[kmcnelly]

I've seen a lot of threads with questions about PDA's. A lot of questions are, "should I get one?" especially as a student. From non-PDA users they usually don't see a reason to get one. The PDA student nurses, however, always seem to say that it was "their best student purchase, including books". So I wanted to start this thread for PDA users and people with questions. How do you use your PDA? What are it's benifits to you specifically. I just got one, and I am already utilizing it. Please name the type you have, as well. I'll start.

I purchased a Palm T/X. The major benifit for me is that I type my notes and record my lectures. After typing my notes I can transfer them to my PDA. My digital recorder can also transfer those files to the computer, which then transfers it to the PDA. So I am able to sit pretty much anywhere I want, listen to the lecture again and go over my notes one more time. When I'm sitting in the laundry mat or somewhere with my gf, like a relatives house, I can study without lugging my books around.

C'mon, I want a lot of responses. Let's help out the newbies (like myself) with this!!!

[Tweety]

It's now a stickey.

[kmcnelly]

Originally Posted by Tweety

It's now a stickey.

WOO HOO! I MADE A STICKY!!!

[kmcnelly]

it's a sticky...so someone post! lol

[Angie O'Plasty, RN]

I have a T/X too. I have Unbound's nursing central, which has Davis' drug reference, Davis's Lab & Diagnostic tests, Diseases and Disorders, and if you pay a yearly subscription fee (which I haven't), MEDLINE Journals.

I also have Essentials of Dx & Tx in Cardiology, which I use a lot.

I also like the Calculator feature and I use that at work.

The datebook is cool because I enter my schedule in there so I can see at a glance when I'm off. I also enter my inservices and contact information and other education opportunities.

I can use the notepad to jot things down at inservices when I cannot find a piece of paper to save my life. Memos, I just enter the date and use them to keep a running grocery list. I can't tell you the number of times that I'm on break and suddenly realize that I need bread or something at the store, and I have nowhere to jot it down.

Also, our hospital has wireless access. So I get to check allnurses.com online if I want without the boogiemen from the computer department tracking my every move.

[richardjboro1]

I use mine constantly. The datebook function keeps me where I need to be, and I have Davis Drug Guide and RN Notes, both which can link to each other. I want to get a good lab values book and maybe some other software. I have a huge memory card, but I can't get anything but games to run from it? Any ideas??

It's a Palm Tungsten.

Richard

[RNCENCCRNNREMTP]

I have been using Palm PDA's since 1999.

I have migrated through the V, Vx, 505, 515, Tungsten C and now the TX.

Here is how I use mine. No kickbacks from the following software sites, nor am I advertising for them, just a very satisfied user.

Calendar

I use an enhanced calendar called DateBook 6 (www.pimlicosoftware.com) that
uses the basic Palm calendar as its base but has many feature enhancements
including use of icons, linking events to address/contact information,
multiple calendar views including day, multi-day, week, month, 4 month and
year. I keep track of work schedule, wife's schedule, kids schedule,
appointments, conferences, in-services, etc.


Contacts

I have over 1500 contacts that includes family, friends, co-workers,
physicians, hospitals, pharmacies, EMS, police, ECF's


Memo

I have created over 1100 memos that are mainly ER practice tips and tricks
and things not to forget


Tasks (To Do's)

Keep track of things I need to finish that may not have a set due date (I
would use calendar for that) but kind of like a "sticky note" to remind me
to go tot he store, get gas, backup my PC, etc


Medical Applications

Epocrates Essentials - Must have (www.epocrates.com) A little pricey but
WELL WORTH IT!!!!! Look up drugs, herbal drugs, medical conditions database, infectious disease information, differential diagnoses based on symptom list, information tables (what makes urine green?, steroid comparisions, narcotic comparisons, and many more), CME/CE opportunities anywhere you happen to be (I have done about 10 hours just this month alone).

Infusicalc (www.aetherpalm.com) must have if you are managing IV Rx drips.
Allows you to pre-program with your hospital standard concentrations for ANY drug infusion. Tap in the dose you want and the drip rate is there.

ABX Guide (http://hopkins-abxguide.org/) New and improved FREE antibiotic
guide that is updated frequently. lets you select the correct antibiotic for a particular infection (good for Advanced Practice nurses)

Merck Medicus (http://www.merckmedicus.com/pp/us/hc...le_medicus.jsp)
FREE abstract downloads for over 200 medical and nursing journals.Allows you
to select what journals interest you and automatically download when new
issue is released. Allows you to pick and choose your readings more easily.

Medcalc (http://www.med-ia.ch/medcalc/) FREE medical calculators over 70 of
them)

MedRules (http://pbrain.hypermart.net/medrules.html) FREE medical prediction
calculators

iSilo (www.isilo.com). A reader program and there are MANY medical databases written for this reader. Go to www.meistermed.com for a huge collection of iSilo based medical files. Especially Clinical Medicine Consult. It is like a condensed Cecil's Texbook of Medicine, only updated more frequently with the latest evidence based medicine (3-4 times/year). Very easy to navigate and covers nearly every medical field (emergency, cardiology, pulmonary, neurology, rheumatology, critical care, nephrology, women's health, pediatrics, and many more!

Hope this helps the newbies out there.

[pooshx2]

I am in second semester of nursing school and purchased a Dell Axim x51v and love it!!! I can't imagine doing med/surg without this thing. This week during clinicals, I must have pulled it out at least 20 times. I had staff nurses coming up to me asking me questions to look up. I think I might have converted a few to the idea. As previously stated in a post, I get nothing from the software seller just letting you know what I use and what I really like.

I have from skyscape the nursing constellation
Davis' Drug guide - use constantly, love, was easy to learn to navigate around in this

5 minute clinical consult - like it, may use more later on, easy enough to learn

RN Notes - love this! good info, easy to use

Tabers - use constantly, must have, love it, easy to use

Health assessment - been using some, find that I use it more before I get on floor, like once I know what my client has that I will be caring for

RN diseases - Like it, has good info, will probably use more as school progresses

Solitaire, poker - good for stress relief

AM Looking for a good lab values program, trying to get one that can think for me! HA! If anyone has a good diagnostic tests and lab program that works with windows pc, please PM me.

Hope this helps someone!

~Erica

[Indy]

I got the cheap one, palm z22 and I use it every shift I work.

Calculator- duh, for when I don't have time to find the ones that should be at the desk.

Calendar- less paper in my bag, enter my schedule right there.

Drug book- I use epocrates. I use about half the features but I should probably have upgraded past the basic because there are things in the lab book portion that I'd like to know.

The good thing about the online drug books is that you get updates free- that alone is nice, without having to wait a year and buy a new book.

Contacts- backs up my cell phone list

ABG decoder for when my actual brain sees the numbers but refuses to process them.

ICU math program- but I wind up using the one in epocrates more often.

Eponyms- because it was free and I didn't feel like paying for Taber's. My pda has no um, memory card capability so I didn't want to load it down with a huge book. We are halfway modern at work and there is the internet if I really have to look stuff up there.

My unit is tiny and the desk space is ... very limited. So it does help to be able to find info without having to displace someone else trying to get their work done.

[asdeju]

Originally Posted by richardjboro1

I use mine constantly. The datebook function keeps me where I need to be, and I have Davis Drug Guide and RN Notes, both which can link to each other. I want to get a good lab values book and maybe some other software. I have a huge memory card, but I can't get anything but games to run from it? Any ideas??

It's a Palm Tungsten.

Richard

you could use Pepid for drugs and diagnostics. I use it.