Helpful PDA programs?

smileyRn96 · Feb 7, 2008

Is anyone using programs on their blackberry? I noticed that some websites have PDA software that can be downloaded on blackberry's. I am debating whether to buy a PDA vs blackberry for school. Seems that if the blackberry has the same capabilities then it would be easier to just carry one device, but I am no phone-guru and can't decipher all the info! Your input would be greatly appreciated!

Some things to consider...Does your school use clinical tracking software and will it be compatible with your device? Also, cell service in hospitals is scetchy and does your smartphone also have wifi or at least the possibility of a wifi adaptor?

-Smiley

gasmaster · Feb 29, 2008

Any thoughts from anyone on cell reception in the OR? Those of u with Treo's & Blackberry's please speak up!

shari_rn · Mar 4, 2008

I will be starting my program in August and have had a Blackberry curve for about a year. My phone does not have wi fi,but has the edge which is slower. I downloaded several anesthesia programs from skyscape.com and they work great. Some of the math applications like archimedes do not work , but I hope this gets cleared up with the new os rumored to be released soon. I too am curious about the ability to use phones( wireless internet, not to talk) in the OR.

People say the phones can interfere with pacemakers. In the hospital I work at we are not allowed to use phones in the ICU, however once a patient is on a regular medical/surgical floor they can be used. I have friends that are travel nurses in ICUs around the country and use their cell phones in the ICU.

Does anyone have knowledge of this? Why the inconsistencies? I have never seen a phone cause any interference. Is this just a way to keep people from annoyingly talking on their phones?

I am curious because the internet on my phone is a very useful tool for looking things up sometimes.

HillaryC, RN, CRNA · Mar 4, 2008

I've heard that the old cellular phones might have interfered, but that today's digital ones don't. I also recall reading something about having to be less than 3 feet from the monitor for there to be any problems. I've never heard of cell phones interfering with pacemakers. My suspicion is that our no cell phone rules in the ICU have more to do with keeping visitors from disturbing patients (and us) talking on their phones. We probably do it in part because that's how it's always been done. I've known some nurses who carried their cell phones, though I've never done it.

I will be starting my program in August and have had a Blackberry curve for about a year. My phone does not have wi fi,but has the edge which is slower. I downloaded several anesthesia programs from skyscape.com and they work great. Some of the math applications like archimedes do not work , but I hope this gets cleared up with the new os rumored to be released soon. I too am curious about the ability to use phones( wireless internet, not to talk) in the OR.
People say the phones can interfere with pacemakers. In the hospital I work at we are not allowed to use phones in the ICU, however once a patient is on a regular medical/surgical floor they can be used. I have friends that are travel nurses in ICUs around the country and use their cell phones in the ICU.
Does anyone have knowledge of this? Why the inconsistencies? I have never seen a phone cause any interference. Is this just a way to keep people from annoyingly talking on their phones?
I am curious because the internet on my phone is a very useful tool for looking things up sometimes.

casesrna · Jul 28, 2008

I sold my laptop to buy a new IPAQ 111 and love it. The program I use most is free from Thomson healthcare. If your hospital has Micromedex, you can download this software for free. It has herbal medications, diseases, labs, and of course medications.

hell000nurse · Aug 7, 2008

I am so depressed to have come to the realization that I will have to get rid of my iphone

volatileRRNA · Aug 7, 2008

I've been researching and debating this problem for quite some time now.

I love the blackberry look and style (esp 8820) but they only operate on RIM operating system which will severely limit you program choices. The programs choices that's available now for 'em, not my favorite. I have a blackberry now but will soon change to another.

Next is the PALM operating system. Yes, it's been out for a long time and have tons of program for ur choosing. But is quickly becoming obsolete. Even PALM TREO is going towards Windows. PALM system is easy to use but u can only use 1 program at a time and ur really limited to the PALM CENTRO or the PALM 755 phone at the moment.

Last is the WINDOWS based phone. It has the user interface that we are use to w/ WINDOWS, & can alternate b/t programs. There are tons of software. If ur not using the newest version of Windows 6.0 or 6.1, ur phone may tend to lock up occasionally (yeah it can happen to ur phone too). The best phone available at the moment for this is the PALM 800w but only on SPRINT. It has WiFi and GPS, oH mY!! Crap!

