PDA's and nursing software

wishingmary · Apr 20, 2005

First, congratulations on deciding to get a pda. I can't imagine nursing without it. I'm new of course. As far as hardware is concerned, all you really need is memory. There are a lot of bells and whistles these days. I can't really stear you in what is the best; you have to do your research on line and decide what is important to you and how much you can afford.

As far as software, it is getting easier to find good software. I recommend the 5-Minute Clinical Consult for frequent diagnosis/disease processes, a good drug book and a good IV drug book made for PDA's not a book on a PDA, a medical dictionary, and a regular dictionary. Stay away from books on tape/books on PDA. They are difficult to navigate and take forever to find what you want. There are a lot of free software that can be helpful like a drug calculations program. I like Skyscape but epocrates is available with some software free of charge I understand.

If you are a member of AACN, you can get a member discount on anything you buy from them that are competitive in their prices.

Do a search for medical software on PDA, and you will find lots of sites to choose from.

Hope that helps.

PamRNC · Apr 21, 2005

There are lots of programs to choose from, it depends on whether you want to purchase or are looking for free-ware or share-ware.

Skyscape.com has many of the published references like Taber's Cyclopedic dictionary, Davis' Drug Guide, and others available as downloads or even on memory expansion cards. They just released the 20th Ed. of Taber's and it has improvements over their last release including the appendices which I had found to be very useful in the book when I had bought it way back when.

Pepid.com offers an all-in-one suite that has a drug guide, an assortment of calculators (conversion, medication interactions, dosing), disease info, lab info, acls guidelines and more.

Do a search here for other threads about pdas, and a search online and you'll find a wealth of info. pdacortex.com and I believe the AACN website also have a lot of info about different programs or links to the different programs.

Whatever you decide have fun with your new tool - you'll be amazed at just how handy and indeispensible it will become in your day to day practice/life. :balloons: