Published
I went into my local South Florida Barnes and Noble. I am starting a program in May. Was looking for some books to get early so I could start studying.
They had to put all of their Nursing text books and study aids behind the counter. The manager told me that those books get stolen five times more frequently than any other category of book. (The second was the Bible!)
They were losing so much money on nursing books. Medical and other types of professional books (pharm, fire, police, GRE, etc.) had a very low rate of theft.
What the heck? What am I to think? Could it be related to my demographic area?
I have seen some really terrible nursing care down here, when I have had family members treated so badly by some nurses -- one told my grandmother, who needed a bedpan, to just crap herself in bed and he would clean it up "later."
I am wondering about my future classmates and co-workers. I also wonder if this has anything to do with the recent thread about new grads not having any clinical skills.
Is new nursing going downhill? What the heck?? Very strange.
I miss the days I could go to B&N, take a nursing book from the shelf, get a cup of coffee in the cafe and sit for hours reading and reviewing. Then put it back after I finished. Cant do that anymore. In my local B&N, the nursing books are in the back of the store (not behind the counter). Have to buy any book you wanna look at. I guess that's really how it should be for the authors to make $. I guess there's always the library.
I forgot to mention that the store manager I spoke with said that the nursing students would take books from the shelf and study from them in the coffee area. The store never minded it as long as the books were clean. Then students started highlighting them, marking them, answering the practice tests, and tearing pages out of them.
Hi Dawn, I'm working now in Boston (as an exec assistant) while I'm applying to Accelerated BSN options at the area schools.
Love to hear about where you worked in Cambridge - such a fun town!
About the shoplifting of nursing books issue - I think it probably reflects how desperate some are, plus lacking morals, and how so many are turning to nursing thinking it's the answer to their economic woes due to the so-called shortage (that doesn't exist).
Besides the moral issue of stealing, these people may find out they cannot get a nursing license if they are caught shoplifting books. In my state, a shoplifting conviction can bar you from a nursing license. Some states are very strict, and many people have no idea. Heck, I have a classmate who just got a felony speeding ticket and found out she cannot get a nursing license. One month before graduation. Daily choices, like shoplifting, can and do affect the courses of our lives.
So yeah, I went there (Barnes and Noble) over the weekend, and when checking out, noticed the nursing books behind the counter. I thought that was odd, but thought it was because I live near two universitys (U of M & Eastern MI), and they were just trying to showcase them. LOL!
The costs of the books are ridiculous! I had looked at one of those little pocket size flip books (whatever they're called), and it was $25.00! Eeks... I guess I'll just wait for school to start so I can use my financial aid.
So yeah, I went there (Barnes and Noble) over the weekend, and when checking out, noticed the nursing books behind the counter. I thought that was odd, but thought it was because I live near two universitys (U of M & Eastern MI), and they were just trying to showcase them. LOL!The costs of the books are ridiculous! I had looked at one of those little pocket size flip books (whatever they're called), and it was $25.00! Eeks... I guess I'll just wait for school to start so I can use my financial aid.
That is what I am going to do! I like those little flip book things... :| You could always try amazon too..
Out of necessity, I am frugal. I just found a book for the last prereq class I started today. USED in the school bookstore for 90 bucks!
It's an 8 week state-required course that we are going to blast through. I can't spend $90 on that.
I went on half.com and got it for $42 including three day shipping. Get the ISBN of the book you need and look on Amazon or Half.com. Also, Craigslist. The only time I buy at B & N is if I am getting a gift for someone and need a new book.
... when the teacher announced the highest grade (mine - he didn't say my name but a few other students turned and asked if it was me), i admitted it was me and they all said "wow you must not work, have no other class, etc". i explained "no, i do work full-time, take 3 other classes, plus i'm paying for this all myself (no financial aid) and i just force myself to study like mad". they all kinda waved me off saying "oh well, that's why...you're paying for it yourself. when you have financial aid paying for it, you're like ah whatever, it's not my money". i didn't know what to say...
i know how you feel. i also work 40 hours a week and last year took ap1&2 in 2 summer sessions lasting 12 weeks total (it was like taking a whole year of anatomy in less than a semester, labs were 2x a week, i was frikkin exhausted but i managed a's in both! ). in ap2 lab there was this one chick who noticed i was aceing my lab tests and decided to look on my paper occasionally all the while me trying to make sure i covered my paper. i decided to teach her a lesson and i took a tip from a post here i read once: on a 10-question multiple choice test i wrote down in pencil the letter after the one that was my answer and i could tell she was religiously copying (if my answer was a i would write b, etc). when she went to hand in her sheet i erased each one and wrote in the correct ones. she gets a 0 and i got a 10. ha ha, beeyach.
after that i was able to switch my seat
the point of my story: she once had that impression that i had nothing else to do, and i explained to her that i race to campus right after work for labs (lectures were online), so no i don't have time like that. she complained that she had a kid and it's hard to study, and i just said well, i know someone with 3 kids with no help who is getting a's so obviously it's not that hard.
some people are just whacked! i have no idea how they get past high school!
i went on half.com and got it for $42 including three day shipping. get the isbn of the book you need and look on amazon or half.com. also, craigslist. the only time i buy at b & n is if i am getting a gift for someone and need a new book.
and i hope you turned around and relisted that bad boy online to sell it to someone else. sell it for less and your out of pocket for the book is minimal!
was just in p'cola b&n the other day, browsing through the shelves. nursing books are still on shelves in that city.
same here in the daytona beach area ... not that i am taking nclex anytime soon (i still have to do nursing school) but i enjoy perusing the books to alert me as to what is ahead for me. i think the corruption could be regional, thats for sure.
B&N, at least in my area (Manhattan, NYC) has largely replaced the NYPL (New York Public Library), as place where students go to do their homework/research.
Almost every day school is in session one can see students of all ages littered about the floors, chairs, tables etc using various text and other books off the shelves to do their homework and or research. Some are quite bold and will take books costing dear out of their plastic shrinkwraps so they can use it for their own work.
I for one do not want to purchase a book, text or otherwise that is dog eared, tattered, full of snack crumbs, coffee stained and so forth. Am sure B&N looses money as such books must either be sold at a discount or simply discarded.
College text books have always been expensive, and those for the healthcare and other professional studies are very dear indeed. OTHO college students are not always flush with cash, so probably that is the reason for thefts.
Have also seen nursing students (in uniform), at local Kinko's copying entire Lippincott nursing books, page by page, cover to cover.
DawnSue
50 Posts
Well, I still want to be a NP, and that's my goal. I'm going to put up with it, and hopefully, just light my corner and be sweet. Getting educated, taking it seriously, and continuing to learn will hopefully work in my favor. I know as a simple CNA/phlebotimist I felt so good getting calls from all over the hospital to handle tough sticks -- I was as happy to help the pincushion patient feel better as I was to get the blood when no one else could.
Honeymist -- where in MA are you now? I worked at an amazing little Cambridge hospital. Inspiring. Always looked fwd to my shifts. I will PM you.
Blackpants: yep.
Thanks to everyone who chimed in. I appreciate all comments.