Most often used information at work

Nurses General Nursing

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Hey everyone!

I was wondering if I could get your thoughts on the following:

If you could create an iPhone app to use for work, what kinds of things would you put in it, just a few clicks away when you're in the patient's room or on the floor? Basically what information do you think is most important for you to have at your fingertips?

Also, what kinds of resources do you use on your phones if you have to look something up?

Thanks for your help!

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Personally, I'd rather keep my iPhone clean. Talk about a fomite. You think people don't clean their stethoscopes (and they don't)-- how're you gonna clean personal electronics? No thanks.

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Personally I'd rather keep my iPhone clean. Talk about a fomite. You think people don't clean their stethoscopes (and they don't)-- how're you gonna clean personal electronics? No thanks.[/quote']

I agree. I hate using those phones the hospital provides with all the gunk on them. I'm surely not pulling out my personal phone to get gunk on it.

Sent from my iPhone using allnurses.com

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Specializes in Oncology.

Meh, I'm the only one that ever touches my phone, other than that it's secure in my pocket. And yes, I know it could get dirty, but I have used lysol wipes on my iPhone before without issue. It's also in a case. And I clean my stethoscope religiously- literally every time I use it the end, and the ears at least once a shift. It's the BMT nurse in me.

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Specializes in Oncology.

Also, things I need my phone most often for that's work related- basic calculator, ANC calculation, BSA calculation, and metric to imperial conversion for when my patient asks what their temp of 37.6 is "in real numbers." BMI. IV compatibility. ACLS algorithms would be nice too if it were well implemented.

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Specializes in Certified Med/Surg tele, and other stuff.

We have computers in all the rooms, so I don't need my phone. However, I do use it at the desk for the calculator.

If I could create an app? It would be one that did nursing math/conversion. That would be very helpful.

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Personally, I'd rather keep my iPhone clean. Talk about a fomite. You think people don't clean their stethoscopes (and they don't)-- how're you gonna clean personal electronics? No thanks.
Simple solution. Wash your hands, your phone doesn't get dirty.
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Specializes in Orthopedic, LTC, STR, Med-Surg, Tele.

A calculator would be super. I find it awkward to minimize Meditech to open the little Windows calculator and then reopen everything and get myself back on track. A minor point, I'm sure, but it could easily be solved by carrying around little solar powered calculators :sarcastic:

Personally *hops on soapbox* I don't even like carrying the floor-issued cell phone around - I always explain to patients if I'm expecting a call (ie, returned page) and that I may need to run out of their room to answer a page, but it feels so awkward. I can't even imagine carrying an iPhone around - I would be worried my patients were thinking I was texting. I know constant texting is the new normal, but it's the workplace! :bored:

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Thanks everyone for your input!

Do others feel similarly? An easy to use calculator for equations and conversions?

Any other suggestions?

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Specializes in Nurse Scientist-Research.

I have a couple of apps that do this but they are separate and not completely to my satisfaction.

I most often use my calculator function and I don't think I need another app for that.

I have a very simple ratio app where you fill in the missing figures for a simple x/x =x/x

(how that makes sense, I can't find any math settings for this board). For a nurse that learned nursing math using mostly ratio-proportion this is extremely convenient.

I also use an app that have many conversions for things like temperature, weights and so on. About all I use it for though is to convert grams to pounds. I work in the NICU and use this to convert grams to pounds/ounces because that's what the parents want to know. I don't really like my app because it only converts grams to either pounds but doesn't properly calculate the ounces as in it gives a weight of 3.4 pounds (for say 1550 grams) and that is not 3# 4 ounces but is actually 3# 6.7 ounces. To to this I have to first calculate grams to ounces, then go to the calculator and subtract 16 ounces at a time to get the final pounds/ounces. I'm sure there is an app that does it in one step, but I don't like to pay much (or anything) for ounces.

As for phone hygiene, I go through gallons of hand sanitizer and soap. In addition, I take disinfectant wipes to my phone at least 2X a shift including removing the cover and wiping down every surface I can get to (being careful with the buttons).

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Specializes in Certified Med/Surg tele, and other stuff.

Speaking of germs, how many people pull out their cell phone while at the grocery store and touch the handle of the grocery cart and then touch their phone? ;)

I too wipe my phone down

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