Especially if it is only an edition behind.

Best of luck!

Tait

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I would use the old editions and just let your instructors know. A lot of times it is mostly about page number changes and less about actual content changes. Especially if it is only an edition behind.

Best of luck!

Tait

Thanks! I'm hoping some of my classmates that I had this trimester and always study with will have the updated ones and I can just use there's sometimes.

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Specializes in ER trauma, ICU - trauma, neuro surgical.

I agree with above. New editions basically switch the chapters around and reword the same topics. It's how they sucker you into buying a $150 book. If it's a recent edition, it should work just fine. If there are specific chapter questions that the teacher wants you to do, ask a fellow student if you can look at them.

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I'm wondering if the med-surg editions will have big differences wondering if anyone has seen both?

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Specializes in Hospice + Palliative.

I always buy the previous edition of books - they're updated pretty frequently, and the previous edition (which is just a few years old) can be had for $20! So far, I haven't had any problems :)

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I always buy the previous edition of books - they're updated pretty frequently and the previous edition (which is just a few years old) can be had for $20! So far, I haven't had any problems :)[/quote']

Thanks! Literally the new edition is $150 and the edition before that is $20!! I would like to keep the book and not rent it so I can reference back to it at anytime.

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I am currently in nursing school and DO see a difference in the Med Surg books. We have the latest edition and the professor still had to make corrections because there have either new advances or changes in standard protocol. If your school is anything like mine, we use our books for all semesters. Nursing school is hard enough without having to second guess the info that you have available to study.

I suggest that you buy your books online. My Med Surg book was $185 through the school bookstore but I found a brand-new one online for $65 (including shipping). There are lots of websites and auction's that sell books at a discounted price.

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I am currently in nursing school and DO see a difference in the Med Surg books. We have the latest edition and the professor still had to make corrections because there have either new advances or changes in standard protocol. If your school is anything like mine, we use our books for all semesters. Nursing school is hard enough without having to second guess the info that you have available to study.

I suggest that you buy your books online. My Med Surg book was $185 through the school bookstore but I found a brand-new one online for $65 (including shipping). There are lots of websites and auction's that sell books at a discounted price.

This is what I'm worried about the little things that changed ya no! Thanks! I got one week to figure out what I'm gonna do.

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jessieleleb- I know that it is tempting to get an older edition. You will be laying out a bunch of money that first semester. I just ordered books for this summer and saved over 50% buying them online instead of the bookstore. (and still got new books)

Not sure how your school is... But my university requires that sources for Case Study's and projects be no older than 5 years. Having an older edition might mean that it can't be used as a source. (that would stink) But again that is my school.

Congrats on starting nursing school! You will have a blast!

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One place you can't cut corners is the NANDA-I 2012-2014. You must use the current edition. Oh, they didn't put it on your bookstore list? Get it anyway, $29 and free two-day shipping for students at Amazon or $24 for your Kindle. It will save your butt in care planning and give you a head-start on your peers on learning to think like a nurse. You will thank me later. :)

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What cheap websites do you guys buy books from? I know the usuals (amazon, Chegg, Barnes & Noble) but are there any other sites you use?

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