Most nursing schools advise students to get a good-quality laptop before entering college. The reason is that the nursing course requires saving and storing a lot of files, photos, and other valuable information. While you can hold some of these files on a tablet or phone, these data are best secured when kept on a reliable laptop. This guide will help you find the best laptops for nursing students.
Can I Use a Tablet Instead for Nursing School?
While you can use a tablet for nursing school, we highly recommend investing in a laptop. The main reason is storage of files. Tablets typically have less storage capacity than laptops. Also, some schools may not allow the use of tablets, or have a preference for their students to use a laptop to power certain heavy loading software that may need to be used.
Choosing The Right Laptop For Nursing School
Firstly, do nursing students need laptops?
Realistically, nursing school is a very demanding course, and laptops for nursing students are not just an accessory. It will require you access to scheduling, record-keeping, medical tools, as well as word processing, and internet access. A nursing student will also do much online homework, clinical research, simulations, and much more.
As it involves a lot of reading, research, and clinical education, you need to get a high-quality laptop. Remember to check all the best options and get a laptop that will last beyond your studies and beyond the NCLEX itself.
Some applications and software that you may need to access on your laptop are the following:
A decent laptop for nursing students is also an essential tool for preparing for nursing exams. Exams may require the use of specific software, and the school will not always allow you to show up with a tablet only on hand. Thus, it is smart to invest in a reliable laptop early on to take the most advantage.
As such, there are many critical factors that you need to consider before buying a laptop. The best laptops for a nursing student should have a balance of power, portability, and efficiency. The display should also be vivid and easy on the eyes, and the keyboards should be very responsive. Let's take a closer look at the essential things you should check for when buying the best laptop for nursing students.
1. Lightweight
Nursing students carry a lot of other essential nursing tools and gear. Thus, they need to get a thin, lightweight laptop that is convenient to have around. The best laptop for nursing students should ideally weigh about 3 pounds to be good enough to take anywhere.
2. Battery Life
The best laptops for nursing students are those with batteries that can last for a good 8 to 15 hours long. You may not be able to charge your laptop soon when you are in class or find outlets working outdoors.
Some laptops have batteries that could only last up to 7 hours. If you get one of these, make sure to use them for essential work only to avoid draining faster.
Also, it is best to get a spare battery and/or power bank for your laptop that you can use on the final exams to be on the safe side.
3. Storage Capacity
The best laptops for nursing students should have a large Solid State Drive (SSD) storage capacity as you may be needing to save files from years of nursing study. A laptop with a hard drive or hard disk drive (HDD) than a Solid State Drive (SSD) is slower, yet it still can be functional. Solid state drives are a better choice than a hard drive as:
You may also need to get external hard drive storage for your laptops to save files you want to keep these files for future reference. An SSD storage capacity that ranges from 256 GB to 512 GB is what you need to achieve optimum storage capacity and responsiveness.
4. Display Size and Quality
You may already have the best tablet and smartphone. Still, you need to get one of the best laptops for nursing students to impress you with its display. So, for a laptop, get one that has a more extensive and vibrant display screen size.
The best laptops for nursing students will have at least 13 to 15-inch-sized screens and a screen resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels, at least for better viewing purposes. 13 to 14-inch laptops are the best size when it comes to portability. Avoid buying laptops with bigger-sized screens as you may have a hard time fitting them in your backpacks.
The graphics card also plays an essential role in a laptop's display. For this purpose, you need to check that the GPU processor of the graphics card installed is fast and powerful. The best graphics card has lots of memory and processing power. They are useful for gaming purposes but are also vital for video and photo editing applications.
Intel HD and Intel UHD graphics processors are integrated with intel core processors.
A good-quality resolution plays a big part in opening multiple windows on your laptop. This feature will make your eyes comfortable while reading and viewing the content with ease.
The nursing course will require you many hours of laptop use. The best laptops for nursing students are ideally ones that have a full HD display and one that has anti-glare support that can protect your eyes from straining. You can also opt to get one that ensures sunlight visibility as a nurse may need to access their laptops anytime and anywhere.
5. Random Access Memory (RAM) Capacity
RAM size is an essential component for multitasking without lagging. The best laptops for nursing students have random access memory sizes of at least 8 GB to 16 GB. This is excellent enough to perform efficiently on your laptop.
