[LaborNurse1]

Hi everyone,
I am very PDA-illiterate but was thinking that I would find one very useful during my clinicals. What PDA's would you recommend? What programs do you use? I was looking at the PDR for pda's but it costs $100... or free to already prescribing individuals.
Thanks for the advice!

[zenman]

Check further down under "Various Nursing...." and you'll see a thread on PDAs.

[core0]

Originally Posted by LaborNurse1

Hi everyone,
I am very PDA-illiterate but was thinking that I would find one very useful during my clinicals. What PDA's would you recommend? What programs do you use? I was looking at the PDR for pda's but it costs $100... or free to already prescribing individuals.
Thanks for the advice!

PDA's is kind of Coke and Pepsi. I use palm because it had programs early on. Our whole class went in a got a deal on Handsprings back when they were in business. Now I use a Treo since I have to have a phone and PDA. Windows works OK but I like Palm better.

For programs one word Epocrates. It's $200 for the full boat but way worth it. Especially the drug interaction part. You may need another book for peds or specialties but this works great. There is also an ID part and symptoms part that is all linked. As a student you get 35% off if your school signs up.

http://www.epocrates.com/products/

David Carpenter, PA-C

[traumaRUs]

I too have the Palm Treo and love it! I like it very much. My problem is that I have a tendency to play on the internet and that can get expensive if you are paying by the MB - lol!.

[core0]

Originally Posted by traumaRUs

I too have the Palm Treo and love it! I like it very much. My problem is that I have a tendency to play on the internet and that can get expensive if you are paying by the MB - lol!.

That's why you get your practice to pay for it.

David Carpenter, PA-C

[LaborNurse1]

Originally Posted by core0

For programs one word Epocrates. It's $200 for the full boat but way worth it. Especially the drug interaction part. You may need another book for peds or specialties but this works great. There is also an ID part and symptoms part that is all linked. As a student you get 35% off if your school signs up.

http://www.epocrates.com/products/

David Carpenter, PA-C

Ok... so when you say the "full boat" what do you mean? What does this program offer?

[core0]

Originally Posted by LaborNurse1

Ok... so when you say the "full boat" what do you mean? What does this program offer?

I have the essentials deluxe. This includes the drug guide, disease guide, and diagnostics. It doesn't have everything but usually has the basics. So if I see something that I haven't seen since school I can remind myself of the basics. It also has the coding module and medical dictionary. A student problably doesn't need the coding module, but the medical dictionary might be helpful.

The minimum I would get is the RX pro which has the drug guide and ID guide. I would recommend the essentials which gives you disease and diagnostic guides. The Rx Pro is $60 per year. The essentials is $149 (both before any discount). You can also add the dictionary for $20. I will be going back into pediatrics so I will probably need a pediatric drug guide (epocrates has some off label info but not as much as a dedicated pediatric drug guide).

I used both epocrates and another drug guide in school. You can never have too many drug guides. In practice I use epocrates and the Washington GI manual.

David Carpenter, PA-C

[Therapist4Chnge]

Dell x50v Axim user here. I love it, and it can handle Epocrates (I've been meaning to pick up a copy). It is on the more expensive side ($400ish, though I got a good deal on it)

*So, after a bit of poking around...Dell stopped selling them?! *

Nevermind.

-t

[LaborNurse1]

Oh my goodness, these little devices and the programs are pricey! How do we poor grad students afford such luxories? And to think I was also considering a laptop as well!

Thanks for the advice and tips!

[core0]

Originally Posted by LaborNurse1

Oh my goodness, these little devices and the programs are pricey! How do we poor grad students afford such luxories? And to think I was also considering a laptop as well!

Thanks for the advice and tips!

You don't need a full bore palm to run these. They run pretty good on the mid grade like the Tungsten. Or you can get a refurb Treo for about 200 thats also a pretty good cellphone.

David Carpenter, PA-C