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Students who are preparing for a career in nursing participate in a plethora of practical exercises with real-world patients and case studies. However, a large percentage of their studies is also relegated to theoretical research, writing, and examination. With technology and modern digital devices available in formal education, nursing students can further augment their studies.

Laptops and Tablets are Commonplace during Lectures

Today’s academic education differs from what it was only a decade ago. Nursing students are not exempt from using digital tools and devices during lectures, just like IT students do. According to a published journal, 52% of nursing students who participated in the research had a laptop, while 90% had a smartphone during lectures. What this does is open up a plethora of possibilities for using digital tools, platforms, and services for better learning. Students can access medical research, engage with publications, and access trending medical news.

Dedicated Writing Tools are used for Taking Notes

Taking notes quickly is a major part of studying to become a nurse. With digital tools, nursing students can follow along with their professors’ lectures more attentively and take more accurate notes during class. The same applies to their papers and essays, as they can use essay assistance online to proofread and edit their assignments before handing them in. This opens the doors to using multiple devices, such as taking notes with a tablet and then editing them and studying on the laptop.

Email Consultation with Professors and Doctors

Nursing students are taught to learn from one another, and contacting medical professionals via email is already commonplace. Based on statistical research, 27.57% of nursing students used email to reach out to other medical personnel, with 60.8% doing so via SMS. Consulting more experienced doctors, medical staff, and other students on how to proceed with critical cases is very useful. Moreover, nursing students often consult with professors on the research papers and essays they write for theoretical studies.

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Digital Research for Writing Better Papers

Speaking of research, nursing students are not exempt from writing various research papers and case studies. A large part of their studies involves independent research into various medical fields and related subjects. Using digital tools to write such papers can increase their quality considerably. Students can use an essay sample on sociology or another discipline if they have to hand in an essay they are unfamiliar with but need to finish quickly. Proofreading and formatting papers before handing them in are also far easier to do by using writing tools rather than doing so by hand.

Remote Lectures to Follow Social Distancing Guidelines

Given that the whole world was affected by COVID-19 and many students had to shift toward online learning, the same applies to nursing students. While the nature of their studies does lean toward practical exercises, remote learning has become a possibility during the pandemic. Nursing students can use digital tools such as Zoom and Google Workspace to contact their professors and participate in classes. They can also use VR technology for various medical-related demonstrations in a 3D environment from the comfort of their homes.

Networking with Nursing Students via Social Media

Even though social media platforms don’t fall under formal education, they are still very valuable tools for nursing students. According to My American Nurse publication, nursing students use Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn for social networking with their peers. This has enhanced their ability to study effectively and become better at their jobs. Increased collaboration and mutual support have also been noted as positive outcomes of using social media in learning. For nursing students, this is a noteworthy step toward educational digitalization.

Concluding Thoughts

Studying to become a nurse is a noble and worthwhile calling. With digital tools and devices at their fingertips, nursing students can become that much better at their jobs in the future. Using these tools minimizes the risk of omitting important information during class and allows the sharing of notes with other students. The role of digital tools in nursing education is bound to expand from here on, and integrating them into your curriculum will pay off.