What books did you keep??

caliotter3 · Mar 23, 2009

Sounds ok by me. I kept all of mine mainly because I didn't want to lose out on my investment. Can't get rid of them if you ask for too much. You can always pick up an up to date reference in any area as time goes by. Those paperback review books now cost almost as much as some of my texts did back when I went to school.

truern · Mar 23, 2009

I never paid all that much for my books so I pretty much kept them all. I have loaned them to nursing students, though.

Trauma Columnist · Mar 23, 2009

My take on the books is to keep them for a year or so until you establish your area of practice then get rid of them. I've been a nurse for a few years so my nursing books are all out of date (and out of print - lol). At any rate, I use a blackberry now and everything is safely tucked in there that I need.

WalkieTalkie, RN · Mar 23, 2009

OMG, keeping books, for the most part, is such a waste! I sold nearly all of mine back either immediately following the end of a semester, or directly following graduation. I've never regretted it, and my friends who have since moved and then wanted to get rid of their books have found that they are now out of date and worthless...and these books are like copyright 2006, 2007, etc, so not too old. I kept trying to tell them this but they didn't listen, and now they do. Nobody wants to move with a TON of heavy boxes of old and outdated books!

Anyway, I kept my med surg book and my critical care book since I work in critical care. I definitely got rid of anything I don't deal with a lot (OB, psych, etc). If I ever want to look something up in one of these areas, I can look it up in our policy/procedure since we use Potter & Perry, or there is always Google/going to that type of floor, etc.

My advice would be to keep your basic book (like med surg), and if you're specializing, the book from that class too.

WalkieTalkie, RN · Mar 23, 2009

Oh yeah, keep in mind that if your bookstore won't offer you a decent price for them, check out the seller sections on amazon.com and half.com and you may find that you will get a better sale price.

Lorie P. · Mar 23, 2009

i kept my med/surge, fundamentals and lab book. i also kept my tabers and mosbey's dictionary. i just really like books in general and kept these as references.

try selling them on e-bay, half.com or if you can sell them try www.paperbackswap.com.

Jules A, MSN · Mar 23, 2009

The only things I kept were ones that I couldn't get any money for on Amazon.com. I figure I've always got google for questions as well as the books on my unit.

Midwest4me · Mar 24, 2009

I kept them all. Well, all but one wonderful A&P book which I gave to my sister who is in nursing school. It contained meticulously detailed photos--color as well as black and white glossies---of autopsied persons. I meant to sell the others but never got around to it and now they're out of date.

cebe385RN · Mar 24, 2009

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vashtee, RN · Mar 24, 2009

I am graduating from my RN program in June and I am trying to sell the books I don't think I will need (mostly because I need the cash and because I don't want them lying around). So what books did you keep?? I am thinking Med Surg book, maternal-child book, medical dictionary, med book and labs. Getting rid of psych, pharm, critical care manual, fundamentals, and one infant/child.

It sounds like you are keeping the exact same ones I kept, only I also kept FAST AND EASY EKGs. I haven't opened any of them, though. I use my palm.

April, RN, BSN, RN · Mar 24, 2009

I kept Med/Surg and critical care, which I have used from time to time since becoming an RN. I also kept my pedi book because I've always had an interest in that specialty and still think there is a chance I may try it someday. I got rid of my medical dictionary and lab books because you can get all that info online, and more up to date too. Most hospitals have handbooks on the computers to refer to as well. I haven't once regretted getting rid of all those books! It actually felt quite good