[milner]

I teach nursing and find that having a PDA in the clinical setting is great. It is my portable lab book, drug book & IV drug book. So many of my students have seen and used mine that several have commented how they would like to get one...maybe asking for a PDA as a graduation gift. Forgot to add...if anyone knows of good programs (ABGs, rhythm interpretation etc) that run on a "Blackjack" (Samsung)PCA phone I would be interested in hearing about them.

[nurz2be]

Originally Posted by milner

I teach nursing and find that having a PDA in the clinical setting is great. It is my portable lab book, drug book & IV drug book. So many of my students have seen and used mine that several have commented how they would like to get one...maybe asking for a PDA as a graduation gift. Forgot to add...if anyone knows of good programs (ABGs, rhythm interpretation etc) that run on a "Blackjack" (Samsung)PCA phone I would be interested in hearing about them.

I have an ABG Pro for my PDA and LOVE IT. The website I got it from is

WEBSITE, here. The list in the middle are all free programs. I am a nursing student who is lucky enough to have one and my classmates go nuts over me not having to run back and forth to the drug book or do math calculations, I can do it all from my PDA, I do know how to do the calculations but this saves time and also reinforces my learning. They have some great programs here I have several of them on my PDA. Hope this helps.

[jessventure1]

I am a nursing student, just finished my first year. I use the Palm lifedrive. I am going to check out the pocket pc's though. My lifedrive took a nosedive and I had to send it back to Palm so I was without it for about 2 weeks. I hated those two weeks at clinical. I had to carry all those books around. Beware also that Palm does not make the Lifedrive anymore. I think I will be checking out the Palm TX.

[brainynurse]

Hi, I recieved a PDA for my birthday last year and also have Nursing Central loaded and use it almost daily. My question is; I am a newly diagnosed Type II diabetic and attempted to download a program to monitor and record food diary. Problem is Vista, I can't download with Vista software. Any one else have this problem or suggestions. Vista for Windows is driving me crazy

[CraigB-RN]

Originally Posted by brainynurse

Hi, I recieved a PDA for my birthday last year and also have Nursing Central loaded and use it almost daily. My question is; I am a newly diagnosed Type II diabetic and attempted to download a program to monitor and record food diary. Problem is Vista, I can't download with Vista software. Any one else have this problem or suggestions. Vista for Windows is driving me crazy

There is a version of the palm hotsync that works with vista, you have to go to palm and download it. I'm not at my computer and I can't do a search here sorry. you could do like I'm in the process of doing and switch back to windows XP.

[Danusia522]

I am a new nursing student and have the new HP Ipaq 110 (100 series) and love it! still don't have all the things i need on, since it is new, but i do have epocrates, tabers dictionary, saunders drug guide, and a few nclex reviews. I use myflashcards.com and put them on it as pdf files and review my flashcards whenever whereever. I also put word docs up on it and a few others. Still trying ot find a a better calander system- not a huge fan of the outlook set up. It has wi fi & bluetooth, connects well, windows media player for podcasts.... it's light and has a very good battery life. I'm in love!

[Salesman217]

Originally Posted by Brie80

Has any one used a smart phone PDA while in nursing school and or in the real world practice as a nurse?

I currently have a Palm Treo 700wx. Perfect for my career choice right now. I'm hoping to be a nursing student fall of 2008.

I just converted from a Palm TX (stand alone PDA) that I used in school and on the job, to a Treo 680 (smart phone). The transition was seamless and have two devices in one is the bomb. I think having two devices is the reason I lost my TX .

Your Treo is Windows based whereas mine is Palm OS based. I don't know the difference in functionality but I'm sure all the desirable software is available to you.

Ten reference books in the palm of your hand. Almost too good to be true!

[Salesman217]

Does anybody use your PDA on the job for task management or is it all just reference? Is there patient/task management software?

[Brie80]

Originally Posted by sbarb

SEASTWOODRN, Just curious what you found to be superior over Palm PDAs. I'm looking to purchase a Palm PDA, but am wondering what drawbacks there may be. Thanks!

I have a palm treo 700wx which has the windows operating system. if you are in love with the palm brand name find out if the palm PDA type/style has the windows option. The treo comes in 700p and 700wx and i think there is a third not sure of the specs on it. Plus there are newer versions I'm sure.

I had the 700p to start with and had to take it back i couldn't get use to the palm system. My wx has worked seamlessly with my window xp based operating system on my computer. (I was using my treo for a different career field and I'm now waiting on the acceptance letter for nursing. Hoping it will work the same with nursing programs.)

Hope this helps

[Salesman217]

Originally Posted by Agenyc

Have the Palm TX.

I am in my first semester and just got it, so I am still "warming up."

Use Taber's all the time, it is right there beside me when i am reading so when I don't know/remember a word or an abrreviation I can look it up quickly. Love it! There are even some illustrations.

Davis's Drug Guide: Started meds this week-seams it will save a lot of time looking up drug names compared to using the book.(my classmates were exited about it too so I got to show it off Lots of potential!

Saunder's NCLEX Q & A: So far,Great to have when I have a few seconds waiting for the train.

Have the Skyscape Constellation, so it has some more things I have not used yet (RNotes, calculator, etc), but so far it is worth it just for the Taber's cyclopedia and not having to carry the books around.

Great feature: All the programs are linked, so you can move from one program to another (and back) to get additional information, (look up a disease definition or a NCLEX Q's etc) on the same topic!!

I am glad I got it!

I had Saunder's Q and A on my TX as well. I had the Saunder review book but could never bring myself to study, but like you, I'd pull out the ole PDA when I had idle time and answer a few NCLEX questions AND READ THE ANSWER RATIONALE.

I passed the NCLEX in 75 questions. PDAs with nursing reference are the greatest thing since sliced bread!!!