Are you heading off to nursing school for college? Then, you will need to be more prepared than ever. The nursing program presents a great deal of work and training, so books and pens are not enough for this. But the digital world offers you a great companion for nursing study, tablets! This buying guide lists some of the best tablets for nursing students to help you get through the nursing course easier.
How to Choose the Best Tablet for Nursing School?
Learning has never been the same with the introduction of technology with the use of laptops, tablets, and the internet, of course. However, you will need the best tablet that you can get your hands on in nursing school. A tablet may be useful for a lot of nursing school tasks like:
You may also need one that can both work as a tablet and a laptop in one which is generally called laptop tablet. Here are some factors to consider when buying a tablet for nursing school.
1. Keyboards/ Stylus Pens
Nursing students will do a lot of essays and note-taking. With a stylus or smartpen, you can conveniently make side notes on your digital slides. It can also simplify other operations like navigation or web browsing.
Homework and random reports that need typing are made easy with a reliable keyboard. If your tablet has one, it can save you the time of setting up your laptop for urgent tasks. With recent developments, you will find that some of these keyboards even come with a trackpad for ease-of-use and added functionality.
2. Screen Size and Display Quality
Tablets mostly come in small, slim, and lightweight packages. The screen size of standard tablets averages 7 to 12 inches, while convertible ones range from 11 to 13 inches.
As a nursing student, you will be using your tablet and laptop ever too often. You need to consider a screen size that will not hurt your eyes even with prolonged use. A higher screen resolution is also better so that you can see details of photos and videos without straining your eyes.
3. Weight
Since you may already carry around your laptop and heavy textbooks in your backpack, we recommend you to choose a lightweight tablet. Choose one that you can conveniently bring to lectures, clinical reviews, or even to hospital shifts.
4. Storage
Nursing students will need a lot of nursing-related apps on their tablets. The storage capacity of 32GB is sufficient enough for nursing students. But if you want to use it for entertainment purposes at the same time, you may need at least 128 GB of space.
Also, a bigger storage capacity will help cut the downloading time and make your tablet efficiently responsive. This feature will give you more time to spend on your other essential nursing tasks. You may also choose a tablet with expandable storage to extend storing capacity. Before you go ahead with your purchase, make sure you check the specifications and software.
5. Operating System
You have three choices when it comes to a tablet's operating system:
Apple
You may be limited to download Apple-approved applications with an Apple OS, and this may bring you additional costs. However, these apps are guaranteed to be user-friendly, high-quality, and virus-free.
Android
This Google operating system has become the most popular interface for mobile devices. It is conveniently compatible with millions of apps from Google Playstore. With the Android OS, you will easily find more options when it comes to getting the best nursing-related apps.
Windows 10
You can use powerful and useful Microsoft Office applications like PowerPoint, Word, Excel or Photoshop with Windows 10 operated tablets.
6. Processor and RAM Storage/ Memory
Choose a processor that will make apps work faster and lag-free. As a nursing student, most are always busy, a tablet that has at least 8GB RAM will be sufficient to maximize productivity and make multi-tasking smooth.
7. Battery Life
Decent battery life should be one that lasts at least 8 hours as you may not immediately find access to a power outlet. As a nursing student, every minute counts when you are in nursing school, so aim for a tablet that has a long battery life that can last you through the day's work.
8. Connectivity
Nursing schools nowadays use video-conferencing for online classes that will require connectivity. Thus, you may need to look for connectivity features like reliable WiFi and USB ports.
9. Security Enhancements
You need to ensure that all the data in your tablet are safe to avoid future problems like missing files. Look for security enhancement options like fingerprint scans or face scans.
10. Cost
Nursing school is already expensive from the start, so the price of your tablet matters a lot. Standard tablets are often more affordable than convertible, 2 in 1 or hybrid ones. As a rule of thumb, choose a device that will give you value for money and the one you can conveniently use as a nursing student.
For practicality, you do not need to pay a more expensive brand to get the functionality that works best for nursing school.
One thing more, you may already have a good quality laptop as most schools may require it. So, a tablet's principal purpose may be for portability and backup use. There are various models of tablets in the market right now that can be a legit alternative to a laptop or desktop.
The 6 Best Tablets for Nursing Students
Nursing school is already complicated as it is, and choosing a tablet should not be an additional worry. To help you out, we've listed below the best tablets out in the market.
1. Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (Latest Model)
The Apple iPad Pro is perhaps the best tablet for a nursing student who has more budget to spend. This tablet is also the best tablet for existing iPhone and Mac users. We say this because it smoothly integrates and transfers data almost instantly. Again, this saves time, as you will not be spending a long time transferring your data across your devices.
The Apple iPad Pro also comes in 12.9-inch screens, large enough to easily read notes and textbooks. The retina display comes with a screen resolution of 2732 x 2048 pixels for vivid and vibrant color display.
Apple boasts of this tablet as by far the fastest device than 92% of the other portable notebooks. This speed is made possible by the A12Z Bionic Chip that makes complex processes like multitasking, editing, or creating content effortlessly. This power makes the iPad Pro the most responsive and lag-free tablet for nursing school.
One advantage of purchasing this tablet is that it also allows access to quality nursing apps that are available only on the Apple store.
Apple iPad Pro storage capacity options are also available at up to 1TB storage capacity.
Paired with Apple's Smart Keyboard Folio or other compatible keyboard brands, this tablet will give you more flexibility. You can even pair this tablet with an easy-to-use Apple Stylus, purchased separately, for easy note-taking in lectures.
