1 Leg Lance

get over to freewarepalm.com and look around at all the neat little programs, not just medical ones but things like diddlebug for post-it style notes with alarms, secure-it for those things you don't want others to see and more... I use tabers, davis drug guide and nurses quick check diseases the most for school and at work as an extern in the icu also look at mobipocket & isolo to read things others have written and of course docs-to-go enjoy, 1 leg lance

I know this is a late reply to your post... I work as a CNA in the ICU at Good Sam, also in the RN program and plan to continue as a RN in the ICU there, love the place. Good people, fair mngmt and I like it.... PIMC....well all I know is we get lots of sick folks from there and I wouldn't work there from what I have heard. I can't speak personally so I won't trash any places rep, just that if you are looking to come to Phx there are places much more highly spoken of. Enjoy, 1 leg lance

I was in law enforcement before becoming a CNA (now in a RN program)....believe me when I say it has been much easier dealing with the post-mortem care in an ICU than on the street.... Wellfare checks on seniors that hadn't been seen in church "for awhile", shootings, drug OD's and all that.... And I agree that you will feel different when you keep in mind that what are really doing in most cases is "prepared for the last image someone has of a loved one" not just dc-ing/bagging & tagging... Good luck, 1 leg lance

I absolutely compend each and everyone of you who refused such inane request. I think it needs to go a step futher and explain (I do) to the person making the request WHY it is against your personal standards and hurts the industry. Granted I am a CNA now (in a RN program) but I have already started "training" my AD's :) The latest move was a "thought" to go to 1 CNA at night for 2 9 bed Med/Surg ICU's that were "connected by a short hall".... Well I never refuse anything I just ask the AD that "felt me out about" to sit for a second....then I went into how I wasn't refusing as long as I was: 1) paid 2x as much for 2x as much work... 2) allowed to have input into a memo that would go out to the units explaining why I might not be as visible, on another pod after all... 3) was shown the cost savings to the unit or the redistribution of money to other needs in our units... By this point she was glassy eyed and after making sure I had this same conversation with anyone else that would listen the idea had since been dropped :) I really think we need to make a point as frontline healthcare workers to not only refuse silly ideas but clearly and strongly state why such things hurt our industry. Enjoy, 1 leg lance

I went for my CNA training this summer and there are a couple of points to be made.... 1) you can be a nurses aide at many places w/p formal training or with just their inhouse training... 2) a CNA is certified by the state (at least here in Az) and requires training at a state reg. instiution (can be a business or school) and involves passing a state test 3) I recommend working as a CNA (not as a uncert. nurses aide, get the full experience of training and state test) in the area you want to work as a RN, I am currently in a Med/Surg ICU because that is where I want to be as a RN. Plus I make $10+hr! 4) Make it clear to everyone you work with that you will be going on to become a RN so you want to see and learn everything. I have been taught a wealth of knowledge and I know I will be more comfortable in clinicals. Enjoy, 1 leg lance

I tried the http://www.handbase.com link and it worked for me... also try http://www.ddhsoftware.com as they are the creator of handbase. If that doesn't work then palmgear.com , or many of the other sites can get you the program as it is popular and has been around awhile. Enjoy, 1 leg lance

This is exactly the route I am taking... Took CNA training this summer, talked an AD into letting me into the ICU as a new CNA (I promised to go quitely if everyone didn't think I was doing a good job after 2 weeks). And I start RN school this March. I have learned soooooo much that I never would have if I had been on a med/surg floor. I made it clear when I started that I wanted to work as a RN in ICU and I would learn anything & everything anyone wanted to teach me. We are a busy ICU with lots of variety, I get to see it all from bone marrow to CVVH to nec afas. (flesh eating stuff) and the RN's have been really good about walking me through everything they do. The hospital had already signed me off on phelb. so I can do all the lab draws I want, I have learned IV sticks (can only watch but hey I get to hear all the tricks), help with drsng chngs from op sites to full on heavy duty open wound irrig., foley placement, taping et tubes, help with ng placement/tape chgns, setup and watching monitors/strips....it just goes on and on. Of course there is helping with baths, stocking and cleaning, but hey at least I will know how to take care of myself and where everything is at. I am sure this is the unit I will work in (I am in a hospt sponsered Rn program & the AD's have assured a job) so I joke that I am on a 2 yr orientation :) I absolutely recommend this route to anyone who wants to work in an ICU as a RN, you get lots of time to learn and if you work with good people they will accept your mistakes as a new grad much easier :) Enjoy, 1 leg lance

On the general subject of PDAs in healthcare I am one of those people who doens't understand why everyone isn't using one :) If you have something other than a Palm C or T there is a great program by http://www.kathywhite.com that will do a ton of stuff like look up drugs and help calc rates. I use my PDA for everything from groc list /email/reading ebooks / healthcare/photo album/flashlight/load mapquest maps/contacts/calndr/blah blah blah and everything else inbtwn. Like all tools you have to learn to make the most of it and make it serve you, however I often wonder who is in charge :) Enjoy, 1 leg lance

