My Nursing Student cannot afford Laptop

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Specializes in Trauma, Emergency, ICU, Education.

I am a new instructor at a small private college with a BSN program. A student who will be starting her first year in the nursing program only has an iPad, and cannot afford to purchase a laptop at this time. An iPad will not suffice for all of the online testing, and virtual simulations that we use; any suggestions about where she could find a good deal on a laptop computer? I am wondering about specific scholarships, or companies that I could have her contact.

Thank you so much!

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Specializes in Former NP now Internal medicine PGY-3.

Can she take out additional loans for one? I’m not sure on scholarships but she could probably get one for 200-300 that would work. Sometimes amazon has cheap ones that a few year models ago.

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Specializes in Former NP now Internal medicine PGY-3.

There is an hp laptop on amazon for 219 that would likely work. It’s probably better than my wife had in undergrad as a premed so I would say that she should be able to get some sort of need based loan by submitting a request to the schools fin aid department.

HP Stream 14-inch Laptop, Intel Celeron N4000, 4 GB RAM, 64 GB eMMC, Windows 10 Home in S Mode (14-cb159nr, Jet Black) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07WMDV7CW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_nhIREbHG1T4KQ

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Specializes in oncology.

Many local computer repair shops have used ones for sale. That's what I am going to do when I need another one.

Is a laptop a specific requirement for the nursing program? If so, there may be requirements in terms of memory, speed etc.. If a laptop is required financial aide may cover it. These are all points that the student will need to investigate with financial aid and scholarship departments of your college.

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Specializes in Occupational Health.

does she need a laptop? what about a Chromebook?

If she truly needs a laptop there are excellent deals on HP or Dell refurbished models (I.e. $200 range)

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Specializes in Emergency.

Groupon has great prices on refurbished electronics. All come with a guarantee. I've bought three laptops from them over the years. My last purchase is a really decent Lenovo running Windows 10 with everything a student could ever need.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

Doesn't your school provide access to a computer center??

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Public and school libraries provide access to computers but this requires good planning as the whole world tries to sign up to use them at the same time. This is what instructors usually tell students when they don’t make alternate plans for those without personal computers. As if people had time and transportation to live at the library.

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I would imagine that library hours may not be as accessible as they would normally be right now, either. Some are likely to not be open for a while yet at all.

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