To PDA or not to PDA that is the question

I thought about using my blackberry when I started last year, but personally found it wasn't as helpful as others suggested. I bought a concise drug book instead, including a pocket size version, and packed them along for clinicals without any regrets. It only takes a minute to look up each of your meds, bookmark them, and then go through the pages before your med pass.

Along with a Taber's, you should be able to find most of the information you'll need.

If you don't feel you absolutely need it, don't waste the money.

JMO, of course.

Best,

Southern

I have been wondering this too I have been wondering if it is more of a 'want' vs 'need'

I used my iPod touch when I was in school ( still am ) but once I started my internship this summer, which is nothing like school, I have found it useless. There are enough books around and computers with epocrates at your disposal that I didnt need it.

A lot will vary depending on how well you can use one. There are a few threads on here where Iphone seems to be a step forward

Moved to the Mobile computing forum

I have use my PDA for about about a year now, I love it! So do all my classmates who have a PDA or use their blackberry. It's quick easy and convenient. For my PDA I just need to sync it once in awhile so it can update.

Coming from a PDA converted to IPHONE user.

If cost is prohibitive for you, DONT get the iphone. Your only option is to pay for a SUBSCRIPTION for nursing software, such as drug books etc.

IF you are are dead set on using a PDA, it is not without its limitations. I had a Dell Axim that i used for clinicals for the first year of school. It is convenient in that its lighter than a book, but then its still heavy in your pocket, especially if you already have a phone! I had friends that used their blackberry phones and liked them. Also, you can't always find what you are looking for if you are trying to look up fluid / drug compatability because the small screen doesn't always handle the tables/charts very well. So you end up having to bring a book along anyway... JIC. The nice thing about the dell system was that you actually bought your book and downloaded it. There was no recurring subscription and if you got the Prentice Hall Nurses' Drug Guide, then it comes with a CD to upload it to your PDA for free. However... and i had a pretty darn fast and good PDA, its slow to access. Sometimes you had to wait for it to turn on... if you battery died then you need the book anyway...

Its hit or miss with a PDA. Even though I had one, I still carried my books to clinical. It takes about the same amount of time to use the PDA as a book. But if you go into a room on contact isolation... are you gonna be pulling out your PDA to look?

The iphone is great for what it is because it has a memory of your drug searches, so that is nice for meds/pass with your instructor. I use the skyscape RN suite, which was about $120 and I will have to be purchasing that suite again here in January. I REALLY wish they would let you own a version of it and just pay for the updates.

lol free wifi is exactly why they will not let you buy it without internet service.

You COULD look into buying a "jailbroken" smartphone off of craigslist. When the phone is "jailbroken," the phone's computer has been "modified" to accept other cellular service providers, not just the original company it is manufactured for.

Meaning... you can put cell service on it, with any service provider you want to, without having to buy their internet services. That might be an option for you. (and its not illegal!)