There are already 32GB to 64GB RAM available in the market. Still, you don't need to upgrade only for essential nursing functions unless you do video editing outside the nursing study.
6. Price
High-end laptops can be pricey, and the best laptops for nursing students don't need to be overly fancy ones. You can always find the best laptop for nursing school that will fit your needs without burning a hole in your pockets. You don't need to get an expensive laptop if it's only going to be used for nursing school.
A mid-ranged price laptop for nursing students will perform excellently like high-priced brands. However, if you are using it for other purposes such as gaming, entertainment, and creative pursuits, getting a high-end computer would be advised.
If you are on a tight budget, choose the cheapest and lightest laptop that you can afford. However, if you can afford it, go for the best brand to give you excellent features that will last you longer years.
A nurse who prefers high data online resources and 3D anatomical illustrations may want to get a RAM higher than 8 GB RAM on the safer side.
7. Processors
The two leading processors to choose from are either Intel or AMD. Intel is more common on popular brands, but the AMD processors are also a strong rival. An intel core i5 to i7 or its AMD equivalent is best to make your laptop function fast and smoothly.
Most nursing software and apps don't require intensive CPU usage. But for future-proofing, you may want to get at least one powered by an 8th to 10th generation Intel core i5 processor.
8. Convertible Designs
The best laptops for nursing students convert to a digital notebook or tablet and a laptop. These convertible ones are ideal for nursing students in these modern days. A 2-in-1 laptop for nursing students allows for versatility and ease-of-use depending on a student's situation.
The nursing study is full of surprises. Preparing random reports and doing clinical simulations are some of them. The best laptop for nursing school could be a convertible laptop. These types are useful in these situations as it allows you to use your laptop conveniently as a tablet or as it is.
9. Extras (Built-in microphones, cameras, and speakers)
Today's modern world allows many nurses to use applications to enable video conferencing in conducting virtual classes. Thus, you would want to make sure that your laptop has these extra built-in functions.
10. Operating System
Laptops may come in three main different operating systems. Let's tackle the common question of "Mac vs PC vs Chrome for nursing school, which is better?"
Windows OS
This operating system is the most popular and optimized for basic tasks and gaming tasks. It is user-friendly and can optimally keep your data safe.
Chrome OS
Google Chrome operating systems primarily supports web applications and uses the Google Chrome web browser as its interface. Chrome OS is lighter than the other two operating systems as it centers on apps and web-based processes.
Mac OS
This operating system is the staple for all Apple devices and is also the best-looking operating system.
The operating system is also a crucial factor for buying a laptop as it helps the basic and advanced functions of a computer.
Remember, the best laptop for nursing school one that would maximize your productivity, meet your personal preferences, and fit your budget as well. Also, choose a laptop brand that can be trusted and offers serviceability on their models. You don't want to end up buying another one and spending more because you need to buy another better laptop, so choose smart.
The 9 Best Laptops For Nursing Students
There are many options advertised online and in malls as the best laptops for nursing students around. While your tablet is a great tool, it is not enough to use as your only nursing school device. It would help if you indeed had a laptop, but it does not need to be i9-powered laptops.
You will need a high-quality laptop to perform well on applications and software that nurses commonly need and use. So, if you are looking for the best nursing school laptop, this guide is definitely for you.
For nursing students, this may be quite a daunting and confusing task. So, to help you, we listed options for the best laptops for nursing students that you may want to consider buying. These laptops are carefully reviewed and picked based on weight, specs, cost, battery life, and ease-of-use for nursing students. Let's begin!
1. HP Envy 15
The HP Envy 15 is among the best laptop choices that are perfectly suited for nursing students. It is a convertible 2-in-1 laptop that is packed with power and security enhancements.
This laptop is powered by an Intel Core i7-10750H chipset that will allow you to experience nursing tasks smoothly. These tasks can vary from accessing data-packed medical dictionaries and other demanding tasks like 3D-modeling or advanced photo editing software.
The HP Envy 15 runs with a Windows 10 Home edition operating system. This operating system is user-friendly and is still a good OS as it can support RAM upgrades of up to 128GB.
It has a 15 6-inch screen display and a screen resolution of 1080 pixels. This feature allows you to indulge in recreational games and full HD display movies or videos leisurely. The multi-touch support panels also enhance portability and additional productivity.
