Notes: Laptop, Tablet, or Paper?

[NurseYomi]

Hi all, I am starting an ADN program next month, and I was wondering what do you prefer for note taking? I have been using my tablet for my past college classes, but was considering going back to a notebook and pen lol What is your experience with them in nursing school, and what do you prefer?

[CSTtoRN]

I prefer to write notes personally. I'm planning to write notes in class and then type them up later. I will probably ask to record lectures too.

[imaginemily1323]

Actually, all the above lol

i typically have the teacher's powerpoints open to see the main points that she wants us to learn.

Then i have my study guide with more focal points

Then i have my book open to read more in depth about whatever disease or nursing process they are teaching about

Then i have notes at hand to help stay on task.

how i organize it all into one place so i dont feel overwhelmed with all of my resources,

i write the disease, condition, syndrome or whatever you are learning at the top of my paper. then i write the patho of the disease, then Etiology, then the signs and symptoms, then diagnoses, then the treatments. on the back i write down what am i going to do for this patient and the complications to watch out for. i make note of typical meds to give and education measures as well.

Each disease has so much information. so you want to make sure you narrow it down to "what do i need to know as a nurse" and remember, you are not a doctor, a lab specialist, a physiologist, a pharmacist.. you are a nurse. do not make it harder than what it is

Happy studying and good luck!!!

imagine great things,

Emily:geek:

[cmthmpsn]

For years, I mostly used my laptop, and did just fine. I never really had to review my notes for classes like English, etc. For math or science classes, where there's lots of non-standard notations, it was pencil and paper. I tried using my laptop for nursing lectures, but the info just wasn't sticking in my brain. I have gone back to pencil and paper. If there's a powerpoint for the lecture posted ahead of time, I'll print it out in the 3 slides per page that has the lines beside the slides and take notes there.

[Lols]

I took notes by hand but used an app on my ipad called ITalk. Get the version u pay for. It's about 4.99 and worth it. I recored all lectures and would review them with hand written notes and powerpoints before exams. Very helpful!

[PaulBaxter]

Perhaps some of you might enjoy or benefit from the research studies on this topic:

https://allnurses.com/general-nursing-student/laptop-vs-paper-928772.html