Opinions on equipment

Rena RN 2003, RN · Oct 10, 2002

my laptop has been my ultimate saving grace. i also type out my notes because i type much faster than i write and it's so much easier to read. also with nursing school, you'll write quite a few extensive papers/case studies. having my own computer at home was so much better than going to the LRC or using the computer lab at school. also most of the textbook come with cd's that have some pretty decent q & a type things. i've been able to get online from home and access our LRC (learning resource center/library) from home and that's made a big difference in the amount of time i have to spend away from home and the kids.

i also purchased a pda a few months ago and so far i like it. just installed a drug guide that will hopefully help me at clinical.

as far as being organized, at first it was just a nice sized date book so that i could write in all my assignments and any personal events that were going on. now i do it all with the pda.

and of course there is the traditionals such as scope, good water resistant watch, etc.

good luck to ya!

JennyRN2B · Oct 10, 2002

Rena,

Thanks for the info. I too have thought the convenience of the lap top would be worthwhile. I did want to get some input on how much I would use it "in class". We have a nice home computer that I can use, but I was mainly thinking about the note taking and organizing that I might be able to do having a lap top with me at school.

Call me silly, but would you mind clarifying "pda" personal...assistant??? I feel silly asking... clue me in. :rolleyes:

Thanks again,

Jenny

JennyRN2B · Oct 10, 2002

OOPS...........now I am feeling really silly, yes PDA slang for palm yes... I knew I would regret asking.:roll

Jen

how about this question then: Which one to buy first and if you had to choose between which would you buy???

Rena RN 2003, RN · Oct 10, 2002

well, i bought a desktop computer for home first too. and it's a nice one. but i found that i was always needing the computer to be somewhere i wasn't. :chuckle

so then, i thought about having a computer to take with me everywhere i go. so i got the laptop. and for a while i did take it with me to school, to dr. appts with the kids, etc.

i didn't use it that much when away from home but boy i love sitting in my recliner finishing my assignments rather than at the desk with the big computer.

i got the pda mainly just to try them out and see what i would actually do with one. didn't spend a lot of $$$. i bought a sony clie and it cost me around $100 with a $30 free gift card from best buy because they had made a mistake in their weekly ad. so all in all, $70.

and it's okay but i will eventually purchase of of the 'larger' models that have recharable batteries, larger memory storage, color screen, and faster processor thingy.... the next model i buy will also have microsoft word and a portable keyboard.

so i guess it would depend on what you are wanting now. if you are wanting to take something to class to take notes with instead of hand writing........ i would suggest a GOOD pda with the portable keyboard. you can link it to the desktop and synchronize them so they (desktop and pda) stay updated with the same information.

i'm prolly sounding about as clear as mud so i apologize in advance. :chuckle

JennyRN2B · Oct 10, 2002

Rena,

Thanks again for your input. So, do you think the pda will basically do all of the things I would be wanting my laptop to do? I guess I need to get on the web and do some research on those. Have you ever done your typing on one? I was just wondering if it was as nice to use as the laptop? Sounds like you got a nice deal. I will try to do some searching and see what I come up with. I am hoping to have a little money left over from my financial aid. I might be dreaming as everyone is mentioning they are broke for the first few semesters. I guess we will have to see.

So how far are you from graduating?

Has it be as hard or harder than you expected?

Jen

Rena RN 2003, RN · Oct 10, 2002

i don't think a pda has all the capabilities that a laptop would but if you already have a home computer and are looking for something easy to take to class to type note with, i think a GOOD pda would be right up your alley.

i've done some of my notes on my pda but i have a very basic one. it doesn't have much memory space so i've decided to eventually get a really nice one to do more with.

i absolutely love my laptop the best though. but i don't use it for what i thought i would. i thought i would take it to class and have something that i could work when i had a 'break'. it didn't turn out that way but i still love my laptop for use at home over using the desktop.

but on to other things. i will graduate june 6, 2003. and can hardly wait for that day to arrive. nursing school has been as hard as i expected it to be as far as book learning goes. what has turned out to be harder than i expected is the time i've had to put into it. if it were just a matter of looking at or reading a book, i wouldn't have to sink 60 hours a week into school. it's the paperwork (case studies, care plans, bib summaries, cai's, etc) that takes the majority of my time.

what about you?