Laptops for online school

zmansc, ASN, RN · Feb 6, 2015

My laptop is an ultrabook which retails for under $500, it is comparable to a roughly $2000 mac book. If you don't mind paying the extra, mac books are great. You should check with your school however, as there are sometimes programs that do not run on mac books that are required. At my school those with mac books are not supported by the IT group, which can be an issue for them.

IrishIzCPNP, MSN, RN, APRN, NP · Feb 6, 2015

I have a MacBook Air and love it. I have no technology issues. I can't imagine a school that can't "support" Mac. You need dependable!

lhflanurseNP, APRN · Feb 6, 2015

One thing to consider that I saw in my clinicals was some of the EHR does not work on a Mac. There is a "work around" but you don't have the full access...especially with eClinicals.

FutureRN101 · Feb 6, 2015

I just got an acer aspire switch 10 and love it. It's compact but not too small and the touch screen is nice. I also sometimes use it in tablet form of I'm just using it to read something at home.

IrishIzCPNP, MSN, RN, APRN, NP · Feb 7, 2015

One thing to consider that I saw in my clinicals was some of the EHR does not work on a Mac. There is a "work around" but you don't have the full access...especially with eClinicals.

I've never been expected to use my own computer for clinicals. So many are license based and installed on the machines...I can't imagine too many places wanting to spend the license fee or take the time to install on a laptop that isn't there's.

My current site uses a web based EHR that works wonderfully on a MAC...it's what the entire office uses. I also know of another EHR (not web based) that is being used on a MAC.

I don't know how much of an issues this really is. I've had no issues having a Mac as a student. I have watched a student with a non-Mac struggle with issues.

lhflanurseNP, APRN · Feb 7, 2015

All I can do is relate what I saw during my practicum in regards to eClinical and a Mac. Several of the students told me this is common place in the PA program.

IrishIzCPNP, MSN, RN, APRN, NP · Feb 7, 2015

All I can do is relate what I saw during my practicum in regards to eClinical and a Mac. Several of the students told me this is common place in the PA program.

And I was pointing out more specifically what I have seen with the variety of sites I've been at and the variety of EHRs. You spoke to one...so I felt it was reasonable to point out what I have encountered with several sites.

I'm not sure what you mean by commonplace. Eclinical?

I'm almost done an NP program have using a MAC had never been an issue.

lhflanurseNP, APRN · Feb 7, 2015

IrishlzRN, glad to know that this may be a limited problem, but students should inquire just to make sure. No hard feelings:roflmao:

IrishIzCPNP, MSN, RN, APRN, NP · Feb 7, 2015

IrishlzRN, glad to know that this may be a limited problem, but students should inquire just to make sure. No hard feelings:roflmao:

It's going to be hard to inquire for many schools. Every student I know goes into the program's not knowing where clinicals would be. Some don't know where they are going until weeks before. So many EHRs aren't web based and it's just not likely a facility is going to load it on a laptop that isn't theirs. The cost of licenses and stuff would make that a pain. I'm actually thrilled to finally be with a place that has a web based EHR because it makes my life so much easier. I can actually use my own computer which is far nicer than any laptop I've used at other sites.

There are just so many EHR out there now...I wouldn't even worry about that. You need reliability more than anything especially if any portion of your program is online!!!!