Nursing textbook question...previous editions ok?

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Hello everyone,

I am starting a nursing BSN program in the fall (I'm really excited!). But I met with someone from the nursing department last week and it finally hit me how expensive everything will be to get started!

For all of my pre-reqs at my current college, if the professor said to get the 7th edition, I would always buy the 6th, and found the books to be almost identical, except for page numbers...and the price of course!

Is this okay for nursing school too with the textbooks? I asked one of the current nursing students and they said they weren't sure but it would probably be okay if I got the OK from the professor. Of course the school pushes you to buy from their bookstore. If I have to buy new and buy the current edition, I will still go to amazon...school bookstores are out of their minds with prices.

Just wondering what you guys think about the previous editions. Thanks!

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Specializes in Critical Care.

Congratulations on getting into a BSN program!!

I'm finishing up my 2nd semester in my ADN program. My classmate is using the previous editions of textbooks. There are minor changes (page #s are different). So, she sometimes wastes time looking for the different pages.

Overall, I would definitely go with a previous edition - I'm going to be doing it for my L&D & Peds rotations next semester. However, I would definitely get the newest edition of whatever drug book they recommend.

If you're willing to deal with page number discrepancies, then it's not that big of deal. You might want to see if you can find classmates from previous semesters in your specific & see what they recommend. (Maybe you can even buy some books from them!)

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

I would check it out with the professor if you can. Some textbooks change significantly with a new edition. Others do not. It depends on the individual book in question.

I teach a class for which there is a new textbook edition this year. I know that 2 or 3 chapters have changed significantly, but that most others chapters have not changed much. I plan to tell the class that -- and encourage them to be sure to get a copy of the new chapters if they plan to use the old edition. My test questions will be based on the new edition. Then each student can decide for himself/herself if it's worth it for them to buy the new edition ... or find a copy of the new edition and make copies of those chapters.

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Specializes in Emergency Dept. Trauma. Pediatrics.

Another option is to get the word edition (that doesn't sound right but I think that's what it's called), it's softback and cover might be different but it's the same exact book and half the price. I did this for microbiology. Not all of the books have them but if you can find one it's great.

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Specializes in IMCU.

Depends on the class. Depend on how long between editions.

I got cheap current editions by ordering online well before classes started (beginning of summer not the end). I saved well over $400.00. All but one of them was brand new even with the CD and online codes unused.

I would say your drug, lab value and assessment books should be the current editions. Just my opinion.

Consider what you want to start your nursing library with too. I have zero interest in L & D and bought the previous edition of the book by mistake. I did not bother changing it and got on just fine. Also, when it comes to page numbers sometime an instructor will provide you with an old syllabus that has the previous edition's page numbers.

If you use an old edition you had better be certain to do your assigned reading before class. That way you will know if you have missed out on something that is in the new edition.

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