PDA a must or a bust?

Nurses General Nursing

Published

I am a new nurse. Thinking about a PDA, not sure though, how does it benefit?

Or is it a waste of money? (My hubby thinks it would be a waste and he's a computer programmer) Thanks! :rolleyes: Nurscee

Specializes in ICU/CCU (PCCN); Heme/Onc/BMT.

It's PG-13! ;)

:chuckle

Up Vote Up Vote ×

:p Thanks you guys! I'm downloading the demo on the website. I'm really interested.

Today 2 people wanted to know what the meds were. I couldn't tell them, couldn't locate the drug guide. It would be so nice to whip out the pda and tell them.

Also love the idea of knowing what IV rates I should set...Davis guide tell ya?

How is it for making notes on like Dr orders, reminders about patient care, etc.

My hospital is in the dark ages with only paper documentation, I NEED something to make my life easier. I can't keep up with this paper trail.

Keep posting, I'll keep reading....Nurscee

Up Vote Up Vote ×
:p Thanks you guys! I'm downloading the demo on the website. I'm really interested.

Today 2 people wanted to know what the meds were. I couldn't tell them, couldn't locate the drug guide. It would be so nice to whip out the pda and tell them.

Also love the idea of knowing what IV rates I should set...Davis guide tell ya?

How is it for making notes on like Dr orders, reminders about patient care, etc.

My hospital is in the dark ages with only paper documentation, I NEED something to make my life easier. I can't keep up with this paper trail.

Keep posting, I'll keep reading....Nurscee

One more ?

Anyone use a "scribble writer" ?

Sounds interesting. Nurscee

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I did it!

I just bought a Palm!

Can't wait to play with it. Thanks for all the info. Nurscee:)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.

Coming out of the closet and admitting it...

Have had a PDA for 1 1/2years and haven't used it! :crying2: :crying2: :crying2:

Haven't had the time to read the manual. Spending to much time with a computer all day at work...then 3hrs here. :coollook:

Anyone who can help me get myself started feel free to PM me. Its a Palm M130 just rusting next to my home computer. Think it would be great to take to meetings to take notes, update my policy and procedure manual while at football games, etc. Just gotta get over the startup.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
i have a dell axim, too. i'm a little bad though because i downloaded trial versions of a buncha stuff. then i got a keygenerator to fully unlock them. so basically it was free. hehe! :rolleyes: i'm rather naughty, eh? it's a bit annyoing that these programs are more expensive than the books, which i also have. i'm not made of money!

i take my pda with me to clinical so i don't have to take all the books. plus mp3s, movies, planner, calander, you name it has it. it's great. i looooooove mine. :)

[color=#4b0082]you're not a little naughty. and it isn't cute. it's stealing. shame on you!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

My mom ordered a Palm PDA for me yesterday as an early graduation gift. My parents figured it would be nice for me to use during my last Med/Surg clinical rotation (and I figure it's pretty nice of them to do that!). I'm gonna sign up for the Epocrates for a year! I can't wait!

For those of you who are familiar with Epocrates...can you think of anything else that I should have on my PDA? I know Epocrates contains quite a bit of stuff and has just about everything a new grad could need, but I've got 250MB of memory with my PDA (it's a Tungsten T5). It doesn't have to be nursing related. I will appreciate any suggestions! Thanks!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in OB, lactation.

Karen, do you think something like this would jump start you?:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0072230827/ref=pd_sim_b_1/002-5772949-4602425?%5Fencoding=UTF8&v=glance

Nemhain,

Here is another PDA thread from here at allnurses, it mentions the programs

Fast Facts, RNotes, Tabers, Pepid, LWW English/Spanish Med words & phrases, and Archimedes, Nursing Diseases and Disorders, Nurse's Manual of Lab and Diagnostic tests, ECG guide, five minute clinical consult, pediatrics suite, five minute clinical consult, pediatrics suite, bejewelled, adobe palm pdf, Palm Reader, sol free solitaire, documents to go, pictures.

https://allnurses.com/forums/showthread.php?t=89923&page=1&pp=10

It also had links to other previous PDA threads too. :)

Here are some places to get programs if you haven't already looked around (I cut and pasted these from somewhere else).

http://www.pdacortex.com/index.htm (look in left hand column for Palm

and PocketPC programs for nurses)

http://www.skyscape.com

Epocrates has a free drug guide at

http://www2.epocrates.com/index.html

Then there are ones you buy, like Davis Drug guide here is $40

http://medicalpocketpc.com/

Or $50 here

http://www.skyscape.com/index/home.aspx

Taber's is $50 there too

http://www.skyscape.com/EStore/ProductDetail.aspx?ProductID=221

Nursing PDA listserv:

http://www.pdacortex.com/nursing_pdas_listserv.htm

12 most popular PDA drug guides (Epocrates and Davis lead):

http://www.pdacortex.com/Popular_PDA_Drug_Guides_Nursing.htm

Good list of links if you have a Palm PDA:

http://pbrain.hypermart.net/basics.html

What Nurses Need to Know about Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs)

http://www.eaa-knowledge.com/ojni/ni/8_3/davenport.htm

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Mitchsmom! :bow:

Holy Moly! It's the Mother Lode of PDA info!!! Thank you so much!!!

:w00t:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.
I have a Dell Axim, too. I'm a little bad though because I downloaded trial versions of a buncha stuff. Then I got a keygenerator to fully unlock them. So basically it was free. Hehe! I'm rather naughty, eh? It's a bit annyoing that these programs are more expensive than the books, which I also have. I'm not made of money!

Rather naughty? More like criminal. Keygenerators are ILLEGAL. You may not be made of money, but half the reason why this crap is expensive is BECAUSE of what has to be spent to try and KEEP 'people' from stealing it.

BTOS:

As for a PDA, i had one for a month, it was a waste of money for me, because i never used it that often, even with the programs i had LEGALLY downloaded and PAID for.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I am a new nurse. Thinking about a PDA, not sure though, how does it benefit?

Or is it a waste of money? (My hubby thinks it would be a waste and he's a computer programmer) Thanks! :rolleyes: Nurscee

While I am still a student, my PDA is priceless! I did buy a high end one from hp for the memory (knowing I would need it for software applications, backup, etc.)

and have so far purchased Taber's and have a subscription (through school) for epocrates.com

I use it many times a day. And, for the first time in my life, using a daily planner is do-able...the programmable reminders are extremely helpful for me since I have a tendency to write things down then never look at them again.

I decided to buy the PDA in school rather than after was so I could learn to use it as I progressed w/ my education. My husband thought it was a hugh waste of money but he is beginning to see how much I use it -- so now he is beginning to want one.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I have a Dell Axim, too. I'm a little bad though because I downloaded trial versions of a buncha stuff. Then I got a keygenerator to fully unlock them. So basically it was free. Hehe! :rolleyes: I'm rather naughty, eh? It's a bit annyoing that these programs are more expensive than the books, which I also have. I'm not made of money!

I take my PDA with me to clinical so I don't have to take all the books. Plus MP3s, movies, planner, calander, you name it has it. It's great. I looooooove mine. :)

yeah that makes people like me (who have spent $150 on programs) kinda mad....thanks for sharing

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment