necessity of laptop, smartphone, etc?

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School starts Monday (1st semester RN student) and today while at the school for some testing, the teacher mentioned how many books we will be using over the 4 semesters and how a lot of them, plus our ATI materials are all available in electronic form. She said that unless you want to cart around all those books, all the time, she recommended the electronic form. I kind of agree since I picked up ONE of my book boxes today and it's outrageous!

I'm not really interested in getting a smartphone and adding to my cell phone bill. I also have a desktop computer with internet at home that I use for big projects, word processing, etc. Anything I would buy would be strictly for school material and the ease of not having to haul around 100 pounds of books.

So...laptop/netbook? iPad? iPod Touch? Other suggestions? :)

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Specializes in Operating Room.

First of all, I don't bring any of my books with me to class. The instructors provide power point notes for us each class and thats what I use. When I get home, I read over the chapters and write additional notes. I prefer reading from a book than from a screen -- my eyes get tired and strained after staring at it for awhile. I just can't sit in front of my computer for 4-5 hours a day for four months straight, reading. Call me old school but I don't think a laptop/ipad/any other electronic devices is necessary. I have an android phone with data, it works as a little computer that I can look up any questions I have. I love it but I can also live without it.

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i never bring a laptop to school---our school has laptops and desktops and I only use them to print that's all. You don't need a laptop or Ipod touch to succeed in nursing school--those are just good to have.

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Specializes in ER, ICU, Education.

None of it is absolutely necessary, but an ipod touch can be a wonderful clinical tool. They have apps with NCLEX review, drug and lab guides, etc that make things very portable. Just make sure your school and clinical sites allow any tech you consider getting.

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None of it is absolutely necessary, but an ipod touch can be a wonderful clinical tool. They have apps with NCLEX review, drug and lab guides, etc that make things very portable. Just make sure your school and clinical sites allow any tech you consider getting.

There are a ton of neat ipod touch and iphone nursing related apps you can download! lab values, drug guides, calculators, flash cards, etc... Great to review on the bus ride home for me. :) They are handy, but unless you can find a used one cheap or already own one, you don't really *need* it.

I know theres been talk of the iPad going to be used in clinical settings, but as of now, I don't see a big purpose of it. There's better ways to spend your money.

You can find *some* books online, but there aren't a lot of free ebooks out there, and a lot of them are not recent editions. I did luck out the other day and find a nursing book I need for the first term which retails for 70.00. The only way I would find the books more beneficial is if you were able to search for words or phrases like on a text document... except most are just scanned copies of the text.

As other users have mentioned, you don't really *need* your books for the classes, and some you won't even use at all. If they are needed in class, the teacher will usually let you know ahead of time so you're not lugging them around with you. ;)

Laptops are great for school, if you're like me and want to keep all your notes on the computer. I write all my notes by hand, and re-type them on the laptop that night after class incase I need to make copies for friends who missed that class, I lose my notes, etc. Writting it out a second time makes it a lot easier for me to remember. I don't bring my laptop to class always though, unless its a lecture, because its more easy to write it out by hand and jot down additonal notes, little diagrams, etc.

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I personally have found my laptop a valuable tool since being in school period. Mostly because I can take it anywhere, and sometimes studying outside of the house is nice. I honestly do not use it in class much, if ever but I do frequently take it to school with me to use in between classes. Even if it is just to work on a paper, or do a bit of research...Or even for a breather to watch a TV show online, facebook, whatever! :)

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For class all I need is a pen and paper. :D

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im planin on gettin the itouch for school because it does not have a camera so u can bring it to clinical..and all the apps are amazing

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Specializes in N/A.

Love my laptop, love my Blackberry....that being said; I took accelerated Statistics over the summer and the book was online. I ended up purchasing the book because staring at the computer was a huge strain on my eyes!

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in class all i need is a pen and paper...maybe the text book if the teacher in questions refers to text a lot. otherwise i normally do not bring textbook to class unless i plan to study after class.

i bought a 14" laptop, coz the 17" i had was too cumbersome to carry around with me. i will upload my ebooks and will mostly use the ebooks as a quick reference. to study i know i will use the catual book...i am old fashioned like that!

personally i think ipod, ipad, etc are great gadets to have not necessary but am sure i shall find my smaller laptop indespensible.

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Specializes in ER, progressive care.
First of all, I don't bring any of my books with me to class. The instructors provide power point notes for us each class and thats what I use. When I get home, I read over the chapters and write additional notes. I prefer reading from a book than from a screen -- my eyes get tired and strained after staring at it for awhile. I just can't sit in front of my computer for 4-5 hours a day for four months straight, reading. Call me old school but I don't think a laptop/ipad/any other electronic devices is necessary. I have an android phone with data, it works as a little computer that I can look up any questions I have. I love it but I can also live without it.

This is how my school is, too. If you don't want to add a smart phone to your cellphone bill, consider getting an iPod touch. It's just like the iPhone minus the phone capabilities. All of the same apps (including texts) as the iPhone. Also a lot cheaper. I can make do without my iTouch during clinical, though...but it's nice to have.

As long as you have a computer, you will be fine. I don't bring my laptop to class - they're actually prohibited! They're distracting to some students and most students who bring them to class don't really pay attention...they're on facebook or twitter or other social networking websites instead of paying attention in class!

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Specializes in none.

Well my laptop is way to heavy to be carting it around (I tried and it was hard). Personally I plan on getting a net book. I also use my smart phone for some tings but i wear glasses and the screen just isn't large enough for me (mostly I load my power point flashcards to my smartphone)

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