Its dual-channel 16GB RAM makes multitasking tasks easy and efficient. Also, the 512 GB SSD storage capacity is large enough to store large files. It also has USB type C slots for charging, wi fi connectivity, and other outputs.
The keyboard is very responsive and features hotkeys for easy access. The trackpad has an ample armrest and features a fingerprint scanner for enhanced security.
You don't have to worry about overheating, as the laptop has a Vapor Chamber tech to help the system cooled-down.
It also has a built-in camera, microphone, and amplified speakers to complete the package.
These features make it easily one of the best laptops for nursing students and it only weighs 4.74 pounds. Its 19-hour long battery life is also ideal for all nursing students who are frequently on the move.
2. MacBook Pro 13
We often hear the question, are Macbooks good for nursing students? This review should help clear this up.
Apple products are designed for future-proofing, and investing in a MacBook Pro is an outstanding deal. Apple also boasts of its stable hardware and lag-free software. The MacBook Pro 13 comes with an 8th gen Intel Core i5-8275U processor and could easily be one of the best laptops for nursing school.
MacBook Pro 13 is better than the MacBook Air to sustain heavy workloads for longer times, mainly because of the fan. The MacBook Air is fanless. The Intel Iris Plus Graphics 645 card allows you to install heavy editing software like Photoshop or Adobe Illustrator on your laptop.
It has RAM 8GB that can powerfully handle multiple-tabs of various applications. This 8GB RAM is enough to handle web browsing, streaming, and even light gaming. The 512 GB SSD unit can conveniently store large-sized files and load up demanding applications with ease.
This MacBook Pro comes in a 13 3-inch display that makes details sharp and crisp through its True Tone Technology. The full HD Retina display boasts of a 2560x1600 pixels resolution and an enhanced sRGB color gamut.
The trackpad and the keyboard are super responsive. It also features a security-centric Touch ID support that can protect your laptop from unauthorized access.
In terms of weight, the MacBook Pro is relatively lighter than other brands at only 3.10 pounds. Also, it can last for a good long 11 hours of making it a reliable nursing laptop.
It runs on a Mac operating system that protects your laptop from various laptop attacks.
One more thing, the Apple ecosystem is a robust system. It allows you to link all your devices together and be updated.
Macbooks are more expensive than most laptop brands, but the experience will give you more value for money. It is also far better than window's ready PCs in terms of being lightweight. Generally, if you are a nursing student, you will reap the benefits of getting a MacBook than a personal computer by a great deal.
3. MacBook Air Retina
Apple MacBook Air is the best laptop for students who don't have budget issues and want to have a fantastic laptop experience. It does not only look nice aesthetically, but it also can't be matched in terms of performance.
The MacBook Air comes in two options of advanced processor Intel. You can either choose an 8th to 10th gen Intel Core i5 processor or an Intel Core i7, which is more expensive by almost $550. For nursing students, it would be best to choose the intel core i5 processor as it consumes lesser battery life and will extend longer hours of usage. It also comes with an 8gb RAM that is upgradeable to 16GB RAM.
The light 13-inch Apple Macbook Air is suitable for nursing students as it weighs only 2.80 pounds. The battery life can also last anywhere from 12 to 15 hours on moderate usage or pure work.
This 2019 laptop version provides the best quality Retina 13.3-inch FHD display that makes your viewing photos and videos, reviews, reading notes, and researches crystal clear and crisp.
Apple's True Tone technology adjusts the color temperature based on ambient settings and is more color-accurate than the MacBook Air. It features Intel UHD graphics 617, whose performance is best for gaming and other heavy graphic applications.
MacBook Air has a USB-C only port that can be quite frustrating. Also, this laptop is not ideal for gaming as the MacBook Air does not have any dedicated graphic cards. Still, it performs well for nursing-dedicated tasks.
It also comes with an ultra-responsive 4.60 x 3.10-inch trackpad and keyboard and gives you the best experience. You can choose from three colors: gold, silver, and space gray.
Overall, the MacBook Air 2019 is a laptop still worth every nursing student's penny as it will surely deliver all their school needs. And with Siri, nursing students will be able to do more tasks hands-free.
4. Microsoft Surface Pro 7
The Microsoft Surface Pro 7 is convertible and could easily be one of the best laptops for nursing students. It is a fully functional 2-in-1 12.3-inch touchscreen laptop that you could convert any time you need. Not only does it make taking down notes on the Surface Pro 7 more effortless, but it can also save a lot of necessary files and documents for easy access.
