1st semester textbooks...

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I start nursing school in 15 days ( eek...sooner than I realized) and I started buying my textbooks slowly to lessen the blow...

We have 17 required textbooks...and I have pretty much spent every penny to my name buying them. I searched for them used but nothing really came out of it. Apparently most students keep them, which is understandable...theres like a 2 foot pile of them in my office and I feel way overwhelmed already. I've spent like $970 on books alone.

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I still have to print like 400 pages of syllabi and class objectives...which is going to cost me as well because my home printer would like catch on fire if I tired to do it at home:angryfire...

Did anyone else have this issue? Or were you able to find them used? Did you get good use out of them?

I feel like I need reassurance:o

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I spent more than $1000 on books in my first semester and felt similarly shell-shocked and overwhelmed, so I can sympathize! I know this doesn't help that much now but do you know anyone a semester or two ahead in your program? I didn't, but I wish I had because as it turns out I didn't actually use half of the books! I don't like to buy used books unless I can find non-highlighted ones, so I usually buy mine new which definitely adds to the cost! I do seem to save a little money by buying on Amazon.com, but it's not a whole lot. Again, if you know someone ahead of you in the program you may ask if you could buy their old books from them for whatever they'd get from selling them back to the bookstore. I know I'd love to sell back some of my old books, but there are new editions out now and the bookstore won't take them. Buying the previous edition might also be an option - with most of my books, if I compare the edition I have to the one the bookstore has (if it's newer) there is very little difference at all. That would save you money as well.

Does your school have a computer lab? There are a couple of labs on my campus where you can print for free. Might be worth checking into.

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I spent over 900 on books my first semester as well. Second semester only about 300 so it does get better. you can find used ones depending on the ones the instructors choose to use. this semester all mine were new but its ok. you can use them for referance. most of the first semester ones cover a huge range of things so they can be used thru out the program. do you have to print the syll or cant you just save them as a word doc and read them as needed? Good luck with your first semester and keep up with the reading!

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the computer lab idea is great! but save trees if u can and save your back from having to carry all that paper. get a wheely backpack they are a back saver for sure!!!!!!

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Specializes in med/surg.

i know alot of people don't like to part with their books, and some you really don't use, ask someone in the program ahead of you. i would definitely check into the free printing if it's available, we had free prinitng in our library, and i used it as much as possible.

another thought is to se if anyone will loan you their books, that might be easier than parting permanently with them, just a thought, i tried to buy used, but most often had to buy new. good luck wish you nothing but success!!

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My books for first semester weren't quite that expensive but I did get some of my books used. You should check out Barnes and Nobles website and Amazon.com, they sell used textbooks and you can usually get a good deal. As far as your syllabus...I'm not sure how many pages mine have been but it's only cost me about 13 bucks to print it out at Staples. I choose to print it at staples because buying ink cartriges is far more expensive!! Don't get discouraged about the books, they will make great references for later and first semester was my most expensive semester, as we reuse some of the books during later semesters. Don't get discouraged!!! Look at as an investment in your future. I wish you the best of luck...and remember that you are not alone in your frustration there are many of us in the same boat.

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Half.com is another good one. and also ask your instructors which books are absoultely needed. we had to buy memory notebooks which i never cracked

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Specializes in New Graduate Nurse.

I spent nearly $1000 on books for my first semester of nursing school. Plus the cost for scrubs, stethoscope, shoes and the various miscellaneous. By the end of it all I had added nearly $1500 to my credit card balance. I had searched thorugh half.com, amazon.com etc...and didn't really find much savings for my books. Now that I have them, I understand why it is hard to find these books used. For one, a lot of them go out of date really quick (i.e. drug guides and nursing handbooks)....plus for the most part you are going to use these books throughout nursing school and after.

The blessing is that I spent less that $100 for all my books/supplies for second semester.

Good Luck and welcome to nursing school....its a rush!

akspudus

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This is my Favorite website for book comparison.

http://nyus.cheapbooks.com/?adwords&gclid=CN_a8vL4-I8CFRuhFQodMg5kMA

Even buying used I easily spent over $900 on supplies...

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I start nursing school in 15 days ( eek...sooner than I realized) and I started buying my textbooks slowly to lessen the blow...

We have 17 required textbooks...and I have pretty much spent every penny to my name buying them. I searched for them used but nothing really came out of it. Apparently most students keep them, which is understandable...theres like a 2 foot pile of them in my office and I feel way overwhelmed already. I've spent like $970 on books alone.

2101050200079084871QgScSI_ph.jpg

I still have to print like 400 pages of syllabi and class objectives...which is going to cost me as well because my home printer would like catch on fire if I tired to do it at home:angryfire...

Did anyone else have this issue? Or were you able to find them used? Did you get good use out of them?

I feel like I need reassurance:o

I didn't even look for used, I want new books I don't want anyone elses notes or smeared food on my books lol. I did buy many through BN though, if you have their club card (25.00 a year) they have a large discount on books. My school only gives a tiny discount for being part of their assoctiation. We needed a lot of books but it's brokent up in two sections the 2nd section is 3/17 so I can buy those seperatly.

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Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.

During the time after I graduated and was studying for my state board exam I had all my textbooks in boxes on the floor of my bedroom. Some idiot in the apartment next door left the water to the pool turned on all night and there was a flood. The water seeped into my apartment and the carpeting just sucked up the water. My books, of course, were like a sponge and just soaked up the water as well. I lost them all. (This was in the California desert where places are all ground level and there are no basements.) The landlord was sorry, but what could they do? Over the years I have replaced or updated most of these textbooks and added even more. I currently have two 3-foot piles of nursing textbooks and supplemental books. You will use every one of them at one time or another in the future as questions arise.

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i have spent almost a $1000 on books and still spending, this site has been of tremendous help as i sometimes ask students already in the program as to what books are good; too many reader unfriendly books around. i empathize with you.

“cost or no cost, we shall make it to the end”. that’s my motto.:-)

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