PhD Student Seeking Textbook Advice

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Specializes in Geriatrics, LTC, Care Management, ICU.

I am an RN enrolled in a BS-PhD program, about to start my second semester. I am looking to save money on textbooks and rented all 3 required texts from last semester, of which I purchased one (SPSS Statistics) and sent the others back. I am now looking at options for renting versus buying textbooks for my second semester but am looking for advice on whether I should rent or just buy them upfront. I am not sure if I will need them in the future for studying for comprehensive exams or actually doing research. I suspect that most of the information in them can be found online, which is often more up-to-date anyway.

Could you tell me about your experience with using grad-level textbooks versus online resources in your other classes, studying for comprehensive exams, or in actual research?

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Specializes in nursing education.

There are some textbooks that you will pull out and reference over and over again, your patho book for example. We used the Hamric text (Advanced Practice Nursing) in several classes. Evidence Based Practice in Nursing (Melnyk and Finhout-Overholt) came in handy in subsequent classes also after the "official" nursing research class. Even when there were not required chapters out of these books, they were referenced and the professors seemed to assume that we were familiar with the text. While it is certainly true that the most up-to-date information can be found online, it can be difficult to wade through it all and find what you need concisely written. That is where an excellent textbook comes in.

As far as the certification exam, yes the "seminal" texts are used. http://www.nursecredentialing.org/AdultHealthCNS-TestRef2011.aspx This is just one example (the adult CNS exam, getting phased out I know, but the new adult/gero test will probably have the same reference guide). The Fischbach lab text is there, as is Polit and Beck, Hamric, and other texts that I have from my coursework...and of course the Scope of Practice and Code of Ethics. I've used these many times in paper-writing too and at work as well.

I hope that helps.

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Specializes in Forensic Psychiatric Nursing.

I bought all my textbooks and sold the ones I didn't think I would use again immediately. Amazon will buy textbooks back at something like 50%, so I didn't lose much buy buying and then selling. Renting is fine, but if you think you might use the book again buying/selling might be something to look at.

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Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

I rented mostly, then - if it was something I thought I would want to keep AFTER USING IT- I bought used on ebay or Amazon for cheaps.

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Specializes in nursing education.
I bought all my textbooks and sold the ones I didn't think I would use again immediately. Amazon will buy textbooks back at something like 50%, so I didn't lose much buy buying and then selling. Renting is fine, but if you think you might use the book again buying/selling might be something to look at.

Amazon did buy some of my books back for more than 50% of what I paid. I was very surprised- plus they give you a free shipping label to print. It's a very easy system to use.

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I buy on amazon then sell back, it saves me money in the long run. They pay shipping. I would only rent a book if absolutely certain you will never use again. The majority of phd books will be used as references. I returned most of my qualitative books and my electives.

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