We are talking with risk mgnmt on HIPPA and so far if we add a sec feature (like password that auto sets qd) then seems ok... Here is a neat trick for palm users.. When using notepad to scribble a quick note just tap that little space above the scroll bar on the rt. and an alarm set window will auto appear...pretty cool! There is another program for alarmed notes I like called BugMe that works very well if you need a reoccuring alarm or want to set something for jsut a few minutes ahead. I like it alot. Enjoy, 1 leg lance

I agree completely that using my Palm in this manner may be more trouble than it is worth... We all understand the value of looking up drugs, nursing diag., reference material, and things like that but I am trying to get full value out of the tech... Here is what we are currently doing.... Using the notepad like sticky notes for things just done or to be charted, and adding an alarm if it is a todo. Using the adrs book to keep info on various dept. & drs. this is easier than looking around for the info (we are a teaching hospt with lots of folks to call). Here is what we are trying to do..... Replace that piece of paper you use when taking report (we are 1:1 reporting and usually w/ 2 pt per RN) Replace all the various pcs of paper we all use to writing down the shift info, vitals, meds, dr #'s, family and all that stuff we have to remember to chart. Make reporting easier by either beaming the info to the next RN who can look it over as we talk or beaming to a printer and handing that paper to the next RN. This will speed up reports (not waiting while the other writes) and elim any errors (person writing the wrong thing or not writing it at all). Since most of us work 3 consecutive days you would only need to add updated info, not write a whole new paper :) Those of us with PDA's are working on the program together and agree to use it if it works out (that is how we will be able to beam to each other). Again I agree that this might not work out but we enjoying the process. I would like to hear from RN's about what abilites and features would be most useful in something like this. Many minds better than a few :) Enjoy, 1 leg lance P.S. I would still like to hear if anyone has found a good program to check IV compatibility of drugs, so we can make sure we can add a med into a certain line.

Well it is kind of a tweaked thing where I took someone esles program and am working it over :) First go to http://www.handbase.com and download the trial version you need (I use handbase plus for Palm OS) and then go to the gallery of free software and under medical look at the bottom for WardMemo 1.0. This the program I started with and who knows but you might like it better (had lots of stuff we figured we didn't need like tracking imaging and stuff). The gallery is filled with tons and tons of free database stuff for lots of areas you can use in life. Also there are many medical related things you might like. Lastly email me at 1leg AT mail DOT com and I will try to send you what I have worked up. It is under constand change so until I am happy then you might get an update a week :) Remember we are a Med/Surg ICU so I tweaking it for that, however I will say that handbase is very easy to use and soon you will customize things to meet your needs. Enjoy, 1 leg lance

Hello & Good Day All, I am a CNA on a ICU and in school to become a RN. Myself and a few of the RN's & Doc's are all PDA users (mainly Palm's). I am looking for a common program for the RN's at least to help with both Report and Recording our shifts work. Currently I have Handbase set up with a program called Ward(?) that I am modifying to meet our needs. What I would like to find out from others (no matter your area) is what are the features you need? And would a program like this be more valuable for giving/rec report or tracking your shift actions? Currently the program has: Name, Bed, Sex/Age/Code Status, Dr./Service, DateAdmit,Allergies,Isolation,Dx,Hx, Progress(this is a timestamped log of what you did thru your shift to help with your charting) ToDo(this is a alarmed to do list to set times for baths/meds/labs/calls) Vitals (this is a timestamped area to track all vitals thru the shift for charting) Meds(this is a timestamped area to track meds given) Neuro,Resp, Accu ck,CV,IV sites/status(for tracking IV sites and needed changes), IVF (to track running/pending, rate, dose working on a calc function), GI, GU, Musc/Skel, Skin, Pain, Notes, MR# It can print to an IR capable printer (I am ordering an adapter for ours) or you can beam report to the next shift. All thoughts & input welcome and of course I would be happy to email the prototype (under constant change) to anyone who would like to play with it. In addition has anyone found a good program for checking the compatibility of multiple IV drugs? I don't mean the basic compatibility that epocrates has, but something that if I am running 5 pumps and suddenly I need to give ameo I need to check what I can run it with. Thanks for getting through this long a message :) Enjoy, 1 leg lance

Well since I have worked in a number of male dominated fields (law enforcement, tobacconist, pro poker player) I can say that it is interesting being in the minority genderwise. Luckly I have started as a Nurse Assistant while in school and I am using this experience to "work out the bugs". I am a very very outgoing social happy go lucky guy who chats with everyone, sometimes more with attractive ladies but I make sure I am equally nice & polite with everyone. I count myself extremely lucky in that I have already found a few "mentors" both male & female to ask questions of and learn the ropes, this issue along with the similar issue of being a male alone in a young girls room was disscused recently, everyone told me to do only what I was comfortable with, watch my back (since no one else will) and always act professionally since that is your reputation on the line. It is working so far & I hope it still will. I like this BB for topics like these and always welcome everyones response. 1 leg lance