[Alert&Orientedx0]

Hi all, I recently found out that my nursing program will be replacing required books with PDAs. They say it is a way to keep us updated on the most current info and reduce the amount of books we need. We only have to purchase 1 book for the fall semester! We are using Palm TX i think & will have PEPID loaded on it. Is anyone elses school using this method??? Is it as good as the books or perhaps better?? I dont dont know much about PDAs & have never used one so it will all be new to me Thanks for any comments

[Atl_John]

Yeah my school has done something KINDA similar. We still have books but four of the books (Davis Drug Guide, IV Drug guide, Tabers Dictionary and Book of Diagnostic Tests) They are all on PDA and I LOVE it. I would tell you to make sure that if there is a PC/MAC version of the SAME software thats on your PDA to get it as well. Its nice to use the PDA in clinical makes it very easy to look up drugs. Yet, when you try to use it at home it gets really old REALLY quick having to look it up on a PDA. However don't skimp on PDA's and get the cheapest one, get one that will be able to handle the programs. I made that mistake, I could only run one at a time and had to completely reboot anytime I wanted to use another one.

[Fun2Care]

I could only wish my school would get with the times.

However, I'd want a CD & PDA version package. I haven't even opened some of the plastic wrapped books...I've only used the CD version.

I love my PDA for looking up meds, etc.

[future L&Dnurse]

I chose to replace my drug guide, labs/tests guide, and medical dictionary with a PDA and nursing program in January, and I'm SO GLAD. I think your school is doing you a favor, honestly. I wish I could download my enormous med-surg book onto my pda so I didn't have to lug it along anywhere! It is so nice to be able to just put your pda in your scrubs pocket, and then if you are confused or have a question during clinical or class you can look it up right then. I love it.

[MB37]

I couldn't handle that. While I agree that they seem helpful for looking stuff up quickly at clinicals/work, and I may eventually get one for that purpose, I can't handle reading things off a screen. I mean, allnurses forums are OK, but I need my physical newspaper in the morning, heavy textbooks to highlight with an actual marker, paperbacks to curl up with in bed or at the beach, and even though I'll do online research for papers, all I do is print out all the articles and then read them later with my trusty highliter in hand. I know most of these things are now available in PDA of computerized versions, but it's not for me.

My school did start requiring us to purchase a specific box of (new$$$) books from the bookstore only, because they had this package made that contains the actual book and a CD version so we can read on the computer. People with laptops love it, and a lot of folks either highlight the text during lecture or take notes alongside it. I tried to look something up on the discs a few times, and it took me longer than just going to the book's index. I'm only 28, and have been using computers since I was 7, but I just can't get used to using them for everything. I hate powerpoint too though, so I guess I am probably in the minority. Anyways, I'm just glad that my school does still get us the actual textbooks, so we can use it or the CD as we prefer.

[miss arron]

Originally Posted by MMW37

I couldn't handle that. While I agree that they seem helpful for looking stuff up quickly at clinicals/work, and I may eventually get one for that purpose, I can't handle reading things off a screen. I mean, allnurses forums are OK, but I need my physical newspaper in the morning, heavy textbooks to highlight with an actual marker, paperbacks to curl up with in bed or at the beach, and even though I'll do online research for papers, all I do is print out all the articles and then read them later with my trusty highliter in hand. I know most of these things are now available in PDA of computerized versions, but it's not for me.

My school did start requiring us to purchase a specific box of (new$$$) books from the bookstore only, because they had this package made that contains the actual book and a CD version so we can read on the computer. People with laptops love it, and a lot of folks either highlight the text during lecture or take notes alongside it. I tried to look something up on the discs a few times, and it took me longer than just going to the book's index. I'm only 28, and have been using computers since I was 7, but I just can't get used to using them for everything. I hate powerpoint too though, so I guess I am probably in the minority. Anyways, I'm just glad that my school does still get us the actual textbooks, so we can use it or the CD as we prefer.

i'm 26 and feel exactly the same way.... i <3 my books

nice to know i'm not alone