[eljamstudent]

I am a nursing student and I start in the fall this year. I have seen on our mini orientation that we may need to purchase a PDA for school. I have been looking at several but the choices are overwhelming.
Any suggestions for what to buy, what software to invest in for a student nurse, and when should I buy (as in now or later when school starts). Thanks so much.

[Soldiersgirl0709]

After reading several reviews and tips, I just bought mine for nursing school, and I am due to start this fall too. I went with the Palm t/x and bought it on ebay, with several accessories including a keyboard, car charger and 2 cases, for 200. It works great!

[Vida]

After Apple's thing re letting 3rd party developers in... I will definitely buy an iPhone.

[stdntograd06]

Originally Posted by eljamstudent

I am a nursing student and I start in the fall this year. I have seen on our mini orientation that we may need to purchase a PDA for school. I have been looking at several but the choices are overwhelming.
Any suggestions for what to buy, what software to invest in for a student nurse, and when should I buy (as in now or later when school starts). Thanks so much.

I graduated 14 months ago and purchased a Palm TX on eBay with accessories for $192 two months ago. LOVE IT, LOVE IT, LOVE IT!!!! I don't know what I'd do without it. After I bought mine, my husband & I bought one for him! He started nursing school in January, and uses his all the time. The Community College we go to does not require a PDA, but recommends it. We bought Skyscape's Constellation package. it includes Drug guide, lab tests, Diagnostics, Calculators, Drug interactions, MedAlerts (from the CDC, etc..), MedStream (current articles, updates, etc..), dictionary, etc.. It's very good and it's $89.95. It depends on what your financial status is, but it's a great investment, which has already paid for itself in the fact that we don't drag out all the textbooks. We can just take out our TX's and make a few clicks, and there's our info .

K.

[natania]

I also have a Palm TX, and I absoutely LOVE it. I also bought the Skyscape Constellation package. Additionally, I bought the Carpenito Nursing Diagnosis software, but what you really need to have is the drug guide, a good dictionary/encyclopedia (I got Taber's), and the RN diagnosis software.

[Linchick]

here is good link
top 10 smart phones, hope it helps
http://tech.msn.com/products/slidesh...mentid=5489213

[onecrazycowgirl]

I use an Asus a626, from ebay. Did my homework, decided what I wanted, and then shopped for the best price. It has a massive screen, an awesome battery life, SD slot, bluetooth/wifi, and wm6, which were all considerations. I bought it the semester I started clinicals and several books I could get a pda version of became required. The PDA version of a couple was cheaper, but I figured I'd rather buy them once for the PDA than buy a hard copy and spend that much again.

Personally, you couldn't pay me enough to get *any* palm - windows mobile OS is so much more user friendly and widely compatible.

[Pittfarm]

I am going to purchase the Palm TX. I like the idea of the constellation package. One other thing on my mind is that I am going into critical care...I am especially thinking of critical care assessments, med. calculations and IV calculations. Does anyone have any feedback about programs that would help me w/ that?

Thanks!
Wendy

[JRM 1987]

I start in the fall of this year as well and I have been looking at both a smart phone and a PDA. . .not sure what I want to go with. . .if I should just have one device for all the goodies. . .or have 2 different ones (cell phone and a PDA) each with their own benefits. I'm still looking though. lol

[Pittfarm]

I can say that my brother told me the technology of the smartphone is great but you will find the quality of the phone lacks. He says its not "quite there" and if I was to go with that to expect to not having such a great quality phone. Just a thought I'm passing on...

Wendy