Surface Pro 7 features the Intel Core i7 processor, which ensures a fast processing speed. With an i7 processor, frozen screens and lags won't ever be a problem with Surface Pro 7. It also comes with a RAM 8GB that allows multitasking or opening multiple windows simultaneously.
This Microsoft Surface Pro 7 laptop also runs on a Windows 10 Home edition operating system.
You may purchase the Microsoft Surface Pro 7 with a storage capacity of 256 GB SSD and later on upgrade to up to 1TB capacity.
This laptop's battery life lasts up to 6 long hours, and it is best to bring along classes and clinical reviews.
Connection ports include the following: USB-C, headphone jack, micro SD, and surface connection.
You can also easily convert it to a digital notebook or tablet, perfect for taking down notes and looking up references. It comes equipped with a stylus for this purpose.
The Microsoft Surface Pro 7 may be priced expensively for some nursing students. But, with all the convenient features, it sure is an excellent buy. If you want this laptop, refurbished ones are also available if the new one is too pricey for you.
5. Asus VivoBook S15
Asus VivoBook is one of the best laptops for nursing students on a budget and is looking for complete functionality. This laptop is ideal for nursing students because it offers portability, lightweight, and processing power in one laptop.
Asus VivoBook has a slim and sleek design and weighs only 3.97 pounds. This lightweight laptop is ideal for carrying around from hospital to campus or the other way around.
It features a full-HD matte display that you can use even outdoors. Asus' ErgoLift hinges on the Asus Vivobook allow you to elevate the keyboard to a 3.5-degree angle for comfortable typing.
This moderately-priced laptop features a second-gen 5.6-inch screen pad. This pad doubles as a secondary display and touchpad to use for switching modes. The touchscreen also enhances productivity by converting it into a calculator or converting measurements useful for the nursing field.
Intel Core i5-8250U powers the Asus VivoBook 15 laptop. This 8th generation Intel Core i5-8250U processor provides an amazing for everyday use. This laptop comes with a large storage capacity of 256 GB SSD, RAM 8GB DDR4 RAM, and a long battery life that lasts up to 11 hours. The DDR4 8gb RAM is also upgradeable to higher versions.
The HD clear 15.6-inch Nano-Edge bezel display of the Asus VivoBook laptop is impressive. This laptop runs on a Windows 10 Home edition operating system. The keyboard is also smooth and soft to touch. It also comes in unique colors options of star gray, firmament green, silver blue, icicle gold, and gunmetal.
6. Asus Zenbook 13
This Asus Zenbook comes with 8th generation processors and 8 GB RAM that will allow you to experience smooth functions.
Asus Zenbook is also one of the best laptops for nursing students who want a high-quality laptop that comes at a pocket-friendly price. With the Asus Zenbook, you don't need to spend more than $1000 to get excellent functionality. Asus Zenbook can even perform better than the MacBook Air with its 8th generation Intel Core i5 processor.
The Asus Zenbook 13 laptop has a sleek design and dual-screen functionality that is very helpful for nurses. It comes with the power-efficient Intel Core i5-8265U chipset that is very capable of handling resource-intensive medical software.
Asus Zenbook 13 boasts its 13.3-inch screen and the 1920 x 1080 pixels resolution in terms of the screen display. The display panels also give you a crisp and sharp view of every detail covering 115% of the sRGB spectrum, which is not at all bad. Again, this display is another of Asus Zenbook's edge on Macbook Air.
It also comes with 8gb RAM and a 256 GB storage capacity. This combination makes Asus Zenbook powerful when it comes to handling large files.
Though this laptop is thin and light, it has a USB Type-A port, an HDMI port, a USB 3.1 port, a USB type C port, a micro SD port, and a headphone jack. It has a backlit keyboard that is perfect to use even in dark areas. The 3.9 x 2.1-inch touchpad has a built-in digital number activated by holding the pad's upper top right portion.
The Asus Zenbook comes complete with built-in speakers, webcam, and microphones as well. Proper dissipation of heat is also not an issue through its thermal layout.
This great laptop weighs only 2.70 pounds and is very portable to carry to places. Plus, it can last you up to 11 hours of impressively long battery life.
The Zenbook's price is relatively lower than other brands to cater to students' needs.
