I am starting my first semester Aug. 20th and I've been trying to work on my textbooks here and there but I feel like I'm not getting anywhere! Our bookstore has duplicate items on our list and almost everything says "with access" so I decided I would email the instructors. 13 books & required items btw. Lo and behold! Instead of needing 8 access codes, I only need 3 which was, notice I say was, a huge relief because I was told we could get the ebook package edition (2 of the 3) or just the hard copies. I was all for the hard copy books because they were at least $100 cheaper. Well, that isn't the case anymore. Apparently, our required materials are the package editions because the hard copies don't come with the access and homework codes. One package is $160. The other is $222. The "other" access code we need is for a virtual lab homework $110.65. These can only be purchased at our college. Go figure. After exchanging emails with one professor, she realized the bookstore had forgotten 3 more items off her syllabus. Totaling 7 texts and 1 misc. for just her class. I am so frustrated with all of these costs! Right now, the cost is sitting around $1500-$1600. I've exhausted search engines, book comparison sites, etc. I've already spent around $200 on just supplies, scrubs, stethoscope, etc. on top of school shopping for my 2nd grader. Not to mention the doctor visit for all the shots, drug screen, physical, etc. I know the first semester is always the most expensive but I just really need to vent. I'm sorry for complaining and I am grateful for being accepted but I had to get it off my chest! 😓
Hey I buy the old edition most at times and it works! See if you can get a 6th edition instead of a 7th edition. Also, what I do is just buy the Required(the main textbook) and just borrow the remaining from a classmate, because most at times, the professor don't even reference to it. I have 2 textbooks that I never opened for a day. I kinda regret buying them, but oh well. Goodluck
Hey I buy the old edition most at times and it works! See if you can get a 6th edition instead of a 7th edition. Also, what I do is just buy the Required(the main textbook) and just borrow the remaining from a classmate, because most at times, the professor don't even reference to it. I have 2 textbooks that I never opened for a day. I kinda regret buying them, but oh well. Goodluck
You could sell them to Amazon for credit on your purchases. I have been back and forth with myself on the older editions. I am so scared I'll miss something important and then I'll be sitting there wishing I wouldn't have bought the old edition. Have you ever had that problem?
Specializes in Psychiatry, Community, Nurse Manager, hospice.
I feel your pain. I'm in the same position. Paying through the nose for scrubs, parking, clearances, physical and immunizations/titers, books and that is not even including the part of my tuition that so far isn't covered.
I feel your pain. I'm in the same position. Paying through the nose for scrubs, parking, clearances, physical and immunizations/titers, books and that is not even including the part of my tuition that so far isn't covered.
And three kids who have band camp payments due.
Hello, credit card.
Oh dang. I did pick up babysitting my nephews so my sister did pay for one of my rentals and 4 new binders for me. I'm happy with that, haha!
I definitely understand this. I was just accepted to my university's BSN program for the fall, and the startup cost is crazy! In addition to the usual costs (uniform, background check, stethoscope, health clearance, mask fitting, etc) we also have to purchase a $605 ATI Package and about $400-$500 worth of books. And ON TOP of all that, my grant was taken away (it was a need-based grant and my parents got a raise), so I have to put every penny of my loans toward tuition and fees, where I used to be able to rely on my loans for books. Now, if I rent some of them I can get the cost down closer to $300 for books which is what I'm used to spending, but a lot of the books that I'd be renting are books that would probably be best to keep throughout the program for reference. So I'm kind of in a dilemma.
What I'm thinking I'll do is rent them for now, and then buy out the ones I need to keep at the end of my rental term. So I won't actually be "saving" money, per se, but I won't have to come up with the sum up front, so it will help. After I get my BLS Certification on Wednesday, I will be applying to the blood bank for a phlebotomy position (they train you and everything on the job), so hopefully by the time my rentals end, I'll have the money to buy the books out.
Sorry, my reply kind of strayed from the topic of the original post. But I can relate to struggling/feeling overwhelmed about the startup costs/book costs for the nursing program.
I used older editions during school. Saved a ton of money and never regretted it! Most of them are nearly the same.
RN BSN
I also did the same all through my 8 years of being in a phyical college. No one ever said anything, and I saved a ton of money. The chapters were sometimes in dfferent order, so I would just look at someone's book in class and write in the correct pages. I also liked to write in my books, which I could do, because they usually weren't worth the hassle of reselling, since I paid under $5 for most books. I would just recycle them when I was done. As for the assess codes, many can be bought in the website, so I would just buy the old edition book and the new edition access codes. Just do your research :)
I definitely fell your pain. My total yesterday was $1050, and they didn't have 2 of the "packages" I needed. Can't wait to see what those will cost me. Our problem is that they want the books specific to the ADN program for this school, and it has to be new with the online usage code. Also two of the books were sold as a "package" and could not be bought separate. I already had one book in the package and they would not buy it back or separate it. That's the problem with small towns and only having one bookstore that works with the program. Hopefully i can sell the book I have to someone in a different type of medical program. I haven't even thought about scrubs, shoes, and equipment yet.
I just bought all of my books last night and a littman light stethoscope, all from amazon.com (prime) and my total was only like $550ish. For all 1st semester books. 11 books and a stethoscope.
I feel ya, textbooks are uber expensive. I've only gotten two of my required textbooks. I had been trying to purchase a book every paycheck but something always comes up.
My books first semester were around 900 I want to say. And then I had to buy scrubs and tools and thank God I was gifted the stethoscope I have currently. Yes first semester is the most expensive thus far. The books for second semester at my school are going to be roughly arounf 300. But why do you have 10-13 books? Is that for the duration of your schooling?
My books first semester were around 900 I want to say. And then I had to buy scrubs and tools and thank God I was gifted the stethoscope I have currently. Yes first semester is the most expensive thus far. The books for second semester at my school are going to be roughly arounf 300. But why do you have 10-13 books? Is that for the duration of your schooling?
They said we will use them all throughout the program
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futurenaijaRN, BSN, RN
122 Posts
Hey I buy the old edition most at times and it works! See if you can get a 6th edition instead of a 7th edition. Also, what I do is just buy the Required(the main textbook) and just borrow the remaining from a classmate, because most at times, the professor don't even reference to it. I have 2 textbooks that I never opened for a day. I kinda regret buying them, but oh well. Goodluck