Having a PDA at work.

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Would you advise this or would you say no to it? Please give reasons for whatever said you take. Thanks

Specializes in Pediatric Critical Care, Cardiac, EMS.

I used to have a PalmPilot that I carried everywhere - now I carry my iPod Touch. It has my medCalc, my Tabers, my Davis Drug Guide, my Diseases & Disorders reference, my lab values and tests lookup (for the ones I don't use every day) and a wifi setup so I can google something if I need to look it up at bedside.

Yeah, I use it. Yes I like it. Could I do my job without it? Sure - but it definitely makes the job easier.

Specializes in Emergency.

Also carry a pda. Makes it easy to answer questions at the bedside and look up drug info while standing at the pyxis. It's just another tool. Drug guide, iv drug guide & tabers are the most useful.

Specializes in Cardiac Telemetry, ED.

I carry one as well. I do use it, and I like it. It's much more user friendly than what the hospital provides (Micromedex). The only thing I wish I had was a compatibility checker, like on Micromedex. Checking compatibilities on my palm requires scrolling through a list, which is kind of a pain. Other than that, I find it very useful.

Specializes in ICU/CCU/CVICU/ED/HS.

I carried a PalmPilot for years, used Epocrates on it(the $149 version). I now have it(Epocrates) on my iPhone and still use it daily, drug lookup, compatibility, infectios disease, labs, math formulas, etc. Could I do my job without it? Yup. Does it make my job easier? YUP! Just make sure you keep the battery charged...;)

Specializes in ICU, Research, Corrections.
I carry one as well. I do use it, and I like it. It's much more user friendly than what the hospital provides (Micromedex). The only thing I wish I had was a compatibility checker, like on Micromedex. Checking compatibilities on my palm requires scrolling through a list, which is kind of a pain. Other than that, I find it very useful.

I have one and love it. Virgo RN, have you used the program IV Meds? I bought in on skyscape. That is my most frequently used application. I usually have to check compatibilities several times a shift.

My hospital also has Micromedex, but if I am in the pt's room or the med room, I use my IV Meds PDA program.

Specializes in Cardiac Telemetry, ED.
I have one and love it. Virgo RN, have you used the program IV Meds? I bought in on skyscape. That is my most frequently used application. I usually have to check compatibilities several times a shift.

My hospital also has Micromedex, but if I am in the pt's room or the med room, I use my IV Meds PDA program.

Oh yes, that's probably the application I use most frequently. Since we have bedside computers though, I can use Micromedex at the bedside, or in the med room. Micromedex also has a pill identifier, which I have used several times, finding pills in the person's linens or on the floor, etc.

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