7. Acer Aspire Swift 3
The Acer Aspire Swift can easily be a nurse's favorite. Not only is it pocket-friendly, but it is also packed with great features.
Its Intel Core i5-1035G1 high-end processor can efficiently run many nursing applications with no downtime issue. Also, the graphic support from the integrated Intel HD Graphics 620 is impressive.
The ultra-thin Acer Aspire weighs a mere 2.65 pounds, the lightest among the brands featured in this review.
It has 256GB SSD storage and an 8GB DDR4 RAM system for a superior multitasking experience. Acer Aspire runs on a Windows 10 Home Edition that makes navigation effortless.
Acer Swift 3's 14-inch screen-size display, along with a stunning screen resolution of 1920 x 1080, gives you a clear and color-accurate view.
The backlit keyboard also makes it easy to type, even in dark or low-lit areas. Acer Aspire Swift 3 is also equipped with an HD camera, voice-purified microphone, speakers, and one-touch fingerprint scanners. Another great feature that enhances productivity in nursing students is the Alexa compatibility.
This laptop also comes with a decent port and wi fi connectivity arrangement that includes USB-C, HDMI, display port, and WIFI-6 support. With light to moderate usage, the hours of battery life can last up to 11 hours.
8. Dell XPS 13 9370 (2018)
This laptop is packed with functionality and modern features. The package also comes in a small and slim chassis and a comfortable keyboard and trackpad.
The laptop is powered with 8th gen Intel Core i7-8550u and is still one of our favorites despite the release of the 2020 model. Like the Acer Swift 13, it also has an integrated Intel HD Graphics 620, which is excellent for playing games on the side.
Dell's display took it to the next level with its InfinityEdge collection, which seems to be nearly borderless. It also comes in a touchscreen vibrant 4K display that is nothing but impressive.
It is aesthetically appealing with either the white-and-gold color or the silver-and-black scheme. The slim dimensions and long hours of battery life can last over 12 hours make it an ideal laptop for nurses.
This laptop is a great backup choice if your tablets work best for you already. You can also use it for personal and entertainment purposes.
9. LG Gram 15Z90N
The LG Gram 15 laptop is a 15-inch device that you would not believe, weighing only a little more than 2.2 pounds. It's built on sturdy magnesium and comes in a gray color scheme that makes it look very modern.
The matte material used is best for nurses who do not want to leave fingerprints on their LG Gramdevices. It also has a large battery life that can last up to over 10 hours.
This laptop is powered by a 10th generation Intel Core i5-1035G7 processor, 8gb of RAM, and 512GB SSD. The 8gb RAM and the 512GB SSSD are also upgradeable.
LG Gram runs on a Windows 10 Home edition operating system.
It offers a conventional full HD display. The 15.6-inch screen has a 1920 x 1080 pixel density that yields good display results.
It offers a selection of ports that include three USB 3.0 type A, a USB type C, an HDMI, and a microSD port and supports wifi 6 connectivity.
One unique feature of the LG Gram laptop is the fingerprint sensor and the Kensington Security Slot that prevents it from theft.
Conclusion
Laptops are an essential resource to make it through and beyond the nursing career. Computers and laptops have become a necessity for all college students indeed. The laptop models we've mentioned are some of the best that is in the market. Our top pick is the number one on our list, HP Envy 15.
This laptop, for us, is by far the ideal laptop for nursing students. It may not be the most powerful laptop for nursing school, but it can easily compete with the MacBook Pro for various reasons.
Nursing students need a portable and lightweight device that they can bring along anywhere and any time of the day.
It is designed to cater to the professional market, but it will work well for any school course, more so for nursing.
The 10th Gen Intel Core i7-10750H chipset is what makes it a powerful tool for multitasking. Now, you can open a dozen tabs and more files all at once without the worry of lags and frozen windows.
The RTX 2060 GPU chip and the 4K OLED combination make it great to watch highly detailed videos and illustrations in the nursing course. Lastly, the battery life of the HP Envy 15 can last a long 19 hours of usage. This feature makes it the best laptop for nursing students as other brands do not offer this.
You may find many more brands with good specs after doing more extensive research, as there are many great laptops for nursing school. We certainly hope that this guide will help you find the best laptop for nursing students to fit one's personal needs and requirements. For us, all of HP Envy 15's impressive features certainly makes it one of the best laptops for nursing students.