PDA Use during Clinical Rotation

RN NascarFan, RN · Mar 24, 2005

hi everyone, i just had a quick question, i hope someone one here can help me. i was excepted into the fall 05 program at my school :rotfl:, so my big sister (who is a nurse) bought me a pda. i know each school is different, but is there anyone out there who uses a pda during your clincial rotation? my sister downloaded a bunch of cool medical programs on it for me so it would be so awesome to be able to use it?
thanks shelly

i have a pda and use it a lot however, every time i pull it out during clinical, i get told to "get a real book" :banghead:

i have epocrates (paid version) and tabers on it and i love it. i looked into the nursing dx offerings but decided to stay with paper books for those as i already had 3-5 on my bookcase :chuckle

palesarah · Mar 24, 2005

I put epocrates on my PDA in school and loved it, I used it so much more often than I ever use it now. I work in OB now, and there are a number of drugs that we commonly give (as is true for most specialties, I would assume?) so it's pretty rare for me to give something I am unfamiliar with.

mitchsmom · Mar 25, 2005

I recently got one that I've been using in clinical. I have the free epocrates, Taber's, archimedes, & a lab/diagnostic test guide. I have a couple of trials of other things from http://www.skyscape.com. A friend is going to see if she can get Davis drug guide for me. The free epocrates has been fine for me so far, it just doesn't have the nursing considerations but it has the rest.

I am also going to get TextMaker, it converts Word documents seemlessly to your PDA (that way I can work on my client care worksheets during my clinical day and it will go back and forth to my desktop with the formatting the way it should be, there are a bunch of tables and stuff that gets messed up as it is now; I email my client care sheets to my instructor):

http://www.softmaker.de/tmp_en.htm

I am also getting HandyCards, a flashcard program:

http://www.handymed.com/HandyCards/

If you have a pocket pc you may find stuff you like here:

http://www.pocketpcmag.com/awards/main.asp

My teacher hasn't said anything about it one way or another (I think she's too busy to care), I doubt they'd mind b/c there is never space for our stuff at clinical, we stow bags in a locker room that is not convenient to go to for a drug guide, and the nurses station is so overcrowded that we are not allowed there at all unless we are actively getting info from a chart.

PS... one of the nursing electives at my school is something like 'nursing technology' where they talk about web resources, etc. etc. I'm sure they talk about PDA's and stuff... another reason I don't think they'd care.

twinmommy+2, ADN, BSN, MSN · Mar 25, 2005

I'm going to look at getting one when the tax returns come back. I would imagine that some clinical instructors might have a problem with it cause it would be a big bullseye for theft, but other than that it sounds great cause you don't have to carry those big books around.

I hear everyone talking about this free program that starts with an E, how does it compare to the others that you have to pay for?

mitchsmom · Mar 25, 2005

I hear everyone talking about this free program that starts with an E, how does it compare to the others that you have to pay for?

I don't know if you noticed, above I wrote that I think the main thing is that it doesn't have the "nursing considerations" category, other than that it has most of the same as my regular drug guide. As a matter of fact, I like it better for filling out my med sheets the night before clinical b/c it narrows down pharmacological action and side effects to a more succinct denominator than my big paper drug guide (they always have 500 side effects and a drawn out explanation of action).

twinmommy+2, ADN, BSN, MSN · Mar 25, 2005

I don't know if you noticed, above I wrote that I think the main thing is that it doesn't have the "nursing considerations" category, other than that it has most of the same as my regular drug guide. As a matter of fact, I like it better for filling out my med sheets the night before clinical b/c it narrows down pharmacological action and side effects to a more succinct denominator than my big paper drug guide (they always have 500 side effects and a drawn out explanation of action).

Sorry, I missed that when I read through. :uhoh21:

KrisRNwannabe · Mar 25, 2005

I use my pocket pc all the time. I have a procedures program, lab values, drug guide med math program, med dictionary and a abbreviations dictionary. My instructor always comes to those who have it to use the drug guide. she has already said when the new students start in the fall a PDA is going to be a requirement. when we had to do care plans mine was on there. my pocket pc has all the microsoft programs on it. I only paid 200 buck for it. it has so much more memory standard than a palm. i went and bought a 1 gig card for it online for 50 bucks. tons of space!!

enfermeraSG · Mar 26, 2005

I love mine for clinicals. If nothing else, it sure beats carrying around 5-6 books! I have had no problems with clinical sites/instructors - yet! I have the Davis Nursing drug guide on mine that includes everything the paper book does. Also Taber's dictionary, nursing diagnosis book etc. It fits in my scrub pocket so I have it with me at all times, and can whip it out in the hall or wherever without running back to find a book in the conference room! SG

Nurse Alissa · Mar 26, 2005

Can someone provide the names of all these programs you have and where we can go about getting them?

Im planning on getting a PDA for clinicals, but I dont know where to find the programs. Thanks!!

DecafMom · Mar 26, 2005

Can someone provide the names of all these programs you have and where we can go about getting them?
Im planning on getting a PDA for clinicals, but I dont know where to find the programs. Thanks!!

Hi Alissa. I just bought an HP Pocket PC last week and used it this week for the first time and loved having it. My instructor has no problem with me having one. She has one as well.

So far I have paid for and downloaded epocrates essentials. I am finding it useful. You can find it at http://www2.epocrates.com/products/essentials/.

The hardest part for me was determining which device to buy. I finally bought one at Office Depot that had a $100 rebate on it. I am very pleased with it so far!!

Havin' A Party!, ASN, RN · Mar 26, 2005

Decaf -- So Epocrates requires a yearly fee, huh? Thought the software was a one-shot deal.

Guess those software fees can add up if you throw in a dictionary and other basics.