Pda--

LorraineCNA · Mar 12, 2005

I want to get a PDA to keep with me at work to have books on it to look things up. Does anyone have any advice on what PDA's are good.
Thanks
Jocie

I have a Tungsten E that I really like so far, I just got it for Christmas. I have Taber's on it and it comes in really handy. I'm sure I could do an awful lot more on it, but I haven't gotten that far into it yet.

If you check Amazon.com, they sometimes do a promo where you get $30.00 off a purchase if you sign up for their credit card. I did that when I got my Tungsten E.

Lorraine

CNA

almost MA

hollyster · Mar 12, 2005

I love my PDA(TungstenE.) It is nice to have drug guides,lab guides and diff.diagnosis guides in my pocket.

You can good deals on software from Skyscape.com. There are a lot of sites

that give free medical references. Just do a goggle search for free medical software.

Good Luck

nursemike, ASN, RN · Mar 13, 2005

Get the hard case, too. I skimped with my Tungsten E, so now I have a T5--with a hard case. It's nice, but the E was nice, too.

I could attempt to explain why it seemed more reasonable to replace my 200 dollar pda with a $400 pda, instead of an identical (and plenty good enough) $200 pda, but I think that might be a more appropriate topic for the men's forum.

Oh, lord, I do love to buy tools.

grimmy, RN · Mar 13, 2005

ditto! i love my tungsten e and i will also recommend the hard case. it keeps the pda screen in good shape, but be careful! i work the or, and our scrubs have the two bottom patch pockets, and whoops...they flip when you sit, and when i was in the bathroom one day, the thing flipped into the toilet bowl. :bluecry1: say adios...totally gone. had to get a new one. make sure you sync it with your home computer on a regular basis...that's what saved my butt when i got the new pda and had nearly everything backed up at home. enjoy!

dansamy · Mar 13, 2005

I bought a Tungsten E from eBay. It's not even here yet, and I've already ordered the $500 Treo 650 smartphone instead. Figure I'll just carry one piece, instead of two.

Editorial Team / Admin · Mar 13, 2005

My PDA mentor at work just got the Treo 650 and he LOVES it! He also got the Bluetooth earpiece, and showed me how he can remotely answer the phone with it! Too cool! I just bought a Sony Clie TH55, so I won't be even LOOKING at a Treo for awhile. By the time I'm ready to change, though, technology may have changed A LOT!! So, for now I have to weigh the choices: whether I should "accidently" flip the Clie into the toilet (as mentioned above) or just tough it out for a few years, until "ready" for a different unit.

I have a few free medical programs on it, but haven't found an awful lot. Have looked at ACC (American College of Cardiology) site for their guidelines, and I have Epocrates; browsed thru Skyscape, they have good selection but they're all for sale, not a lot of good freebies. Will try another search. It's so much fun! I'm not known as a technogeek (or, as we call them at work: technosexuals -- instead of metrosexuals! lol!), so it's taking me a little longer than technically-oriented ppl to understand the Clie workings . .. but I'm making OK progress. I need to get Taber's and some sort of diagnostic program, along w/labs . . maybe subscribe to the Epocrates upgrade, --- maybe. :)

Good luck with yours!

nursemike, ASN, RN · Mar 13, 2005

Technosexuals--I love it!

Again, this may be more for the male nursing forum, but you can even get a program to use your pda for a home entertainment system remote control. Ah, as soon as I start making nurse's pay...

Come to think of it, I've known a few female technosexuals. Not a lot, but more than none. There may still be hope.

madwife2002, BSN, RN · Mar 13, 2005

Same from me Tungsten E, not too expensive and does what you need it to do

Kalamity · Mar 14, 2005

I'm considering getting a PDA also, and have been comparing some of the ones available. After seeing the Tungsten E recommendations here, I'd almost be more inclined to purchase that one rather than the fancier T5, but I had one question about the Tungsten E. Those of you that use them for medical references and such, do you have larger memory cards that you've purchased separately? Or is the memory it comes with enough to have all these applications installed?

Oh, and hello, first post here from a long-time lurker :)

nursemike, ASN, RN · Mar 14, 2005

I'm considering getting a PDA also, and have been comparing some of the ones available. After seeing the Tungsten E recommendations here, I'd almost be more inclined to purchase that one rather than the fancier T5, but I had one question about the Tungsten E. Those of you that use them for medical references and such, do you have larger memory cards that you've purchased separately? Or is the memory it comes with enough to have all these applications installed?
Oh, and hello, first post here from a long-time lurker :)

Welcome! I think an expansion card is almost a must. Some of the databases for drug guides, etc., are pretty big.

I have a 128 MB card which easily holds everything I have, with room to grow a bit. 1GB cards are now available, but older pdas might not handle them. Anyway, the prices on smaller cards have come down a good bit--a 265 costs what my 128 did.

PamRNC · Mar 14, 2005

I've had a Tungsten E since about this time last year. I did get an expansion card and have most of my programs on it. Best thing I ever did. Got the hard case - I admit I can be a klutz. I now have my schedule, address book, someplace to take notes, something that can help me answer all those odd patient questions when I'm in the room (instead of having to run out and go through all the med carts to find a drug guide or calculator). No more little scraps of paper for me to lose or paper calenders to get shredded/spilled on halfway through the year.

I regularly use a program called Pepid - go to Pepid.com It is a collection of reference tools, has a drug guide, all kinds of calculators like temp conversions to equianalgesic dosing, lots of info on dx, procedures, even includes ACLS. You can even buy a Tungsten E through them already loaded with the program.

I also bought several program from skyscape: Davis' Drug Guide, RN Diseases, Taber's dictionary, and RN labs.

There is a adobe PDF for palm, which is a great help along with the Dataviz program that has a palm version of Word, and Excel. I'm going to University of Phoenix and often carry my text chapters on my palm.

The palm comes with a notes/memo program, prioritized tasklist, address book, regular calculator, photos, a clock (with an alarm), and a few other odds and ends. I keep a few photos of my niece, and vacation on it for stress relief.

There's a program called palmreader that you can buy/download and then read books off of your pda. Any type of book you like, fact/fiction/history/bestseller/romance/religion.

Check out the aacc.org website, as well as skyscape.com, pdacortex.com, and palmsource.com or palm.com you'll find lots of info about pda's, programs available, bundled offers, freeware, etc.

This is a very easy gadget to use, once you start playing with one, you'll have a blast. And yes there are even games for those times when you're waiting in line or actually have a few minutes for a nice relaxed lunch break. :lol2: