OU RN-BSN: using old book editions

[KoUkLa]

Hello, I am about to start the RN-BSN program this Summer. I was wondering if you can use old editions to save money. Also, do you really need to buy all of the books in the classes?

I am taking 4510 and 4540.

Thanks!

[woodsyny, MSN]

Some of the classes used newer and older editions. I would email the professor to see which editon the syllabus is based on. I just finished up the program and found renting the books much cheaper then buying and I did not end up with a lot of books that I did not need anymore

[BacktotheBeach, ADN, BSN, RN]

I have frequently used the last edition for the required textbooks. In many of my classes the TA has even posted corresponding chapters in new and old editions. I found I always needed the books as the discussion board posts need the material to discuss and quote from. I would make sure to have the current APA book, or use Purdue OWL.

Half.com is a great place to buy your books used. I did this and frequently sold them back five weeks later for close to what I paid. They also rent books.

[applesxoranges, BSN, RN]

People were citing the old editions in the discussion board posts. I just rent mine. The 5 week classes enable me to rent the books for under 100 dollars total. Make sure you select the lowest number of days you can.

Also, Bigwords.com is helpful for finding the lowest price books.

[cincinursemary]

I Google the Ibsn number and see what comes up. One time I found one of my nursing books listed from Good Will in Michigan. Cost me all of $25.00. But I usually buy from Amazon or Alibris.

[chuckster, ADN, BSN, RN, EMT-B]

I used the previous edition of texts exclusively throughout the OU program, rarely paid more than $10 for a book, and often less than $5. Amazon is a good place to start, and you can at least find the ISBN of the edition you're looking for there, but there are also quite a few used book sites such as Abe and Alibris.

The changes in content are usually small, often insignificant, and are usually more in the ordering of the chapters. Obviously, it's more work since the chapters/pages referenced in the syllabus won't line up with your text but I found most of the TA's to be sympathetic when I contacted them and asked for a listing of the chapter headings from the assigned edition. In the relatively rare cases where the TA was uncooperative, I was able to get the chapter listing from a fellow student or in one case, on-line.

I'll caution that this is not for everyone since it is more work. In addition, some professors insist that you need the version they're using and that you absolutely cannot use a previous edition. I've never found these dire-sounding warnings to be be the case however and despite both the thinly veiled professorial threats and being a somewhat indifferent student, still managed to complete the OU program as a summa cum laude grad using nothing but old texts.

YMMV but good luck!

[applesxoranges, BSN, RN]

In Gerontology all the stuff is in the old edition. So frustrating! I have to look at two different sheets to figure out where it is in the new edition they wanted us to get. If I had known that everything would be listed in the old edition, I would have gotten the old edition.

[BacktotheBeach, ADN, BSN, RN]

In Gerontology all the stuff is in the old edition. So frustrating! I have to look at two different sheets to figure out where it is in the new edition they wanted us to get. If I had known that everything would be listed in the old edition, I would have gotten the old edition.

Yes! I had a few classes where having the old edition gave you an advantage because they didn't update their info!