Ooops. Forgot about the i- Phone. Yeah it has the cool factor, but practically use- not really. Imagine touch screening those long names of conditions and drugs when ur in a hurry. " Hold on DOC, but hey don't I look cool ? " Plus there are very limited software available at the moment. Heard there is a program coming out soon that will allow u to use other Operating system software but still not practically for the OR.

But do u really need a smart phone anyways?? For school - Nope. But theres are always a couple of em- u know who u are! For clinicals - Not really. Talking to many CRNAs/SRNAs, very few uses em. Even the students rarely uses em. But a few swears by it though. Don't know about u , I just want a safety net for that just in case moment.

Hopes this helps.

hell000nurse · Aug 8, 2008

I've been researching and debating this problem for quite some time now.
I love the blackberry look and style (esp 8820) but they only operate on RIM operating system which will severely limit you program choices. The programs choices that's available now for 'em, not my favorite. I have a blackberry now but will soon change to another.
Next is the PALM operating system. Yes, it's been out for a long time and have tons of program for ur choosing. But is quickly becoming obsolete. Even PALM TREO is going towards Windows. PALM system is easy to use but u can only use 1 program at a time and ur really limited to the PALM CENTRO or the PALM 755 phone at the moment.
Last is the WINDOWS based phone. It has the user interface that we are use to w/ WINDOWS, & can alternate b/t programs. There are tons of software. If ur not using the newest version of Windows 6.0 or 6.1, ur phone may tend to lock up occasionally (yeah it can happen to ur phone too). The best phone available at the moment for this is the PALM 800w but only on SPRINT. It has WiFi and GPS, oH mY!! Crap!
Ooops. Forgot about the i- Phone. Yeah it has the cool factor, but practically use- not really. Imagine touch screening those long names of conditions and drugs when ur in a hurry. " Hold on DOC, but hey don't I look cool ? " Plus there are very limited software available at the moment. Heard there is a program coming out soon that will allow u to use other Operating system software but still not practically for the OR.
But do u really need a smart phone anyways?? For school - Nope. But theres are always a couple of em- u know who u are! For clinicals - Not really. Talking to many CRNAs/SRNAs, very few uses em. Even the students rarely uses em. But a few swears by it though. Don't know about u , I just want a safety net for that just in case moment.
Hopes this helps.

this was a pretty informative post. but i just wanna say one thing regarding the iphone. do you have an iphone? have you ever even used one? ive had one for almost a year and im completely obsessed with you. do you really think its faster to open up a palm or any other 'smart phone', take out your little plastic pointer thingy and type things on it, versus using the touch screen on the iphone?! youre mistaken. if you know anything about the iphone, or more importantly if you become an avid user of it, you would know you get VERY quick with the touch-typing. its not slow by any means. yes, you do look cool with an iphone but youre right, the program compatibility is just not there yet. but it will be, i have faith!!!!

volatileRRNA · Aug 12, 2008

this was a pretty informative post. but i just wanna say one thing regarding the iphone. do you have an iphone? have you ever even used one? ive had one for almost a year and im completely obsessed with you. do you really think its faster to open up a palm or any other 'smart phone', take out your little plastic pointer thingy and type things on it, versus using the touch screen on the iphone?! youre mistaken. if you know anything about the iphone, or more importantly if you become an avid user of it, you would know you get VERY quick with the touch-typing. its not slow by any means. yes, you do look cool with an iphone but youre right, the program compatibility is just not there yet. but it will be, i have faith!!!!

I do not have an I phone, but my family does. Typing for texting and typing for programs are two different things. Yes for texting, u can master the touch keyboard and type very fast. The reason the I phone is limited in medical programs now is that they have to change the format in which u enter in the information. Some programs doesn't give you the entire screen allot for the keyboard and thus the problem. Now imagine the touch screen keyboard u are touching is now half the size. Very few people have the finger size of a stylet.

Again, I'm not an expert in palm/smartphone devices. Just my opinion from my researches and going around to all the stores to play with the phones. Everyone have their own preferences. All phones have their advantages and disadvantages.

Pedsccrn · Aug 17, 2008

I sold my laptop to buy a new IPAQ 111 and love it. The program I use most is free from Thomson healthcare. If your hospital has Micromedex, you can download this software for free. It has herbal medications, diseases, labs, and of course medications.

Thanks for the post about the IPAQ 111. After shopping around, I decided that it really was the best device for information retrieval and haven't quit playing with it since. It was fairly expensive, but I bought it while it was on sale. I had the edge on my blackberry and it is pretty slow, but the wifi on the IPAQ 111 is much more functional.