books vs apps

Published

Specializes in ICU.

I have gotten the book list for clinicals, nine of them. What are the benefits of getting apps versus books. The apps seem great, can be with me at all times but people might think I'm texting, inappropriately on my phone when actually looking up medical information. Husband says what if the phone locks up/ get lost( I'm good at misplacing things). Do you get free updates yearly? are genreally more expensive than books that can be bought used.

Books= people can see me looking info up, walk off/ get forgotten more easily than the phone (or so it seems). Gets outdated/ poor resale value when done.

My phone is the I phone.

Any input on what you have done?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER.

Canchaser, wish I would have talked to you before you bought all those books!

The majority of books recommended for clinical at St. Joe's are crap, pardon the expression. My preceptors have recommended better books for pharm, Peds, Ortho, and general medicine. I have barely cracked ONE book required by St. Joe's but have really used the ones recommended by my preceptors. Bonus, my preceptors are lending me their books, which saves oodles of money.

I would recommend coughing up the money and signing up for up to date .com. As a student, you get a discount, and it costs around 275$ per year. It is the best money I ever spent, and wish I would have purchased it at the beginning of the program! It gives you all you need to write your papers, and research your evidenced based assignments.

Let me know if you want MY BOOKLIST of great books recommended by my preceptors, they have proven to be much better than the St. Joe's list.

Also, E pocrates and Medscape are free apps, and great. AHRQ.gov has an app, as does the CDC for guidelines. All were free, and have been really helpful. I have the Up to Date app on my I touch, and even the old school doc I do clinical with (can't send an email) asks me to look stuff up for him!!!!

Let me know how I can help. Been there, can hopefully help you with that!

Tracey

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU.

Tracey, dang it.. I just bought all my books on Friday. Yes send me the list.. Just post it On the sjcme all nurses site. It might save someone else the aggravation

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER.

Will do!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

UpToDate is the gold standard for our practice. It is very current, research-based concise articles put out w/o regards to advertising from pharm companies.

Excellent resource.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion