What books to keep throughout nursing school? (buying/renting)

[ironicitis]

I am currently ordering books for my first semester of nursing school. We have not had orientation and they just told us to get our books when we enrolled.

I'm using my university's bookstore, chegg, and half price. I have the option to rent some of these textbooks. My question is: Which classes did you keep the required books for reference throughout the rest of your nursing school? I don't want to end up renting a book when I'll need it later on down the road to help me with other classes. I also would love to save the money by renting.

The main courses I am taking are fundamentals, pathophysiology, and health assessment. Can anybody help me out?! Thank in advance!

[seanynjboy, BSN]

I am graduating in April and I am keeping my med surg books, a and p textbook and my basic nursing. And whatever we get next semester for critical care.

I sold a bunch on amazon already :)

[tenjuna, MSN]

so far I have found it beneficial to keep my A&P, medical dictionary, and medical terminology books.

[alex1987]

I wouldnt rent any of the books you need for the 1st semester (patho, health assess, fundamentals). During my 1st semester we had to take intro to nursing and legal and ethical issues and those were the only two books I sold after taking my finals. Right now i'm on my 2nd semester taking medsurg and i'm keeping this book as well.

[yooper13]

A&P (that was a pre-req for me and I took it looong ago, but just referred to it the other day while studying for a test), definitely med-surge, drug/lab handbooks, and if you have a care plan book it will come in handy. I still have my fundamentals book, but I don't think I've looked at it for 3 semesters or so...

[Cali_Nurse_209]

I start the BSN program next month and 1st semester I have Intro into Nursing Research, Health Assessment, and Fundamentals. I had originally rented my books but ended up purchasing them because my friend who's in her last semester of the same program said we would be referring back to the books throughout the program, maybe not so much of the Intro into Nursing Research but we will see. I have kept my pre req books like micro, physio, and anatomy and a med term book because they may come in handy in the program.

[OB-nurse2013, BSN, RN]

I kept my care planning book, fundamentals, and med-surg. I wish I didn't keep fundamentals though, I haven't cracked it since but now they just started a new edition so I doubt I can.

[kdbean530]

I'm keeping all of my books. Because you never know what you'll need in the future, and I would hate to have to buy them again. My grandma kept all of her books and I'm happy she did. It's interesting to look through them and see how much has/hasn't changed. I'm hoping my kids will get to do the same.

[cbordenRN]

I would keep the Med Surg book definitely. I referred back to that alot. We also used the same book for M/S II. Plus you can hilite & jot notes in it. I sold peds, Mental Hlth, & Leadership books though.

[KristeyK]

I haven't touched most of my first semester books in quite a while. I did keep my Basic Nursing book handy though. My med-surg book has been used ever since I started my second semester. I also keep my Psych Nursing book close by just to use for care planning ideas. (We're required to have psychosocial dx on our concept maps.)

One thing I do suggest is spending time at the library or a bookstore and finding a care planning book you like, buy it, and NOT letting it out of your hands until the day you graduate. A good care plan book is a beautiful thing to have.