I-Pad Use By Nurses

Nurses General Nursing

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I just got an I-Pad and am wanting to use it on the unit and am interested in hearing from nurses who use different apps on the unit and if you would recommend them or not. I teach and my program requires the Nursing Central Bundle for all of our students, so I have that app and am familiar with it. I also have Epocrates, Micromedex, PubMedTap, several apps that give me access to online journals for my specialty, Littmann Soundbuilder and GE Clinical Images.

Does anyone use the I-pad for taking report and making notes throughout the shift and if so, what app do you use for that?

Does anyone use it for commenting on Microsoft Word documents (ie grading for me), as I think it would be much easire to grade a careplan using a stylus with the I-pad instead of using bubble comments in Microsoft Word as I am currently doing. I have downloaded Notetaker HD and I-annotate apps, and am interested if there are others to consider.

Any ideas would be appreciated! Much thanks in advance.

Specializes in ORTHOPAEDICS-CERTIFIED SINCE 89.

A chain around your waist and another to a handcuff and a theft alarm and it might last a week maybe two. Unless you have money to burn and defend against patient confidentiality issues I'd leave it HOME.

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For note taking I recommend notes plus. It doesn't have PDF capability but the developer has it in the plans. I have used note taker hd too and there are things I like better than notes plus but for overall ease of use notes plus wins - ESP. Once it will import pdf's. I'm beginning a BSN program in the fall and plan to use my iPad for lecture notes. I doubt I'll use it for clinical though b/c of facility rules and the theft issue. FWIW, I completely see the iPad replacing computers in a lot of settings in the years to come. I'm an older student and never had an apple product before my iPad but I am sold. The iPad is way more than a toy. It's just a matter of time.

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I use my apps so much on my phone...It's hard to imagine life without them...Nursing Central (a $150.00 app!!!) gave me such an edge in clinicals...So easy to look up drugs, labs, conditions, diseases...It's sad that we have to worry about these things being stolen. But if that is your only worry and your hospital is OK with you using your iPad I say use it. Technology is a beautiful thing.

The theft issue is a problem, but isn't it hard for someone to steal it and use it as their own? As long as you can keep track of it, I think it will give you an edge in the clinical setting.

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Also, I like to keep my phone in airplane mode so I never worry about being distracted by texts or phone calls at inappropriate times...Not sure if this is an issue with iPad, just something I do to make sure I am using the technology in an acceptable way..

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Specializes in Developmental Disabilites,.

Check your hospital policy. At my hospital any electronics in which pt info is stored or transferred must be screened by and have programs installed onto it by IT due to HIPPA concerns.

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Specializes in FNP.

Jesus, people steal my PENS! I heart my ipad, but it is mostly a toy due to it's size. If it was the size of the Samsung Galaxy, I could use it in clinic. I won't ever use a PC product again, so I won't get a Galaxy, ill just stick w/my iphone apps. My husband has a galaxy, and he loves it.

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One of the nicest features of both the iPad and the iPhone is the one that triangulates the position of the device. If you have an Internet connection and someone steals your iPad and you have MobileMe, you can go to the nearest computer, log in and find your device. :)

I use mine continuously. I have been doing a lot of home health but also school nursing. I will just tell you that that device has saved my life on numerous occasions. I have drugs.com that I downloaded but you can also find that online. The mobile version of drugs.com allows you to log in all the meds someone is taking and show their interactions in a very user friendly format. The side effects of drugs are listed again in a very user freindly way.

I also have a language translator that talks. Wow, do I LOVE that program. I live in an area that has a lot of Hispanics. When I need to make super sure that they know what I'm saying, I type in the statement and let my iPad speak it out for me. Woo hoo!!

When my office needs to send me something, it can come straight to my iPad through email and open a pdf file. So in that way, I can view orders in a much better way than my iPhone. The text was too tiny on that device.

GPS. Wow. I use that one almost every day. It is super fast. One of the GPS applications finds traffic problems and in my city, that is a major plus. That's the best $20 I've spent all year!

I had a client tell me that she thought her baby wasn't growing properly. I found a baby growth chart, logged in the numbers and found out that she was wrong.

I have a diabetic client that is unstable. I started keeping track of the glucose - insulin relationship through an app called Diabetic Buddy. It is password protected. It has a carb finder that was invaluable.

Just to name a few....

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I believe that the OP is correct, iPad and such are the wave of the future, EHRs have only opened the door. A very large facility in North Texas is rolling out their EHR as I type and the Director of HIM was laughing about the difference between our "older" docs and the new residents. She said that the older docs are whining that they didn't go to school to type and the residents are asking when they can get it on their ipads. Encryption is an issue right now but once that is figured out I think they will be every where.

I think they are wonderful, the option for so many fantastic apps at your finger tips . . . but I also have to wonder if you are basing patient treatment on some app you downloaded and it isn't "approved" by everybody and their dog at your facility then are you setting yourself up for a liability?

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Specializes in Cath Lab & Interventional Radiology.

one app that i don't see mentioned above is rn careboard. this is app allows you to keep track of patient information & even has a summary tab for report purposes. you can track up to 50 patients which would be great for you as a clinical instructor! when using this program, it is necessary to enable your security code on your ipad.

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Actually there has been a lot of press about the use of IPads in healthcare. I believe its a hospital in Ottawa that created a program to help in the protection of patient privacy that several people have pointed out. Also there are a lot of new white coats coming out with pockets made to fit the IPad.

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That is true. You can put security on your iPad to protect it.

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We have a PA that walks around with an Ipad in a lab coat pocket.. I do not want to be labeled as a "bully" or get flamed but all I can say is DORK! It is hard to keep a straight face when he takes that thing out..

He is a newer provider, so I am guessing he missed the briefing on all of the stolen: lunches, wallets, lipstick, shower shoes, car keys and countless other wierd stuff...(somebodys gym bag/clothes)...

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