a nurse using a laptop

A Laptop Buying Guide for Nursing Students

 And even though nursing doesn’t seem like it has anything to do with computers, you actually will be using software a lot. 

 

Therefore, as a nursing student, you need to know how to buy the right laptop for your studies. And here is a guide for you. 

 

Mac Vs. Windows

Just like when you pick a laptop in general, the first thing that should come to mind is the Operating System (OS). And this consideration will be different depending on your school’s preference. You will have to learn what programs are mostly used there, and what OS is compatible with them. 

 

However, since MS Office programs are prevalent these days, you may put Windows as your first option. Even if you decide to use Mac in the end, you will have to learn how to use those office programs on that OS. 

 

Get a Decent Processor

Since you’ll be using programs in your study, you should not invest your money on laptops with processors older than the Core i5. If you have a budget of $700 or more, you definitely need to buy a laptop with a Core i7 processor. It will make you able to execute digital tasks faster than if you use an older computer. 

 

Pay Attention to the Storage Capacity

You will learn using your laptop. Therefore, there will be many PDFs, instructional videos, and other files that consume space. 500 GB may seem like much already. But for your needs, a 1TB storage SSD is highly recommended. However, the chances are that you will find your laptop is installed with an HDD by default. You can upgrade that later by buying and installing an SSD card/drive by yourself. This is suggested because SSD can give you much much better, faster, and safer computer performance than if you’re using an HDD. 

 

Check the Secondhand Price

When you buy a laptop that’s worth $700 or more, you need to check how the unit is valued in the secondhand market because sooner or later, you will have to upgrade to a newer laptop, especially for studying. Therefore, you want only a brand that has a good secondhand selling price. 

 

Check the Portability

A 15″ or 17″ laptop may look like the most convenient laptop. The screen is large enough for you to enjoy watching your favorite videos, after all. But remember that your main priority is to study. And just like other students from different fields of expertise, mobility is a vital factor these days. You don’t want a laptop that is too bulky and heavy to carry. And you want it to fit your backpack easily also.