PDA's for nurses... Anyone use them?

Published

Specializes in Operating room..

hi all...i was looking into pda's and what they have to offer a nurse. i have seen them that have the drug guides, pdr's, and lots of other nursing helps built in. does anyone use these? are they allowed where you work? some of the programs out there for pda's and nursing are pretty cool.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I use mine every day. They're so versatile. At work I mostly use the drug guide I have loaded on it. I also use it for contacts, appointments, surfing the internet, games, books, family photos, etc.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I cant LIVE without mine...and any nurse that doesnt use it is nuts. I have a clie UX-50 and have TABERS, DRUG GUIDE, Nursing Diagnoses, 5min clinician consult. and a lot of other medical progs. I think PDA's are amazing for this profession and I constantly have doctors stopping me and asking me a million questions about mine (since it looks like a tiny laptop)

whatever PDA you get....get one with a keyboard...it will make life much easier. Let me know if you have any other PDA related questions.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I love mine!! I have a Clie TG25. It may not be top of the line, but I can't live without it! I have drug guide (use every day I work) and Taber dictionary (everyday) along with labs, 5min consult, quick facts for nurse's, and about 5 other programs. I have picked the one's I would use the most. Everyone is asking me questions. If I don't know they say..."Well is it on your brain." I am only one of two nurses at our small hospital to use one, but I think that will change soon. The docs use them all the time at the office for meds and dosages. Everyone wants one. I have dropped mine quite a few time accidentally. It still works great. One day it wont "keep ticking" and I'll get to.....I mean have to up grade.

Just make sure the first you get...if older and used has a place to expand memory with a memory stick. I recommed at least 16MB of internal memory and dream of having at least 32MB. I think the option of a camera is a nice, but not necessary. A PA I work with sometimes likes the camera on hers to show certain rashes and wounds to the dermatologist that comes weekly. My next one I buy will have a QWERTY keyboard on it to make looking up drugs and terms faster.

My entire family's calendar is on mine. If they want something new on my schedule they add it the the computer and the next time I hotsync it the two schedules become one. Every meeting, practice, ballgame, birthday is with me all the time.

If you have any questions ask....I'm a Sony girl. At least for now.

Julie

Up Vote Up Vote ×

i also have one and use it everyday. I have plam zire 71 and i am thinking about getting the 72. I use it in my everyday life as well as nursing. Mine also has a built in camera which i use when i am out without a camera. I love it and would recommend them to anyone. :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I have a Treo 600 - I have both two regular drug handbooks as well as an IV drug handbook on it. I also use the calculator on it occasionally. I find it to be an invaluable tool - I definitely use it every day.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Ipaq 1955...its very thin light and easy to use...I use ERsuite by medical wizards this has a davis drugbook plus quick references for gtts like nipride or dopamine....plug in wts and dosage and you get a rate quickly. A must!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I have a toshiba pda that I use every day. I use a program not listed so far called pepid. It has procedure, drug guide, assessments, labs, drug interactions, acls, pals, tncc and much more. A trial version can be downloaded at pepid.com. I also use tabers. every thing is very easy to use and is quick to pull up in a crisis. my pda has 16 of internal memory, but I would recommend one with a little more. Make sure it has a slot for additional memory as you can put tabers on that, however pepid does not work on a memory card. I also have Drs pager number programed in. I think it is one of the best pieces of equipment you can invest in.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Pepid is a fabulous program. I use it regularly. I have a TREO 600 and I also have shareware language coversion program for Spanish, French and German. I am looking at Tabers. Good Luck. Happy Surfing and enjoy your new toy.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER/Trauma.
i also have one and use it everyday. I have plam zire 71 and i am thinking about getting the 72. I use it in my everyday life as well as nursing. Mine also has a built in camera which i use when i am out without a camera. I love it and would recommend them to anyone. :)
I have the Zire 72. :)
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU, Tele, Dialysis.

you guys are going to think I'm brainless, what is a PDA? The facility I work at now is a facility for emotionally troubled youth, not for profit, we use paper,paper,paper, oh, and black ink. Thanks.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Operating Room.
you guys are going to think I'm brainless, what is a PDA? The facility I work at now is a facility for emotionally troubled youth, not for profit, we use paper,paper,paper, oh, and black ink. Thanks.

PDA is a personal digital assistant. It's a mini-hand held computer.

You may have heard of other names such as Palm Pilot, or Pocket PC.

*****I don't have one, but this is a great thread. I'm looking into purchasing one, but don't know which one to get. :uhoh21:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion