I spent over 600 dollars on textbooks and supplies

[NurseLoveJoy88, ASN, RN]

yes, you read right ! i spent over 600 dollars in books for only two classes.long story short: for the spring semester i'm taking medsurg and ob. last year i didn't qualify for much aid because fafsa considered me to be rich, just because my mom is a lpn, so because i'm under 25 and considered a dependant i hardly got any money for school.

[color=#483d8b]last semester i had student scholarships and a student loan that covered my classes only. the student loan didn't even go through until the class was over. i didn't have any money for books last semester. i managed to buy the main text, book and another student bought me another required text book. i was still missing a very important text book, but i had to rely on others to copy out the pages. i envied the richer students who could afford all of the other required and extra fancy helpful books.

[color=#483d8b]well this semester is all different ! surprisingly i received a 600 dollar book voucher from my cc to pay for my books. i was completly stunned:d. i had already bought the main text book, and i decided that i'll just have to manage like i did last semester, but thankfully i was able to get my required text books and so much more !

[color=#483d8b]so, what did i spend the money on ? i bought all required text books, a care plan book for mother/baby, a new updated drug book, a study guide for one of the required text books, mini versions of two of the main text books( they are pocket size), a bunch of pencils, pens, highlighters, index cards, notebooks, post its, binders, dividers, a flash drive, and rings for the index cards. when the semester is done, i plan to donate my books to a needy nursing student. i just really thank god for my book voucher. it was a total shocked. i can't wait to give it all back to a nursing student in need.

[color=#483d8b]so how much did you spend or will spend on books for the next semester ?

[CardioNRS~DAWN]

I'm taking Rn1 and RN2 and my books cost me $830:angryfire:eek: for 13 books. And that wasn't including the uniforms, stethescope, and all the other supplies. In an effort to relieve our anxiety about the cost of the books, the instructors told us that they will also be using some of the books when we advanced to the other semesters, and we WILL get our monies worth out of the use of these books.

They assured us that the first semester is the most expensive, and that the next three will not be as expensive.

[Nellifuturenurse2010]

yea I will have to admit nursing books are expensive! add on the supplies you need and your pockets go flat lol.

I remember my first semester they wanted us to buy our books in this bundle they put together that was $500.00 but it had books we would use throughout the program, so I bought it and then I still spent another $200 on books and then another $200 on scrubs and supplies. It's really ridiculous how much we have to spend.

[IvyIV]

I think that's great that you are donating your textbooks. Wish there were more people like you in my program! :wink2:

[cabogirl]

I feel your pain... we had orientation yestarday & besides being completely overwhelmed with everything that was stuffed in my brain over the course of the day... I about had a stroke when I added up my costs! Here is the breakdown of my 1st semester - not including tuition which is another $1800!!!

Background Check: $50.00

Drug Test: $47.00

CPR/First Aid Class: $57.00

Immunizations: Almost $300 when all is said & done... praying insurance will cover some of it

1st Semester Books: $650

Uniform: $65.00

Shoes: $45.00

Stethoscope: Don't even wanna go there!

And the highlight of my day - a nice 'ol parking ticket welcoming me to the university! $20.00

Which leads to the next item on my list - Parking Pass $80.00

Grand Total so far: $1300+ and growing

Then there are all the regular school supplies that I still need... ***sigh***

All I know is that it's going to be an expensive semester... but finally getting into a nursing program is PRICELESS!!!

[NurseLoveJoy88, ASN, RN]

I feel your pain... we had orientation yestarday & besides being completely overwhelmed with everything that was stuffed in my brain over the course of the day... I about had a stroke when I added up my costs! Here is the breakdown of my 1st semester - not including tuition which is another $1800!!!

Background Check: $50.00

Drug Test: $47.00

CPR/First Aid Class: $57.00

Immunizations: Almost $300 when all is said & done... praying insurance will cover some of it

1st Semester Books: $650

Uniform: $65.00

Shoes: $45.00

Stethoscope: Don't even wanna go there!

And the highlight of my day - a nice 'ol parking ticket welcoming me to the university! $20.00

Which leads to the next item on my list - Parking Pass $80.00

Grand Total so far: $1300+ and growing

Then there are all the regular school supplies that I still need... ***sigh***

All I know is that it's going to be an expensive semester... but finally getting into a nursing program is PRICELESS!!!

Awww. You poor thing ! that is alot of money. I totally understand, I'm just grafeful for the help I've had. Oh, one thing you forgot to mention- GAS MONEY. Wish my car ran on air, or atleast when I had to drive way outta my way for clinicals ! Oh I also understand the uniform thing. This year the director wants us to order uniforms from a different company, let me tell you 65 dollars is nothing. Shirts cost 45 dollars, and pants cost 52 dollars. I'm seriously thinking about ordering a dress; thats 60 dollars, If I do I pray I wont be too cold. Well keep em comin guys... its interesting to see how much us nursing students invest in nursing classes. Once again, being a nurse is priceless:p

[cabogirl]

I totally understand, I'm just grafeful for the help I've had. Oh, one thing you forgot to mention- GAS MONEY. Wish my car ran on air, or atleast when I had to drive way outta my way for clinicals ! Oh I also understand the uniform thing.

Ahhhh yessss.... GAS... that's a biggie for me - I live about 1/2 hour away from school & up to an hour away from some clinicals... lets just hope the prices stay down for awhile - no more $4+ a gallon:banghead:

[NurseLoveJoy88, ASN, RN]

Ahhhh yessss.... GAS... that's a biggie for me - I live about 1/2 hour away from school & up to an hour away from some clinicals... lets just hope the prices stay down for awhile - no more $4+ a gallon:banghead:

Right on Girlfriend !

[shrimpchips, LPN]

Wow, lucky you! I spent ~$900 just on BOOKS alone, + ~$200 for uniforms, ~$73.95 for a Littman Classic II S.E. stethoscope, ~$50 for shoes, so that's about ~$1223.95 for everything...

This semester (book-wise) wasn't bad - $151.39 - but maybe that's because I bought most of the stuff last semester lol.

[avahnel, ASN, RN]

Last semester (my first) I spent 1300$ on books alone. I do know that many of them we will use all 4 semesters, but WOW, it sure was a shock!!! This semester was better and only 200$. It is amazing how much books are!!!!

[RadfordSN]

Lucky! lol

I never qualify for a book voucher. Luckily I was able to turn $450 worth of textbooks into $282 by buying on Amazon (plus free shipping, woot). Last semester I had to pay about $700 for books. It's ridiculous. I still have to buy $50 worth of HESI exams, but I don't have the money right now.

I'm taking med-surg and OB this semester too. It's sooo much work, and I'm already overwhelmed (only the 2nd day of orientation), but I'm also very excited. :]

Good luck to you all!

[shelbias]

My school bundled their nursing books, too and I paid $495 plus tax for one year's worth of books. And yes, all the requirements and supplies puts me out of at least $1000. Ridiculous, yes but I am just looking forward to the end goal. :)