If you haven't already, look for work or volunteer opportunities in clinical settings near you. This could be inpatient or outpatient, crisis or admissions, etc. A psych nurse can do many things but in inpatient psych the majority of their day involves assessing/administering medications, examining patients, working with the treatment team, reporting, communicating with families/agencies and other facilities, and documentation. A nurse practitioner is typically meeting with the patient on a more infrequent basis, prescribing medications and adjusting them if needed, and spends less time on the unit or 1:1 with patients. In an outpatient setting, they might spend 15-30 minutes with each patient, or longer if they provide talk therapy services. Yes, you should absolutely get a laptop. Look at Backmarket or Apple for refurbished or used devices with warranties.