Getting into nursing school is quite exciting. However, before you start your first day you need to have the proper equipment. That includes a great, well-rounded laptop.
As a nursing student, you will be asked to transfer lectures, write notes, execute projects, and even do some research.
The following laptops listed in this guide will allow you to handle those tasks with ease.
Contents
Quick Summary
After checking over 20 laptops on the market, we came up with three that met our standards across five categories: storage, operating system, battery life, RAM, and portability.
- If you’re on a very tight budget and need a laptop that can perform basic tasks, go for the Acer Chromebook 15.
- The Apple MacBook Air 13.3-inch is a good option for users who want high performance and long-lasting battery life.
- Acer 14″ FHD IPS Display Chromebook is a good choice if you’re searching for a laptop in the Chrome OS category that has a fantastic display.
Who Should Get This?
Once you get into nursing school, there’s a whole workload waiting to welcome you. The best way to keep up with all of the assignments is a reliable laptop. It will help you tackle even the hardest tests and provide you with a centralized location to store your files.
Every nursing student can appreciate and make use of the different models in this guide. However, this article is not for you if you’re looking for high-end laptops that can carry out heavy tasks like color grading, or gaming.
Best Laptops for Nursing Students: What to Consider in 2022
As a nursing student, you should consider the following features before buying a laptop for school:
Battery-Life
It’s quite frustrating when your laptop dies in the middle of writing a paper. The best way to get around that issue is to buy a machine with a strong battery. Every computer is different, but you want one that stays unplugged for at least six hours.
Storage
Laptops have either SSD or HDD storage. SSD, also known as Solid State Drive, is better than HDD (Hard-Disk Drive) in terms of both speed and durability. However, SSD models tend to be more expensive. As such, you should opt for at least 128 GB, which gives you a great middle-ground between performance and price.
RAM
The RAM on your computer allows you to multitask and gives you the option to run multiple programs. You want a laptop that has at least 4GB RAM, but you can increase that if your budget permits.
Operating System
When it comes to your operating system, you can choose between an Apple (Mac OS), Google (Chrome OS), or Microsoft (Windows OS). Whichever one you go for, it’s necessary to ensure it corresponds with what your institution approves of and what you are able to afford.
Processor
A processor helps you handle tasks on the computer. As a nursing student, you can go for Intel Core i3 if you’re on a budget. However, if you have more wiggle room, you can get an Intel Core i5, which is a mid-tier processor, or the high-end i7.
Portability
Laptops come in a variety of shapes, weights, and sizes. Always get lighter options that are easy to move or carry around campus.
Best Laptops for Nursing Students: Our Picks for 2022
1. Acer Chromebook 15
The Acer Chromebook 15 is an excellent choice for nursing students on a tight budget. While the machine doesn’t come with all the bells and whistles, it has a sturdy, plastic build that holds up well. The model comes with a 15.6-inch IPS panel and has viewing decent angles. As for the storage, it has 16GB SSD, which should be good enough for any nursing student.
In addition, the model has a 4GB DDR4 RAM with Intel Celeron Dual-Core 3205U. This model is also equipped with a dual-band 802.11 ac wireless technology. The speakers are superb in case you will need them to listen to lecture notes, and it offers five to six hours of battery life. While the model is quite heavy, clocking in at 4.8 pounds, it has a good amount of ports. You get 1 USB 3.0, an SD card reader, HDMI, and USB 2.0.
What We Like:
- Affordable
- Decent viewing angles
- Decent performance
- Five to six-hour battery life
What We Don’t Like:
- It’s not portable
2. Apple MacBook Air 13.3-Inch
The MacBook Air 13.3-Inch is a fantastic option for any nursing student with a large budget. It has a sleek design and comes with a 13.3-inch LED display and 1440×900 resolution. However, where this stands out is in its battery life and performance. Even without the latest processor, the Intel Core i5 with 8GB LPDDR3 RAM does a great job. The model runs on Mac OS X, which guarantees a smooth performance. You can choose from the two available storage options: 256GB or 128GB SSD. On top of that, there is 14-hour battery life and it only weighs 3 pounds. That combination makes it easy to take around campus.
What We Like:
- Good battery life
- Great CPU performance
- Lightweight
- Two storage devices
What We Don’t Like:
- The display could be better
3. Acer 14″ FHD IPS Display Chromebook
The Acer 14” FHD is yet another model on this list that uses the Chrome OS. Besides the fact that the model is one of the most affordable laptops for nursing students, it comes in an attractive sparkling silver color. It has a crystal clear look thanks to the 14” FHD widescreen IPS backlit display resolutions of 1920×1080. The model also allows you to make good use of your hours in school due to its 12-hour long battery life.
The portable machine weighs 3.42lbs. It also works extremely quickly as a result of the 1.6Ghz Intel Celeron processor and 4GB RAM. If you aren’t using a lot of software, the model’s 32GB capacity will give you great performance. There is also 1 HDMI port and 2 USB 3.0 ports that allow for easy data transfer.
What We Like:
- Lightweight
- Comes with a wireless mouse
- Good battery life
- Impressive screen display
What We Don’t Like:
- Its 4GB can be slow
Tips on How to Protect Your Laptop
Here are nine tips that will help protect your laptop while you’re in nursing school:
- Avoid putting your laptop close to appliances that produce a strong magnetic field, such as high-tech refrigerators, televisions, and prominent speakers.
- Don’t touch your screen with any pointer or pen that can scratch the screen.
- Close your device’s lid when it’s not in use to limit the amount of dust that settles on the keyboard.
- If your laptop is outside in the cold, always bring it inside and let it warm up before turning it on.
- If you’re traveling, always shut down your laptop and remove any thumb drives that might be inside.
- Get a quality laptop bag to protect your computer against jostles and drops.
- Avoid setting up straightforward passwords that anyone could guess.
- Avoid taking your laptop to wet areas like the kitchen counter, beach, or bathtub.
- If you’re traveling, ensure that you have a VPN account to stop any potential hackers.
Bottom Line
Hopefully, you’re able to make the right choice, thanks to the comprehensive buyer’s guide and listed products in this article. The most important thing is for you to choose the best laptops for nursing students that meet your specific requirements and budget.
Which of the above models do you plan to try out? Have you used any of them before? If so, what was your experience? Feel free to let us know in the comments section.
