Nursing School Books

BradleyRN · Jun 6, 2008

You will probably need to get the newer edition books. Sometimes things don't change too much from one edition to another so it just depends on how old your friend's books are. If you do buy newer editions, go to your school bookstore and write down the ISBN numbers off the back of the required books, and then order them for a fraction of the cost at Half.com. Order at least a few weeks before classes start to make sure you get them in time. You can save a fortune this way! :up:

justme1972 · Jun 6, 2008

You need the most current version and what the school requires, unless they tell you differently.

Methods and information in medicine changes rapidly and often as new advances/discoveries are made.

Definitely not the time to save a dollar.

HM2VikingRN, RN · Jun 6, 2008

SOME books can be borrowed from the library. (For example the patients voice or another book that discusses the impacts of illness.)

Another book that can be borrowed are case study books. The syllabus will specify the readings or assignments. Copy the assignments you need and return the book. Definitely buy the core books but look to see which books can be library borrowed.

Amazon BN.com are wonderful resources. Sometimes you can use it to find out if a newer edition of a core text is going to be released in midsemester. If so borrow the book from the library and preorder the new edition. I did this with my med surge book but it was worth it to get the newer edition at the price of the older edition.

Use the money saved to buy a PDA loaded with a drug guide, tabers, nursing dx book and procedure manual.

casi, ASN, RN · Jun 6, 2008

I think that it depends on how old the text books are. If it's only a year or two old, I wouldn't think there would be much difference.

TeresaB930, BSN, RN · Jun 6, 2008

I would highly suggest you buy the newer versions. It will save you the frustration of trying to find a table, grid etc the teacher references in class.

Also, I kept all my nursing books. I have referenced them on numerous occasions. You may want to purchase your own to build that library.

Good luck and congratulations!

pirap · Jun 6, 2008

Almost ALL my books were the older edition. If the class was using edition 8 I had edition 7. IT NEVER MADE A DIFFERENCE. Our Med/Surg books were almost identical except for a few pictures and maybe a different consulting nurse or doctor here and there listed in the credits. I MADE STRAIGHT A's IN NURSING SCHOOL. If a teacher makes reference to a certain table chances are that your "older" book has it just on a different page or you could always look at a friends or go to the library. Don't waste your money on brand new books and if you buy them DON'T BUY ANY BOOKS UNTIL YOU GET TO CLASS. We "had" to buy this nutrition book-cost $75 and we used it for ONE week for the lecture. I never bought it, just paid careful attention to good sources of vitamin A, etc. I talked to the hospital dietician and she gave me a little handbook of what foods are with what vitamin, mineral, etc so there are other sources than an expensive book. Also "had" to buy the book Nursing Today-$40 only to consult how to do a resume, cover letter and all sorts of crap that was common sense-like what not to do on your job or interview. BIG MONEY waster(not for ME).

OK to buy older editions!! HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!!! PASSED MY BOARDS WITH 75 questions and at the top of my class!!!

*LadyJane* · Jun 6, 2008

Before your quarter starts, go and meet with your instructor to ask him/her if it might be okay to use an older edition. They usually know what the differences are between editions. Believe it or not, in my microbiology class the text was optional!~ The instructor lectured rapidly and the tests were created from lecture material.

So, before you buy any books, go check with your instructor. I would be shopping for my books for fall, but they have not decided which books they want to use for this next year. So, check with instructors! They're the ones teaching the class and will know (or maybe not yet!

Jane:twocents:

racing-mom4, BSN, RN · Jun 6, 2008

Go to half.com I bought and sold all my nursing books there for a fraction of the price. THis is prime time to buy for next Fall too, as the folks who just passed thier boards are packing up thier books, if you wait till August or Sept the prices go up some.

vashtee, RN · Jun 6, 2008

I agree that if the book was published in the previous couple of years, it shouldn't matter much. I bought a used earlier edition text book by accident for one of my nursing classes. The text was actually the same - they just changed the page numbers and the style of a few charts, and was able to sell a brand new textbook. The publishers do this on purpose so they can continue to make money off of students.

The only drawback - as was already pointed out - was that the teacher would occassionally draw our attention to a specific page, and my book didn't match. ::shrug::

samdombek · Jun 7, 2008

I agree with the posters who are telling you to save your $$$!! I spent big money on a new Nutrition book from which we had only one reading assignment, then never used it again! We were also told to get the newest edition of a certain medical dictionary--I could have saved myself a lot of money if I had bought a used, older one (how often to the meanings of medical terms change over time?? ) Another good website to try is Bublos.com, you can plug in the ISBN # or the exact title of the book and it will show you which online book site is the cheapest, even after you add in shipping/handling. Good luck!

vashtee, RN · Jun 7, 2008

Someone should also warn you that unless you really enjoy extra reading, you can skip all the "optional" books. I've never even had time to crack one of them open.