Question for all nurses

SmilingBluEyes · Aug 7, 2004

I used old fashioned pen and paper. But that was 7 years ago. If I were to go now,and it were in my budget, i would go w/a PDA. I do online classes, so that is another ballgame.

LydiaGreen · Aug 7, 2004

Many pda's are compatible with a portable keyboard (folds up nice and small, about the same size as my pocket pc). The portable keyboard makes it very much like a laptop without nearly the expense and is more portable than even a laptop. The other thing about the pocket pc is that it uses a windows platform - I was able to write papers in Word on my pocket pc, put it in the cradle connected to my desktop computer and print it out - no problem. My pocket pc was INVALUABLE in preparing for clinicals. The programs that I purchased for it cut my preparation time to about a quarter of what it was without it.

beckymcrn · Aug 7, 2004

I just used old fashioned pencil and paper

It worked for me.

Didn't have to worry about loosing it from some computer glitch.

hypnotic_nurse · Aug 7, 2004

I think better when I write. So I used paper and pencil. A number of my classmates used cassette recorders, though -- which is also a good idea. Although I type well and fast, I wouldn't have used that method in class because I don't retain what I type.

hospicemom · Aug 7, 2004

I would say it depends on what YOU need to study. I am a visual person..all about the pen, paper and diagrams for me.....I tried recorders, but went right back to my notebooks.....good luck.

RN4NICU, LPN, LVN · Aug 7, 2004

Pen and paper. I do recall a gentleman in my A&P I class that would take notes on his laptop during lectures. After an entire semester of hearing the click, click, click, click, click of his typing away, I don't think there was any one of us in the class that did not want to throw either him or his laptop (or both) right out the window. One would not think it would be a big deal, but day after day after day - VERY annoying. Sort of like someone popping their gum. OK for a little while, but by the end of a two hour lecture, you are over it and at the end of a semester of two hour lectures, you are WAY beyond over it. Thankfully, he wasn't in the class the following semester! Either he didn't need it or someone really did toss him out the window. Maybe his laptop suffered an accident.

I currently take online classes and click away at my own keyboard, but I do so in the privacy of my home so it doesn't wear on other students' nerves.

FutureIsBlue, LPN, LVN · Aug 7, 2004

Thankfully, he wasn't in the class the following semester! Either he didn't need it or someone really did toss him out the window. Maybe his laptop suffered an accident.

Lol! :lol2:

UM Review RN, ASN, RN · Aug 7, 2004

I still use pen and paper for notes. My handwriting's gotten really hard on the eyes, though. Maybe I'll invest in a PDA one of these days when they're really cheap.

mom and nurse · Aug 7, 2004

I used pen and paper. I followed along in my nursing book for the clinical classes by underlining information in the book as the teacher mentioned it. At the same time I would place the date she'd mentioned that information in the margin by the underlined sentences. (It made it easier to follow along if I knew what topics were going to be discussed for the day so I could turn to it in my book ahead of time). I dated the information so I could keep track of what was covered since the last test. (I'd learned to do all this from another student.....)

This only worked in some classes though with some teachers.....

dave1117 · Aug 7, 2004

for meds. All of the big drug book publishers put there book in software for pda's, anyone try it, use it, like it???

srhdaw · Aug 8, 2004

Thanks to all that replied!...

i was asking because... i stink at keeping things organized....i think if i used a laptop or a PDA id be able to organize really well.

i currently come home from class everyday and type my notes....and to me there are no such thing as glitches! hehe got that covered... i back everything up, usually every 2 days......

i will go over all that you all posted!.... and make a decision!

Thanks!