pda software

My school is the complete opposite. they don't welcome technology at all. I was the first in class to bring a laptop to school and the first to bring a PDA to clinicals. Everybody struggled with writing down the teacher's lectures except for me. It made my life easier. During clinicals, students stuffed all pockets of their uniforms with those pocket size books for procedures, drug guides, plus stethoscopes etc. So you can imagine how many sagging pants we had around clinicals. I had the drug guide, Taber's, Nurse's assessment, Rx diagnosis, careplans and procedure books on my PDA so that's all I had to carry. Plus I bought a pda compatible keyboard that folds and I can type my assessments, careplans while I'm still in the hosp. Also, my pda has a voice recorder so instead of writing down meds or assessment I use the voice recorder. PDAs are amazing! BTW, now there's 4 people in class with laptops and 3 with PDAs and we usually "beam" notes and info in class.

My school is the complete opposite. they don't welcome technology at all. I was the first in class to bring a laptop to school and the first to bring a PDA to clinicals. Everybody struggled with writing down the teacher's lectures except for me. It made my life easier. During clinicals students stuffed all pockets of their uniforms with those pocket size books for procedures, drug guides, plus stethoscopes etc. So you can imagine how many sagging pants we had around clinicals. I had the drug guide, Taber's, Nurse's assessment, Rx diagnosis, careplans and procedure books on my PDA so that's all I had to carry. Plus I bought a pda compatible keyboard that folds and I can type my assessments, careplans while I'm still in the hosp. Also, my pda has a voice recorder so instead of writing down meds or assessment I use the voice recorder. PDAs are amazing! BTW, now there's 4 people in class with laptops and 3 with PDAs and we usually "beam" notes and info in class.[/quote']

cool

I never thought about using the voice recorder for that.

It's nice to hear that it will be usefull. I bought a Palmone Tungsten T3 and I don't start the program till August, 05. I called the school first to ask if they were ok to have and was told they were. I bought it online at Skyscape.com and it came with some free software (Griffith's 5 minute Clinical consult, Archimedes, Clinician's Pocket Drug Reference, and International Classification of Diseases ICD-9-CM). I think the program will be hard enough without having to lug around tons of books. I am just nervous that I won't be able to navigate through the programs quick enough, but I guess that will just come with practice and use. I also bought a compact keyboard that is as small as my palm when folded up. I love it. I bought it on ebay with a car charger for only $24. I couldn't believe it. I use that all the time in my other classes for note taking. It's alot light then a laptop and works just as well. My microbiology teacher just got a kick out of it. LOL I look forward to hearing more ways (uses) I will be able to use my new companion. Melanie Silva

Also Can'twait, I wanted to ask you where you got your careplans for your pda? Was it included in a program. Did your school require a particular careplan? I have seen that Skyscape offers a bundle pack that also includes Davis Drug Guide and many more. I was thinking about ordering that after I start. Also, do you think the pda will be useful once out of school, when we are Rn's? I have seen one or two nurses with them and many docs. Thanks, Melanie Silva