[notebook1985]

I have read some info on PDA's and I do not know What I can use a PDA for . I am starting Nursing school soon and want to know how much it will help me before I spend $500 on it. If anybody has any basic info to help me get started, please let me know.
Thank you
Edina

[suzanne4]

Personal Digiatal Assistant. You can load many different programs on it that will help with your schooling, etc. From the PDR, to different tools that help with medications, and care plans.

You really do not need to spend $500 on one. There are quite a few that will do everything that you will need for much less.

[AshleyRN]

My PDA was really helpful during school. It was a great resource during clinicals. I got it about a year ago, a Dell. I spent about $250 on it plus about another $100 in software. The software that I have is from skyscape.com I have the Davis drug guide as well as some medical software. I would defiantly recommend it for anyone in nursing school! It is money well spent.

[MeghanRN]

I have one as well, which I bought from skyscape (our school got a deal)

I really enjoy it- I *hate* having to go to a drug book to look up drugs, so it was great for me to have the drug guide on the PDA. Just type in the first few letters, and voila- lots of info about the drug.

Doing home health I find myself using it a lot now- I look up drugs all the time, since all the places I go to dong have a drug book present. Its nice to know what you're giving.

They also have programs to help with conversions that you can buy for your PDA- I think its called Archimedes- can do lbs --->kg and vice cersa..figure out BMI, etc.

I do recommend one though- they really are helpful!

[wilsonmd71]

I own a Palm Tungsten C. I choose the Tungsten C b/c I could type using my thumbs rather than using the stylus on the keyboard screen, which I still could do. The difference in the brands are the operating systems. Some use microsoft and mine uses something else (I'm not an expert as you can tell.) But I do have software loaded on it that is EXTREMELY helpful. I don't mean to be giving free advertisement, but I got it from Skyscape, the software that is. At my nursing school, UMaB, we had a prof talk to us about the PDAs and he recommended the Palm, no doubt b/c he is getting kickbacks - just kidding. He owned the other kind previously and apparently prefers Palm.

Anyway, when you purchase software, you end up downloading it to your computer first, then transferring it onto your PDA. It is totally easy to do. Even I can do it, and I am no expert (see above). When you buy a PDA it comes with software to help you load the drivers or whatever onto the computer (man am I a computer expert!) and you plug the cradle into your computer. There is a hotsync button to connect your PDA with the computer to retrieve the downloaded goodies.

The whole process of downloading software was a little intimidating at first, b/c I really do not like to mess with the computer, I don't even like to change printer ink cartridges, but I figured it out. It is pretty painless. Small learning curve.

If I can offer advice as to what to purchase, purchase Tabers Medical Encyclopedia, it is a continual reference. And I also purchased a nursing drug book. The one I bought versus the one my friends bought are really the same in the end. Mine is specific to nursing so it offers patient education and teaching, but I have found it to be missing some not so often used drugs whereas my friend has those drugs, but is missing the patient education part.
The other day in clinical I had a patient with an unusual syndrome. The hospital I am at for clinical is UMMS, a teaching hospital, and the med students were there as well. The med student and I both whipped out our PDAs, he had the same one as I do (he had different software, purchased from Skyscape), and we both were trying to find Goldenhar syndrome. Neither of us did, apparently it is pretty rare, but I thought it was pretty cool that we were both technologically savvy (well, at least I look it). Before I bought a PDA I must say I was intimidated. Even when my husband bought one, I never turned it on and played with it. It really is not anything hard. I promise!!!! It took maybe a day to get comfortable, and I am still learning some little things, like how to download pictures onto my slide show, and how to organize my files (putting my games in one folder kind of thing.) My clinical instructor, who still uses dial up (OMG) is interested in the PDA and is constantly amazed at the power it has. I do not bring any books to clinical (it helps that my friend lugs hers around). I can look at my PDA and get all the info I need. I could, if I really wanted, I could buy my books on software and download it to my PDA. My friend has NCLEX questions on hers and when she is in traffic, which is so common in Baltimore, she answers a few questions. I recently purchased software that will check if any meds are contraindicated with each other. That is soooooooo helpful!!! All I have to do is check the box next to the meds my patient has and then hit enter and if there is a problem it will show up.

So that is what a PDA is. Sorry about the long post. Happy purchasing.
~M

[land64shark]

I start nursing school in January. My dh has 4 or 5 PDA's laying around the house that he has needed for business in the past. I've never even picked one up to look at it. Yes, I'm intimidated. I guess I should put software on my Christmas list.

Did you start using one right away or in later semesters?

I'll have to bring one with me on my Christmas trip and fool around with it. (12 hour drive each way.)

[nurse4theplanet]

Originally Posted by notebook1985

I have read some info on PDA's and I do not know What I can use a PDA for . I am starting Nursing school soon and want to know how much it will help me before I spend $500 on it. If anybody has any basic info to help me get started, please let me know.
Thank you
Edina

Basically it is a small handheld computer. It works in conjunction with you desktop (i.e. you download programs onto your home computer and then download them to you Handheld PDA.)

I have many things on mine:
My calender
A drug calculator
Taber's Medical encyclopedia
Davis's Drug Guide
"""" Lab's and Diagnostic Manual
"""" Diseases and Disorders
A Nclex REview
Solitaire
And a real note pad that you use just as if you were writing on paper...it mimicks your exact handwriting...comes in super handy

I got mine from skyscape for right at $300. You can get them cheaper depending on what capabilities you need. I wanted lots of memory. I can download word documents, so I keep all my notes in it...that way i can study anywhere! I can also use it as a phone or browse the internet if I get the additional services. But i chose not to.

Most of my software was free but some things I did pay for.

I would recommend getting it if you are pretty computer savvy...saves lots of time in clinical/careplanning/school/and life once you get used to it. But if you don't like computers, chances are you won't like a PDA.

[nurse4theplanet]

I also have a drug compatability checker
a ideal body weight calculator
RN notes
music
pictures

and when we were at clinical, our books had a habit of "walking off" so i just took my PDA and had all I needed right in my pocket

I did have to yell at my instructor one day b/c i had it out looking up side effects to a drug, and she needed me to come in a hurry to help another student. She just shut the MAR on my PDA and said, don't worry, nobody will mess with it. I about had a cow and said," I don't think so, that thing is priceless!"

[OURN83]

Public Display of Affection

sorry just had to say it!

[Spidey's mom]

Originally Posted by OURN83

Public Display of Affection

sorry just had to say it!

That is exactly what I was going to say . . . . . probably because after my daughter's play tonight I saw her kiss a boy!!!!

steph