HELP! PDA/Palm Pilots are they helpful?

Nursing Students General Students

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We just had our nursing school orientation, and I brought up the subject of palm pilots, and they are allowed and a good idea according to a couple of the teachers. My question is have any of you students or nurses used them in clinical practice and if so what are the programs that you consider essential. I am looking on EBAY for a used one with programming already installed and while I know that I would want a drug guide no older than 2004 (preferably 2005 or 2006) I was wondering about the other programs. Any suggestions on models and software?

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Specializes in LTAC.

I have a Tungsten E PDA; and I love it! I purchased it my 3rd semester of nursing school, and it's very user-friendly. Check out http://www.palmone.com. They also have a lot of free software that you can download. I use Epocrates RX; the drug reference is free, but for a subscription you can get lab values and several other tools. I like it, because you can link it to your computer and update it automatically.

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I have an HP iPaq. The software I have is Epocrates Essentials, Tabers, and Pepid - and I use all of them a lot!

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I use mine all the time. Beats the bejeebers out of hauling a ton of reference materials. Also nice to be able to reach in a pocket and look something up right on the spot.

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Specializes in Hospice, Internal Medicine.

I bought mine (Dell Axim) before I started nursing school but have never taken it with me to clinical. So far I haven't needed it. I do all my prep and look up all my meds the night before. If one or two meds change I just use a book. Starting next quarter we won't be doing prep the night before so I think I'll start taking it with me then. I would wait and see if you really need it before you buy it. Mine was $350 and is pretty much just a desk decorator at this point.

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Specializes in LTAC, Homehealth, Hospice Case Manager.
Beats the bejeebers out of hauling a ton of reference materials.

I have a Dell Axim (actually, I think my hubby originally bought it on the pretense that I "really needed it" so he could play with it!:) ). I love it! Not only does it eliminate hauling the books, but I keep it with me and don't have to worry about finding space to store it while I'm on the floor. I have Lippincott's Drug Guide, Taber's, and Elsevier/Mosby's IV Medications. Pretty spiffy little pocket pal in my opinion!

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I love my palm! I have the Tungsten E2 and I have it loaded with a Nursing Diagnosis software (the name of it is eluding me right now), Taber's, Davis Drug Guide and Mosby's lab values software. I use it all the time in clinicals.

And I buy all my "for fun" reading in ebook edition now. I love that I can carry some light, pleasure reading with me everywhere I go. I also use it to keep track of my schedule and all of my assignments. Oh, and it is really handy for jotting down grocery lists, phone numbers, etc, too! I cannot image life without it now.

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