Do You Use a PDA at Work?

mom2michael, MSN, RN, NP · May 28, 2008

Yes I use mine all the time. However, it's recently been noticed by my manager as also being a cell phone and she has request that I use it out of patient's views so they don't think I'm using my cell rather than doing my job with it. Never mind I'm standing at the Pyxis and staring at a bottle of medication and using it at the same time, yes I could see how that could be misconstrued as something else. :banghead:

But yes, I use it.

MikeyJ, RN · May 28, 2008

Still a nursing student here - graduate in a few months. My school requires that every student purchase a PDA and the "nursing bundle" software. I use it all the time and use it when I work as a nurse apprentice as well. I have every intention to use it when I work as a nurse.

I am not one to give a medication that I am not familiar with or do not know the action/indication/side effects. I have found that many many nurses give medications with no clue as to what it is or what it does. SCARY.

Elvish, BSN, DNP, RN, NP · May 28, 2008

I'm amazed at this. I know I will come across sounding SO 20th century, but I do not own a PDA, have never been tempted to buy one. A nursing school requiring you to buy one? Wow.

I must sound like a dinosaur, but I much prefer looking something up in a book. I like something tangible. Plus, that's one less thing I will drop and break or have fall into the toilet or something.

P.S. We still have rabbit ears on the telly. :)

Absolutely13 · May 28, 2008

I'm amazed at this. I know I will come across sounding SO 20th century, but I do not own a PDA, have never been tempted to buy one. A nursing school requiring you to buy one? Wow.
I must sound like a dinosaur, but I much prefer looking something up in a book. I like something tangible. Plus, that's one less thing I will drop and break or have fall into the toilet or something.
P.S. We still have rabbit ears on the telly. :)

Elvish, I was on your bandwagon until I found out that Yale and Duke require students to have PDA'S. I am trying to see how far this has spread.

I love your responses!

qt2168 · May 28, 2008

P.S. We still have rabbit ears on the telly. :)

Just wondering what is rabbit ears?

Virgo_RN, BSN, RN · May 28, 2008

Just wondering what is rabbit ears?

Boy, do I feel old. Rabbit ears is an antenna that sits on top of the TV.

I have a PDA and use it all the time.

zamboni · May 28, 2008

I bought my PDA when I was in school, and I'm still using it in practice (although I plan to replace it with an iPhone soon). I did it simply because I was tired of lugging heavy books to class and clinicals. I have it in my pocket at work, and it's very handy if a patient asks me something about something that I need to look up (such as a med I'm not familiar with). No way am I dragging a drug book around in my pocket! It's also great if I need a quick look at a calander, or need to make a fast memo. I don't set foot in the hospital without it now (until I retire it with the iPhone!).

chowlover · May 28, 2008

What type of PDA do you use? This from some one else stuck in the last century.

ASSEDO · May 28, 2008

As far as a personal PDA becoming a standard, I believe it should. However, I have noticed more and more nurses are using them here in the South (which is usually the last place on earth for technical advancements). I own one, worked in the OR and needed to know surgical procedures PDQ, so I had the info in my hands. Great for medical terms, drug and calculation issues. Also, to keep addresses &phone numbers of physicians offices you may need in a hurry when discharge plannning. Keeping forms and doucments available (in documents to go) will prevent searching time and you can have procedures at you fingertips. It becomes an extention of your brain.

UM Review RN, ASN, RN · May 28, 2008

I would be in serious trouble without my PDA. My job has so many inservices and education requirements, I couldn't possibly keep track of them all without my PDA's calendar function.

I also can write freehand on Notepad so I can literally take short notes on it if I need to jot a phone number or an address for entry into my contact list later.

I bought a cardiology treatment reference, a drug reference, a lab reference, a taber's, and disease book references. I don't have to go to my locker or search the unit for my references, they're right here in my pocket. This degree of technology has impressed more than one demanding patient who wants to immediately know all the side effects of a medication, etc. I just say, "No problem, I'll look it up," and then the patient does a double take when instead of leaving the room, I just whip out the PDA and tap a few icons, and presto! it's done. Way faster than other means of getting a fast reference.

Oh, and it also has a very nice calculator. Way handy little tool.

In the Memo section, I keep notes on JC stuff, new P&P's for our unit.

My PDA is only a PDA. It's a Palm Tx and I've had it for about a year.

I didn't want to have the monthly expense of a phone. However, my hospital has free WiFi throughout so I can access my email or websites on my break while I'm gulping my lunch.

I also bought the Splash Wallet programs. One is my checkbook, one is my calendar, another is a grocery/recipe list, one has all my passwords and coded entries encrypted in a secure program so that if we have to evacuate fast due to a hurricane (we're in a flood zone), I have a quick reference to all of our family information. I also store all my digital photos on little cards that can be viewed on my PDA.

I suggest that those of you who are not computer-literate, that you make every effort to become so, because you will very soon be doing computer charting. It's coming, folks, nothing you can do about it but get on the bandwagon and take up the reins.

Trauma Columnist · May 28, 2008

I have used a PDA for about 6 years now - the first 4 in the ER and the last two as an APN. I have a Verizon Palm 700p and love it. Literally couldn't function w/o it. Has many programs including three for renal dosing, calculator, contact list (we have 15 MDs in our practice alone)!, memos for my CEUs, teaching committments, etc., you name it - it goes in there.

I too feel that this is definitely the wave of the future. My PDA syncs with my computer online and I get updates daily on meds, dosing regimes, etc.. The up to date info is just something you can't get in any book.