The front and back cameras allow you to record clinical nursing procedures effortlessly. Its FaceID feature makes sure that your data are well-secured.
With all these great features, it almost comes close to replacing your laptop already.
2. Microsoft Surface Pro 7
For those who prefer the Windows 10 OS, the Microsoft Surface Pro 7 is the best tablet option for a nursing student like you. This lightweight 12.3-inch touchscreen device has the flexibility of working both as a laptop and tablet in one.
Microsoft Surface Pro 7 also has an edge when it comes to battery life. It can last up to 10 hours long and will surely let you survive a whole day of lecture classes and clinical labs.
The Surface Pro 7 comes in full HD display with a resolution of 2736 x 1824 pixels to make viewing photos and videos exceptional. It is powered with Intel Core I5 10th Gen and 8GB memory to allow smooth operation between various apps.
It also gives you a large storage capacity of 256 GB SSD that is more than enough for storing vital documents and files. You will even have extra storage for other personal photos and videos.
Microsoft runs on Windows 10 OS, and you will enjoy access to Office 365 apps that are all essential to nursing school. Windows 10 is also said to be the most cost-efficient when it comes to upgrades and processing since it doesn't require payment for most of the released updates.
Another plus for this tablet is that it already comes complete with a keyboard and a trackpad as well. For added benefits like note-taking, you may purchase the Surface Pen separately.
3. Samsung Galaxy Tab S7
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 is the best multipurpose tablet when it comes to multimedia-based usage. This compact tablet runs on Android 10.0 and comes in a sturdy aluminum casing that protects the device.
Its wide 11-inch screen comes with a full HD resolution of 2560 x 1600 pixels delivering a cinema-vivid display. It is powered to perform optimally with Samsung's Snapdragon 865+ Octa-Core Chipset backed with either 6GB or 8GB RAM to ensure optimal performance. You can also expand the built-in storage up to a maximum of 1TB through its microSD slot.
The Samsung Galaxy device gets fully-charged in two hours, and running time can be as long as 15 hours of continued usage. This feature is perfect for intern nurses on the move.
4. Apple iPad Mini 5
If you want an iPad but are looking for more value for money, the Apple iPad Mini is one of the best iPads for nursing students like you. Similar to the Apple iPad Pro, the mini also has the A12 Bionic chip that makes it super fast. It also lasts 10 hours maximum in one single charge that can last you a whole day at school.
What is good with this tablet is that you can also use the first-generation Apple Pencil with it. The Apple Pencil works best for taking notes and other illustrations for your nursing subjects.
It works almost the same as the iPad Air but in a smaller package of 7.9-inch Retina display. So you can still take notes effectively with the iPad Mini. One main difference against the iPad Air is that this tablet does not have the Smart Connector for Apple's Smart Keyboard. But, you can still use it with other Bluetooth keyboards.
The FaceID security feature even lets you unlock your tablet without lifting a finger. Another security enhancement feature is the Touch ID sensor that is also a fast and reliable way to unlock your tablet.
5. Google Pixel Slate 2 in 1 Tablet (with Intel Core M3)
The Google Pixel Slate is a lightweight tablet that comes in a 12.3-inch screen size display. Its 3000 x 2000 pixel panel offers vibrant color and crisp details. This tablet is run by Chrome OS and updated with features borrowed from Android.
The elegant design and sturdy aluminum chassis allow it to blend in with the formality of a nursing school.
One of its innovative features is the split-screen view allowing you to access two apps at the same time. You may purchase a keyboard that includes a trackpad and a pen or stylus for multitasking and added functionality.
Its battery life may last up to nearly 10 hours, a significant factor when you want reliability.
6. Fire HD 10
The Fire HD 10 tablet is the best option for students who are looking for a multipurpose tablet at a low budget. This tablet performs best in simple tasks like reading or reviewing digital notes and textbooks.
It also comes with a full HD resolution of 1900 x 1200 pixels. The device runs on Fire OS 5. The 2 GHz Octa-Core processor backed up with 2GB RAM is ideal for accomplishing everyday tasks. For storage capacity, you have the option to expand the built-in storage up to 512GB via a microSD card.
A unique feature of this 10-inch tablet is the personal voice assistant Alexa. This feature comes in handy if you want quick answers without needing to type.
It also boasts of its battery life that extends up to a maximum of 12 hours.
Dolby speakers are also perfect for entertainment purposes. You can even attach it to a Bluetooth-compatible keyboard for better typing comfort.
Conclusion
Overall, the best tablet for nursing school is the Apple iPad Pro (latest model). We know that it is going to be hard on a nursing student's budget. However, in terms of getting more value for your money, it is still going to be worth it in the end.
The iPad Pro's blazing speed and the long battery life are both essential tools that this tablet can boast. Its 8-core GPU boosts its graphics performance and makes it ideal for watching videos.
Its capability can even nearly replace a laptop in the sense that this tablet can now offer most of the functions of a laptop or desktop. And with the help of a keyboard with a trackpad, you can almost do anything with ease.
Its newest features, the LiDar Scanner and AR, together with the improved Retina display and camera, will give you a more realistic experience on apps like 3D anatomy that can help students like you to learn.
This tablet will be your next best buddy when it comes to wireless web surfing, streaming and watching videos, checking your emails or schedules, taking notes, and word processing.
We know that a tablet or laptop for nursing school can be a significant asset to nursing students. It can even be useful beyond nursing school and for entertainment purposes as well.
We hope that this post helped you in making an informed decision when shopping for the best tablets for nursing students. In the end, your choice of the best tablet will still depend on your personal preferences and budget.