Can anyone recommend a good PDA?

used it through my clinical s. Skyscape has packages .

See, I never used one as a student. I'm yet to see an actual working nurse use one.

Have you thought about just cutting down on the things in your pocket and saving the cash?

I never found that I needed one either and I am not sure it is really worth spending the money. I found that it helped me most by going home that night and going over things that I needed to remember, such as policies and care plans. If there were things I couldn't remember, (ie. for charting), I would type them up in small print and laminate a few cards, and hold them together with a paper clip. Sounds pretty dull, doesn't it.

Drugs that you don't know, should be researched and there should be a drug guide on the med cart or the narcotics dispenser. As you know, you should not be giving any meds that you don't know about.

As a student I'd recommend you continue with the practice of making cards. It seems to be the tried and true method of learning and retaining info. You have enough crap in your pockets already! That being said, I am one of the odd nurses who does actually use a PDA in practice. I keep a drug guide, reference texts, and of course my schedule on it. Printed drug guides aren't updated with the frequency of a digital version, and cant easily be brought with you about the unit for quick reference. I often use the reference texts to refresh myself regarding a given diagnosis. And I use the scheduling program to review and change my schedule when trading shifts with other staff. I also use a PDA continuing education program to help me with CEUs, very convenient and great when I have a minute here or there.

moved to the mobile computing forum

I would disagree with the above coments. PDA can be very usefull, of course just like cell phone nobody needed them before that came out, but now, everyone does. You obviously can survice without one, but once you start to use one, you really find it usefull.

I use Dell Axim 30... I LOVE it. Fast, compact, reliable, large screen... can go online... everything but a phone. I love the fonction where by just pressing a button you can record yourself, very useful for quick notes. I got mine on Ebay with already thousands of dollars worth of application...

I'm a gadget person myself - have used PDAs, Palm phones and now I have a Blackberry and love it. Use the PDA part every single day multiple times/day.