Anyone looking into using a PDA for School?

Nursing Students General Students

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I've read some talk of them in several threads... wondering how handy one would be for clinicals, etc... are they worth the $ investment $ ? And, where do you get the software for Nursing?

Can anyone recommend, or NOT recommend using one?

thanks! :p

be sure to check with your school first! The school that I will be attending does not allow "toys" in clinicals!!!

Check first! :)

Specializes in Emergency & Trauma/Adult ICU.
be sure to check with your school first! The school that I will be attending does not allow "toys" in clinicals!!!

Check first! :)

WOW - are you serious?? The reason this seems so strange to me is because I've seen so many nurses use them. Seriously - would your school instructors rather have you trotting around trying to find a drug guide before giving a med than just whip out your (own) PDA? I'm just scratching my head over this one ... :uhoh3:

yeah.....I had heard this too (probably here! LOL!) I'm gonna call on Monday (if I remember) and ask about PDA's in clinicals and taping lectures.

I have a Tungsten E and love it. It has Documents to go, where you can use Microsoft office on your computer and transfer those documents to your palm for use there. Also has a note pad, date book, the usual stuff. My main use during clinicals was Epocrates. You dont' have to carry that HUGE drug book around and I had better luck finding the new drugs on my palm than my classmates did in the Davis Drug book. All my clinical instructors loved my palm, one even wanted me to do a class presentation on it...LOL I still use my Davis Drug guide at home when I have to type up my mediications, because epocrates doesn't give all the nursing implications. But it works well in clinicals, you can get the proper dosage off of it, interactions, complications and classification.

I haven't tried the palm RN notes yet, tho the hard copy version looks interesting. I still use a paper and pencil for most of my brain work...guess I like to scribble.

Good luck

Debblynn

I have a Tungsten E. Haven't downloaded any of the med software yet, but planning on it. Love it, but can't seem to keep it charged up - battery seems not to last too long with that nifty color screen. Anyone know if they make a car charger for this puppy?

Manna,

How old is your Tungsten? I have used mine in clinical and have never had a problem with the battery yet. I admit I probably don't use mine as much as some do, tho. If you use it a bunch during the day, playing games and such, I suppose the battery could go down faster. If you aren't doing that, and it is relatively new, I would consider seeing if you could exchange it for a different one.

Debblynn

I was recently checking out EBAY for palm accessories.....they had a car charger for mine (palm zire 31) for $6. I believe I saw one for the Tungsten as well, if I get a chance I'll post a link to the an auction for a Tungsten car charger :) They also sell battery boosters for palms, they have those on ebay too, a little more money I think......

Good luck with it :)

Specializes in orthopaedics, perioperative.

eBay has hard cases for palms, too! I am in heaven! Definitely get a hard case if you plan to carry your PDA in your pocket, while at clinical.

Specializes in orthopaedics, perioperative.

eBay has hard cases for palms, too! I am in heaven! Definitely get a hard case if you plan to carry your PDA in your pocket, while at clinical.

Specializes in med/surg.

I recently got a palm Tungsten E. I just love my new gadget! Pepid makes it easy to double check drug interactions, and has calculators for all those pesky little questions like "what does a 38.7 temp mean in farenheit?" I'm doing my BSN through UOP online, lots of reading to download, mainly in PDF and WORD, both formats can be put on the PDA (kinda small type, but adjustable). The PDA has everything I need and fits into my scrub pockets: calculator, Pepid, Note pad, Davis' Drug Guide, Spanish-English nursing dictionary, palmreader (eBooks), calendar, telephone book, clock/alarm clock, and etc., etc. It's hard to beat for portability. I already "lost" my hard copy of the current Davis' Drug Guide (silly me - left it on the med cart).

Anyway, if you want to get one, please do! They're easy, not terribly expensive and once you get it set up with the referencees/programs you like will probably make life/school/work much easier (or at least slightly more organized).

Oh, and here's a kicker. I was at a conference in April. Pepid was there and offering a deal on their program and the Tungsten E as a promo bundle. Well the sales rep didn't have a Tungsten E, and I whipped out mine (PDA that is)to show some other RNs just how easy it is to use. Would you believe he gave me a discount on the Pepid for showing off my PDA? True story. :cool:

Specializes in med/surg.

I recently got a palm Tungsten E. I just love my new gadget! Pepid makes it easy to double check drug interactions, and has calculators for all those pesky little questions like "what does a 38.7 temp mean in farenheit?" I'm doing my BSN through UOP online, lots of reading to download, mainly in PDF and WORD, both formats can be put on the PDA (kinda small type, but adjustable). The PDA has everything I need and fits into my scrub pockets: calculator, Pepid, Note pad, Davis' Drug Guide, Spanish-English nursing dictionary, palmreader (eBooks), calendar, telephone book, clock/alarm clock, and etc., etc. It's hard to beat for portability. I already "lost" my hard copy of the current Davis' Drug Guide (silly me - left it on the med cart).

Anyway, if you want to get one, please do! They're easy, not terribly expensive and once you get it set up with the referencees/programs you like will probably make life/school/work much easier (or at least slightly more organized).

Oh, and here's a kicker. I was at a conference in April. Pepid was there and offering a deal on their program and the Tungsten E as a promo bundle. Well the sales rep didn't have a Tungsten E, and I whipped out mine (PDA that is)to show some other RNs just how easy it is to use. Would you believe he gave me a discount on the Pepid for showing off my PDA? True story. :cool:

Specializes in Med-Surg, Psych.

I just bought a Tungsten E and was thinking about installing Taber's and Davis's Drug Guide. Is there any reason to also buy the hardcopies of these books?

Thanks,

Michelle

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