PDA of some sort for nursing

There's a forum for that :) https://allnurses.com/mobile-computing-nursing/

I'm thinking about the same issue right now. I'm about to start school in just a few months and I'm trying to decide if I need an iPod Touch or a PDA or if I'm just making an excuse to buy a new gadget.

I just bought a iPhone this weekend for that exact reason and it is like cellphone crack!! SO addicting!! You have to pay if you want Pepid, but I can download apps for med calculations, pharmacology, drip rates, all that good stuff. I even got a Spanish to English translator for assessments. The only thing I worry about is not being able to use it in the hospital because of cellphone restrictions Anybody know the rules about that, or does it depend on the facility? Perhaps I could use it on 'airplane' mode?

I just started nursing school for my RN and I bought an itouch as I did not need the whole cell phone thing. I love it. It may cost a little xtra to get some of the really good apps, but there are many free ones also. You have to create an itunes account on you computer to download apps, even free ones. If you get a chance check out the Nursing Central bundle from Unbound Medicine. It has Davis Drug Guide, Tabors, Medline, Lab & Diagnostic tests, etc. Skyscape has some good ones also. It nice to have all this info available in a couple seconds such as meds, terminology, and disease processes.

A word of advice to all; unless one plans on using that exact same phone for one's entire career, I wouldn't put any professional programs on it. Otherwise, one will have to re-upload and re-configure all programs every time a cell phone is changed for a newer one. For my money, I get a lot more from my IPAQ 210 standalone (Pocket PC) PDA.

As for programs, I use a variety of Skyscape's, Unbound Medicine's, and Medical Wizard's series of applications. All have their strength and weaknesses. But the one type of program that no bedside care giver can afford to be without is the standard drug guide. As a professional community that administers and delivers pharmaceuticals the bulk of our day to the majority of our contacts, it is hands down, the most important program that any of us can carry.

*** sidebar *** On application selection and usage: I found that the Skyscape series, while being very strong, that once integrated together in their "constellation" series, to be overly memory intensive. Your device will slow to a crawl. The same individual programs that are offered in each combined constellation seems to run a lot faster as single applications.

I bought an itouch when I landed a job and I love the Davis Drug guide. I have several other applications from Skyskape as well but this is the one I utilize the most. I also love to have my calendar handy no matter where I am. I bring my itouch with me to work in my pocket and I use it during med pass and to look up side effects and other drug information to answer pt. questions at the bedside if I don't know them. It's been a good tool for me and I do recommend it.

I'd like to purchase another app that has diagnosis and disease information but I'm unsure which are good. Any recommendations from others would be helpful!