Must-have gadgets for the nursing student

[FDW630]

I start my nursing program this January, and I'm in the process of getting prepared. I've got the uniforms, the shoes, the stethoscope, most of the books, and all of the office supplies. I'm in fundamentals of nursing this semester, so most of that stuff I have already. I was wondering if anyone can tell me what one techy gadget they have found invaluable for notes/lectures/projects during the program? My husband has mentioned getting me an iPad, but I really have no interest and HATE touchscreen keypads. I had looked into the Capture Notes style apps and while they are pretty cool, I can't get over the price of the iPad, considering I might find it to be too much hassle to use and just end up not using it for that. eBooks aren't an option for me...I have to have hardcopies. I have considered a netbook for note taking in class, but wonder if it is more practical just to get a regular laptop? We currently just have one that we share...mine bit the dust over the summer, RIP. Then there is the Kindle Fire. I'm a big eReader fan and have a Kindle already so an upgrade would be awesome, but are they useful in the classroom? We don't have a ton of money to pour into unecessary extras, so I'm looking for one gadget that will serve most every function I would find most useful. If anyone has any suggestions, I would greatly appreciate it! I am not tech savvy, so I really don't know where else to start or what else to ask!

[OB-nurse2013, BSN, RN]

Well I feel like Im kind of the same and related to most things you wrote so Ill try help. I use a laptop for hw and assignments but I don't take it to class usually because I find it too distracting, I just don't have that amount of self control and I pay better attention if I don't have it in class. I wish I had, but can't afford, just a recorder. Some professors won't let yu record some will and this I find very helpful. Especially in my second med surg when I would re-listen to lecture and see things I missed. My friend would download and send me her recordings. These really are the only two things I've used in nursing school and I'm a senior.

[Nurse Kyles, BSN, RN]

An iPhone or smartphone would be very useful. You could get an app for recording & there are so many helpful nursing apps. I used my iPhone all the time while in school. The most time saving app was the Davis drug guide. I cannot even quantify how much time that saved me during school. Typing in the drug name was immensely easier than paging through the book looking each drug up. Good luck!

[Staragate, ADN, ASN, RN]

Better to print out the power points and highlight the key concepts.

[Klimpys]

I am in my first semester and in fundamentals as well. The only thing I have found useful so far is my recorder. I find it easiest to print the power points and take notes on it during class. I have a kindle fire that I can download articles that my teacher posts. She told us to either print out or bring on a kindle the other day, and she barely referenced them I was glad I hadn't wasted paper and ink printing them. It was a bit of a pain trying to figure out where she was in the article on my Kindle though. I have a droid phone with apps. Haven't really used it much, but I might when I start clinicals.

[itsnowornever, BSN, RN]

Honestly? I'm a "techie" and my best "gadget? A nice spiral bound notebook. I think I have about 15 FULL notebooks with ALL of my notes. I literally outlined EVERY book we had to read. That's how I learn. Many would type the outlines or notes as they read, but that didnt' work for me. The physical steps of writing is what made it stick in my head. I never had to go back an study because writing it out did it all for me!

I am a pen/paper LOVER...I can peruse the isles for the PERFECT notebook and the PERFECT pen, it kills my husband. I prefer the cheaper 3-5 subject notebooks, college rule only and FAT pens! LOL! Those were the perfect gadgets. Highlighters were color coded and pen colors were coded also. I am not protective of my phone, but heaven help my children if they messed with my pens or highlighters! LMAO!

[jtboog2003]

I have my iPad, and ALL my notes for nursing school is on my iPad I can send them to my laptop or pc through Dropbox to have a back up copy. everyone keeps asking me about my notes on the iPad and how can they do it. It keeps everything organized and in one place. I like not having to log a bunch of books around or try to find papers from classes like my classmates. nursing school notes are all powerpoint, and they can get really bulky after a while. everything is right on the iPad for me. I love it!

I have a laptop as well, but it is much easier and lighter to carry my iPad around.

[Nurse Kyles, BSN, RN]

I have my iPad, and ALL my notes for nursing school is on my iPad I can send them to my laptop or pc through Dropbox to have a back up copy. everyone keeps asking me about my notes on the iPad and how can they do it. It keeps everything organized and in one place. I like not having to log a bunch of books around or try to find papers from classes like my classmates. nursing school notes are all powerpoint, and they can get really bulky after a while. everything is right on the iPad for me. I love it!

I have a laptop as well, but it is much easier and lighter to carry my iPad around.

I loved my iPad in nursing school as well. My school was pretty keen on us doing mind maps, so ithoughtsHD ended up being a frequently used app. My friends really enjoyed my "fancy" mind maps for our pathophys classes, and teachers were pretty impressed too :)

[Stephalump]

I loved my iPad in nursing school as well. My school was pretty keen on us doing mind maps, so ithoughtsHD ended up being a frequently used app. My friends really enjoyed my "fancy" mind maps for our pathophys classes, and teachers were pretty impressed too :)

What app do you use for mind mapping?

[Nurse Kyles, BSN, RN]

What app do you use for mind mapping?

iThoughts is the app I use. Search for it in the App Store & it has good images for the types of mind maps you can make. iLove! :)

[FDW630]

Honestly? I'm a "techie" and my best "gadget? A nice spiral bound notebook. I think I have about 15 FULL notebooks with ALL of my notes. I literally outlined EVERY book we had to read. That's how I learn. Many would type the outlines or notes as they read, but that didnt' work for me. The physical steps of writing is what made it stick in my head. I never had to go back an study because writing it out did it all for me!

I am a pen/paper LOVER...I can peruse the isles for the PERFECT notebook and the PERFECT pen, it kills my husband. I prefer the cheaper 3-5 subject notebooks, college rule only and FAT pens! LOL! Those were the perfect gadgets. Highlighters were color coded and pen colors were coded also. I am not protective of my phone, but heaven help my children if they messed with my pens or highlighters! LMAO!

So I'm not the only one! :) I study the same way...outlining my chapters. If I do study, I study my outlines. I can spend hours in Staples. My husband thinks it's ridiculous. He wants me to have an iPad so badly that he can't stand it. Personally, I don't think I would get much use out of it. SO many of my classmates have gadgets, I thought maybe I was missing out on a secret or something...surely. I can't really bring myself to drop that much money, on TOP of the $1300+ I'm about spend on books. I have a recorder, and I recorded every lecture in my microbiology class (after I first bought it), and never listened to single recording. So far, the case for purchasing an electronic aid is not looking strong.

[itsnowornever, BSN, RN]

I would record only the most important lectures (If I was weak on a subject that's what I would record) and then listen to it as I was running at the gym so I can fast forward the unimportant topics.

I always thought maybe I should figure out how to make subliminal messages, layer the important lectures inside my fav songs and learn away! LMAO!