Would a laptop be helpful for nursing school?

guiltysins · Jun 16, 2009

Well I have a laptop but I don't take it to class. It's nice to have a laptop in general because if you ever did need to take it you would be able to. It would depend on whether you'd want to take it to class to take notes on. Some people type them, some people write them and some people record the lectures. It depends on if you're comfortable typing up notes on your laptop in class and not worrying about being distracted.

kace081106 · Jun 16, 2009

Thanks for the advice. Did you record lectures?????

Multicollinearity, BSN, RN · Jun 16, 2009

I have a laptop as my primary computer, but it never leaves my home. I don't think you really need to take a laptop to campus.

SnowRain7489 · Jun 16, 2009

Things to think about: are you a fast typer, what is your ability to take good notes on a laptop, who is the teacher, what is the class

Pathophysiology:My teacher talked SUPER FAST. She did post the powerpoints online & I printed them off 'n took notes in the margins. However, there was so much info that she gave us that wasn't even on the outline & there was not enough room on the powerpoint to write the additional notes. I would get so frustrated because my notes were messy because I had arrows pointing in every direction and it took me an hour just to organize everything (waste of time), and I wasn't even able to write alot of what she said down in my notes!!

Mental health: I had 1 teacher who was really easy (in terms of how she lectured). Taking notes on my notebook was good enough and I highlighted the boxes&diagramms in the book that she told us to know. My other mental health teacher talked fast (sometimes) only when she lists things like signs of a client w/ bipolar disorder/something like that. So when she lectured I could've probably taken more notes with her if I would've had a laptop.

vashtee, RN · Jun 16, 2009

Personally, I think if you have a computer at home already, I'd invest in a PDA instead, and download some nursing programs that you can use in clinicals such as a drug guide, a medical encyclopedia, lab and test info, and care plan info.

New 2 iceeYouRN · Jun 16, 2009

Hands down the best laptop for class would be a MacBook. Yes I know these are expensive but are well worth the investment. On a MacBook you can use Microsoft Word (for Mac) and it has a special template called notebook, this is amazing!! It is the most easy format to type notes in! It allows for easy tabbing with bullets already programmed in with each tab. ALSO, it has a recording feature built in so that you can record the lecture while you type. Then when you want to go review the lecture all you have to do is click a button next to the point in the notes you want to relisten to and it will begin to play at that point where you were typing. This proved to be VERY helpful when I had a professor who only verbally lectured so I could go back and replay his lecture and fill in my notes.

Honestly the Mac is so helpful and easy to use, you wont go wrong on this investment!

good luck

tyreynolds0123 · Jun 16, 2009

Well we just started our 'Nursing' classes this semester. I've used several devices in the last few years to help me get through the sciences and what I've seen so far this summer. The laptop I use in the classroom during lectures, as most of the profs use power point presentations and I can't write very neatly. I also digitally record all of my lecture classes and listen to them both at home and on my commute to work, it helps me reinforce and clarify what I have already heard once. And so far in clinicals and at work, I use a PDA with medical software on it for reference and documentation purposes.

Please understand though, I am somewhat of a geek/tech nurse. So only use what you are comfortable with, and can afford.

kace081106 · Jun 17, 2009

That is helpful. I know that is not all necessary but sounds like something that I would do. I just hate not knowing something or not getting it. I need all the resources I can get. Where do you get the medical software and what kind of PDA and recorder do you have? I have a 45 min commute to school so thought it would be a perfect time to re-listen to lectures. Have you found that all of your resources made things easier....or just more organized?

2bnurseforce1 · Jun 17, 2009

I found my laptop came in handy when class was over and I went to the library at the school and had a private room where we could have study groups

CrufflerJJ, BSN, RN, EMT-P · Jun 17, 2009

The laptop is handy at school if you want to review powerpoint slides before a test, or if you want to work on a paper or presentation in your "spare time" between classes. Then there's that all valuable mindless web surfing during lunch!

9livesRN, BSN, RN · Jun 17, 2009

it does help a whole lot...

a lappie and a flash drive, where you store your notes, powerpoints and recorded voice lectures.

i use the lappie a lot when i am working on case scenarios researching instead of books!

i can get to it faster!