PDA's

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Hi everyone,

I am starting nursing school in January and I was wondering how many students use PDA's. I asked Santa for one but I wanted to see how popular they were on this board. Do you find that you use the PDA all the time or is it something that sits in the drawer (SP?):eek: I know some students use them for pharmacology but what else do you use them for?

Anyway, just curious to see how new students use technology to help them in their studies.

mona

Specializes in Emergency.

Honestly, you've got me. :confused:

I do know that RNnTraining's version of Palm Desktop is older than the one that your using. It's just one of those instances that newer is not always better.

Uhmmm, you could try using Skyscape's software instead of the one you are trying. :D

Terence

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Specializes in Trauma ICU, MICU/SICU.

Are y'all just talking about epocrates? I had the same problem on my Clie running Palm OS 4.etc. I have had NO problem with any other apps dowloading directly to my Memory Stick. I think it may be the epocrates code.

I also don't know how helpful epocrates is. Seems to me it is geared more toward which drugs are on formulary and which aren't. Don't think I'll have to worry about that in school or even on the hospital floor. Someone let me know if there is more to this program than meets the eye.

I downloaed Taber's & Davis Drug Guide which are on the req'd text list for my school. Those I was able to put right on my card.

This is very frustrating as this was the only reason for spending the $$ for a memory card in the first place.

You didn't waste your money. You can still move the rest of the program other than what is locked. But I agree that installing epocrates is VERY FRUSTRATING!

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Originally posted by suemom2kay

You didn't waste your money. You can still move the rest of the program other than what is locked. But I agree that installing epocrates is VERY FRUSTRATING!

Most of the programs I have downloaded (both purchased and free) are locked and I am not able to move to the memory card. The only thing so far is the medcalc which is only exactly what the name implies but I was able to copy that to my memory card.

Nope I've tried downloading directly to the card (which is not an option for my Tungsten E) or dragging it into the card portion of the quick install and nothing works.

Very puzzling

C

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Specializes in Emergency.
Originally posted by suemom2kay

I downloaed Taber's & Davis Drug Guide which are on the req'd text list for my school. Those I was able to put right on my card.

Those are on my required list too. Just out of curiosity - did you buy the books in addition to the Palm apps? I know it will be handy during clinical but I wondered if the Palm versions were comprehensive enough to depend on in class.

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Specializes in Child/Adolescent Mental Health.
Those are on my required list too. Just out of curiosity - did you buy the books in addition to the Palm apps? I know it will be handy during clinical but I wondered if the Palm versions were comprehensive enough to depend on in class.

Good question, I have wondered this myself. I actually came across a bookstore that was closing and they had some decent nursing reference material at half off and I didn't buy anything. I wonder if the PDA programs will be enough or should I have the books too?

mona

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Specializes in ICU, psych, corrections.
Someone let me know if there is more to this program than meets the eye.

I'm sure other programs have this feature as well, but I love the Medcheck function. You can pick up to 20 or 30 drugs to see if and how they interact with one another. It was very helpful several times this past semester. And I also typed up the nursing considerations for the more commonly used meds under the Notes section for each medication. A keyboard helps tremendously if you are going to do this!

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Specializes in ICU, psych, corrections.
Most of the programs I have downloaded (both purchased and free) are locked and I am not able to move to the memory card.

Mine were too...so instead of trying to move them from the handheld to the memory card on the actual unit, I instead did it from my desktop. So now I have my bigger applications on my memory card and the smaller ones on the actual internal memory. I wasn't able to copy my locked programs either and this was the only way around it.

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Specializes in Trauma ICU, MICU/SICU.
Just out of curiosity - did you buy the books in addition to the Palm apps? I know it will be handy during clinical but I wondered if the Palm versions were comprehensive enough to depend on in class.

I believe that they have everything the books have and in addition they have the ability to be updated. I'm only buying the PDA apps, not the books. Too pricey to buy both. I'll definitely let y'all know if anything is lacking.

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Specializes in Trauma ICU, MICU/SICU.
Nope I've tried downloading directly to the card (which is not an option for my Tungsten E) or dragging it into the card portion of the quick install and nothing works.

Try downloading the trial version of Taber's or Davis Drug Guide from http://skyscape.com See if that allows you to put it directly onto your memory card. It should.

I'm going to research your problem on some PDA forums (since I sell PC's/PDA's I need to know anyway).

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Originally posted by suemom2kay

I'm going to research your problem on some PDA forums (since I sell PC's/PDA's I need to know anyway).

Sheeish, when do you have time to study??

I do appreciate your investigating this as I have tried every suggestion and I have run out of ideas at this point.

Tks

C

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Specializes in Trauma ICU, MICU/SICU.
Sheeish, when do you have time to study??

Winter break and haven't gotten my nursing books yet.

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Specializes in Emergency.
Originally posted by suemom2kay

I believe that they have everything the books have and in addition they have the ability to be updated. I'm only buying the PDA apps, not the books. Too pricey to buy both. I'll definitely let y'all know if anything is lacking.

I've already bought the Taber's Dictionary. (I lucked up and found a used current edition.) I see where the tables and charts are not included on the PDA version. Are they not really used in the classroom?

I'm going to go with you on the Drug Guide. I jumped the gun and already have A2Z Drugs. It looks to have the same information as the Davis Drug Guide but since Davis is what's called for...

Anyone here know the difference between Davis and other drug guides that are out there???

Terence

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