How does a PDA help you during school and clinicals?

[Scrubz]

(First of all please don't forward this to the PDA forum right away because it's way too slow. Thanks)

Hello. I was thinking about buying a PDA for school, and for anything thereafter and I was going to ask if any of you could tell me how's it has helped you during school. I hear people talking about putting programs such as medical dictionaries, drug guides, and other stuff on a PDA and how it makes it that much more convienient when they're on the floor and don't have a 5lbs book in their pocket.

Also, I've been looking at the Palm TX because they look decent and they aren't as expensive as some of the higher end models. All I really want is a PDA that has Wi-Fi and that can be used to run the programs I need. Anything else is extra. So if any of you have a Palm TX please share your thoughts about it. Thanks.

Thanks a lot for your help!

[Scrubz]

I understand the note pad feature in the PDA (I have a Palm TX). However, Scrubz almost made it sound like he intended to use it "to take notes." Scribbling a reminder is one thing, "taking notes" is quite another (to me anyway).

No, by notes I meant small notes to myself mainly. Not taking notes in class. I like to hand write notes in class because it helps me remember

As far as the keyboard thing goes, I wouldn't do that in class to begin with because if someone else was doing it, it would annoy me to death!

By the way, how does the handwriting function work when taking notes? Do you write, or do you have to click and drag letters?

[arpeggiated]

There's a special "Palm alphabet" that you'll have to learn.

[RN007]

By the way, how does the handwriting function work when taking notes? Do you write, or do you have to click and drag letters?

Scrubz,

There are two 'writing' functions:

1.) You write letters to enter data, like scheduling info, on calendars, contact forms, etc. The letters are almost exactly like writing on paper, except for special symbols.

2.) In the notes function, you write freehand--with the stylus, as you would on paper using a pen, and it saves it just like that. I use it for writing notes to myself during clinicals.

One thing to know: As you start loading software, it'll eat up memory. Make sure you have enough. I bought a memory card. For that reason, I don't load photos, music, etc. Use it strictly for nursing.

If you have another other questions, feel free to use this forum or PM me. I use my Palm a lot.

RN007 (aka Linda)

[catlover13]

Hi,

I ablsolutely love my palm T/X.

I use the free expocrates software, try to keep it updated. Love the fact that this drug database is always up to date. If you are using a book, that book is already out of date even if new....pharm changes so quickly.

I used it for lots of drug info needed on care plans, interactions, side effects, labs, and nursing needs.

Pharm is one of my weaker points, and it is a valuable tool for me to be able to pull out and access the info anywhere, anytime.

I'd be lost without it.

I also use the calendar function, memo, and have downloaded a nifty, also free program, eponyms, that has definitions of some of the medical terms. I'd be sitting in class and it was fun when the teacher would tell us to look something up after class, and I'd already have it. :-)

A couple of things to consider.....

I put my palm in keypad lock, because I found that it would sometimes get bumped in my bag or pocket, and turn on. This feature shuts it right back off. Just helps protect your investment.

I use the hard cover that came with the T/X to help protect the screen from getting accidentally bumped.

Some palms come with a built in camera. My schoolmate bought a used palm and it had a camera. Now our school, and some facilities are banning all cameras, in PDA's and phones because of the possible HIPPA violations.

As for me....I'm studying for boards, just graduated Dec 06....

Lynn

[franckwaa]

I think PDA is good if you know how to play with gadgets. It saves you the burden of carrying those heavy books in the suit case and so on. Imagine having Potter Perry Book with those other crazy books together. Now i can convert most of my books into e-books, pdf and have them on my cassiopea pda. This saves me from carrying more loads and enables me read anywhere.

[jov]

By the way, how does the handwriting function work when taking notes? Do you write, or do you have to click and drag letters?

There are actually three ways to "write" into the Palm

1) use the "palm alphabet"

2) write directly into the notepad with the stylus

3) use the drop down keyboard to "type" with the stylus

I generally use #3 because you end up having some cryptic entries when you use the palm alphabet...

[pdmech73]

PDA's are divided into two types- Palm OS (palm operating system) and PPC (windows mobile operating system).

I prefer PPC (pocket PC) devices instead of Palm. You can buy a wireless keyboard (infrared or bluetooth) to use on your device which makes it kind of like a laptop. Some PDA's have the "thumb-pad keyboard" which you can attach to the pda itself. This helps instead of trying to tap in letters with the stylus.

I have a Dell Axim x30 pda with a wireless keyboard. I prefer my T-Mobile MDA now so I don't have to carry my phone and my Dell Axim pda. What's nice about the MDA is that it has a sliding keyboard. seen here:

-Paul :-)

[dawnelle]

How do you put your books into ebooks? That sounds great, can I do that on my Palm T/X?

Thanks

[Scrubz]

There are actually three ways to "write" into the Palm

1) use the "palm alphabet"

2) write directly into the notepad with the stylus

3) use the drop down keyboard to "type" with the stylus

I generally use #3 because you end up having some cryptic entries when you use the palm alphabet...

The Palm TX has a drop down keyboard?

[FLAtoNYC]

I bought a TX this weekend and had my first clinical with it yesterday. It was out of my hands at least 20 times because it was sooooo useful. I downloaded Davis's, RN notes, MEdSurg notes, an assessment guide and this diagnosis/intervention program that has all the NANDA as well as diseases and relevant diagnoses for each so you can focus assessments. It was a dream for those on the spot questions about "priority interventions" and took a whole 3 seconds to find the info. Plus i bough all skyscape programs and you can cross reference them with eachother. The documents to go is super cool too because I didnt even need a pen or paper to fill out my flow sheets and other paperwork the school needs us to fill out (the hospital is computerized so it i just for our instructors). Then when I got home, all I had to do was hotsync and everything i entered into the palm is now on my Laptop. I swear it took at least an hour off my care plan time.

Quite an investment, when all was said and done I spent 550 but TOTALLY worth it and recommended. Make sure to get a lot of memory cause I used already 57mb of the 100 available and thats just for school stuff.

[Scrubz]

I bought a TX this weekend and had my first clinical with it yesterday. It was out of my hands at least 20 times because it was sooooo useful. I downloaded Davis's, RN notes, MEdSurg notes, an assessment guide and this diagnosis/intervention program that has all the NANDA as well as diseases and relevant diagnoses for each so you can focus assessments. It was a dream for those on the spot questions about "priority interventions" and took a whole 3 seconds to find the info. Plus i bough all skyscape programs and you can cross reference them with eachother. The documents to go is super cool too because I didnt even need a pen or paper to fill out my flow sheets and other paperwork the school needs us to fill out (the hospital is computerized so it i just for our instructors). Then when I got home, all I had to do was hotsync and everything i entered into the palm is now on my Laptop. I swear it took at least an hour off my care plan time.

Quite an investment, when all was said and done I spent 550 but TOTALLY worth it and recommended. Make sure to get a lot of memory cause I used already 57mb of the 100 available and thats just for school stuff.

Cool, I hope it's the useful for me!

[Jules A, MSN]

I'm older and not real familiar with these devices. Can I ask if anyone worries about theirs getting stolen? Are they something you can keep on your person at all times?

Are they mostly for drug info? I don't like reading from the computer so I wouldn't use it for the ebooks. Thanks, Jules