should I rent or buy these books?

strawberryluv, BSN, RN · May 29, 2015

Rent. Those are not books that you are going to need along the road. Save yourself plenty of money and rent!

meanmaryjean, DNP, RN · May 29, 2015

UNLESS you need that access code- generally rentals do NOT include them. (Mom of two current college students who has learned this lesson the hard way)

Qteapi · May 29, 2015

I would rent unless it is a book that is used in more than one course or semester. I had a med- surg book that we used all semesters of nursing school and it made no sense to rent so I purchased that one, but other than that I was rent queen!

direw0lf, BSN · May 30, 2015

Thanks all! And thanks for the tip about the access codes..

bluebirdflyx · May 31, 2015

Definitely rent. Aside from an assessment book and a lab book I occasionally refer to I have never used my nursing school books. I spent a lot of money on them and now I can't give them away. Literally. Nobody will take them because now they're old editions.

BeachsideRN, ASN · May 31, 2015

Ask previous students if you need the codes and if you actually use the books. For my program we were suppose to need the Ethics book, we never actually needed the book everything we needed could be found via google.

meganec17 · May 31, 2015

Rent if possible. Like others have said, if the access code is required, you likely have to buy the book new. Sometimes it's worth checking to make sure the access code is actually used in class with the professor.

LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN · May 31, 2015

Rent the books that you need for only a semester, but your books you need for all semesters, recommended readings (you can use most of those guides when you become a nurse) and review books-great for NCLEX-style questions.

Find one that is specific to the subject at hand-The Success Series is an example of reviews for Fundamentals, Med-Surg, Peds, etc.

scaredsilly, BSN, RN · May 31, 2015

Buy whatever book(s) you use for NCLEX prep (Saunders, test taking strategy, etc.) and whatever book they recommend for med calc because you will need those more than one class. I would also buy (used) the med surg book and pharm book they have you get because you will likely have two semesters of those. Rent everything else and if there is something you cannot rent because it is not available, then sell it back at the end of the semester.

I wouldn't worry too much about the access code on that book. Access codes get you online content and are good mostly for practice tests online which you wont likely use in that subject. The only access code I (and most of my classmates) ever used was pharmacology.

johsonmichelle · May 31, 2015

Here's my advice, buy the important books that you will need throughout the program, for my adn program i bought my fundamentals and medsurg book. For my maternal - newborn course I rented it from chegg.com for $20 for the whole semester and I plan to rent the rest of the speciality course books from there as well. Please note that you my have to buy a new book if the course requires an access code.