What do I do with a PDA and why would I want one for school? LOL!

Hi,

I'm not the most up to date person when it comes to technology.

So, I keep seeing all of these posts referring to PDA's.

What exactly does a PDA do and why is it helpful to have one

while in school? Also, is there any recommended ones that are not gonna

break the bank- something reasonably priced that does the job well?

[charlies]

PDA's in general:

address/contacts

calander

software (such as pdr, drug guides, medical dictionary, care plan references)

Some pda's:

email

web

phone

They do other things as well. Simply replacing a 900 pound reference book is enough. You can also hook them up to your computer (called 'hot synch'-ing) to update the pda or computer when you enter new contacts, calander events, software, email, etc.

As far as price goes, often times, having phone, web or email enabled devices cost significantly more. Here are a couple of web pages for popular ones:

http://www.palm.com/us/products/

http://www.t-mobile.com/products/default.asp?class=pda

You can probably get them cheaper elsewhere.

[belabelisa]

A PDA is a great tool and can replace all sorts of other things you would otherwise have to lug around. I have my calendar, address book, to-do list, basic calculator, checkbook register, packing lists, photo album, MP3 player all in one little place. I even have some games to play for when I need a break. I can download books and there's a huge selection of software to pick from. I really like this one program called Supermemo. It's like using traditional flash cards to study, but so much better. The program keeps track of your progress and quizzes you more frequently on the things that you're having trouble remembering. It's so great! Can you tell I love my palm pilot?

But... I will warn you... I have several friends who have spent loads of money on PDAs and now the things are in a drawer and will never see the light of day. If you don't already use a planner, PDAs are probably not for you. I've noticed that most people who love their PDAs are super type A personalities like me.

[brazuca]

Try the IPAQ 4155 on ebay for about 200.00. ITS GREAT.

Many reference books can be used in your PDA. EX: Tabers, Davis Drug Guide....etc. Nursing Calculators, Epicrates, 5 Min clinical Nursing Guide.

You can view and edit on WORD, Excel.

Receive emails, logon to the internet through WIFI etc.

Many USES

[MrsCannibal]

What exactly does a PDA do and why is it helpful to have one while in school?

You mean, besides play Bejeweled during boring parts of lecture? Seriously, I have a Tungsten E, it was on sale with all kinds of goodies for $185, it helps me stay organized and on track with classes, projects/homework/testing dates, clinical locations, and classmate phone #'s and other info...I also downloaded a few of my reference books onto it, so I have my Davis' Drug Guide for Nurses, Taber's Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary, and an IV Drug Book, along with freeware like a program called IV Rate that figures rates... it has been a lifesaver on more than one occasion, has enabled me to cut down on the books I lug around, and keeps me a little more organized since I tend to be verrrrrrry disorganized.

[tramalady45]

Hi,

I'm not the most up to date person when it comes to technology.

So, I keep seeing all of these posts referring to PDA's.

What exactly does a PDA do and why is it helpful to have one

while in school? Also, is there any recommended ones that are not gonna

break the bank- something reasonably priced that does the job well?

Oh I absolutely LOVE my pocket PC. It does everything but wipe butts! I would have never made it without one. I have a lab guide, drug guide, signs and symptoms manual, ACLS algorythms, drug calculators, and actual speaking spanish dictionary, and something called the 5 minute clinical consult, and there is even an EKG thing on it that will show you what the strips are and it actually moves across the screen like a real strip, and another nifty something called RN Notes. Every bit of info I have ever needed in clinical came from this thing. I never had to carry one book. I get e-mail, internet via bluetooth, it plays MP3's, I can watch videos, I can download my favorite family pics, it is amazing. I love it. Sure it took a while to learn how to use but it was so worth it. I have the HP iPAQ rx3715. I use a 1 gig SD card and I have enough room to put probably 20 more software suites on it. It has been such a life saver. You can check out some of the software at ...http://www.skyscape.com or at http://www.handandgo.com so that way you can at least see what they have to offer in terms of what might interest you. Good Luck!

[Sheri257]

I've found the PDA to be an invaluable tool ...

Just an example. Of course, there's a ton of reading in nursing school. While you're slogging through, there's tons of words, drugs, etc. you either don't know or don't remember.

Usually, I'd have to stop everything, look through hundreds of pages in another reference book, until I'd finally find it. Then I'd have to get back to the reading just to run across another word I'd need to look up. It really slowed me down, which is not a great thing when you have a ton of reading to do.

With the PDA, the info is instantly available. I also load all of my school notes from past classes into my PDA for quick reference and review, which really helps when instructors expect you to remember everything from previous semesters.

Another example: Besides school clinicals, I also work as a student extern where the drug software alone is invaluable. Before, I'd have to spend too much time hauling the book around, looking the drug up in a book where, I'd often have to look up the brand name in the back of the book, since the guide was organized by generic name, and then, finally, find the drug info itself.

Now, with the PDA, the drug info is instantly available under both brand and generic name before I pass meds. Much faster and, IMHO, safer because I can research everything I need to know, like interactions, right away without delay.

I use the PDA so much it's unbelievable. Personally, I prefer the newer PDA's with greater storage space which don't require memory cards. They're more expensive but, you end up spending the extra money anyway on the memory cards which, IMHO, are too much of a hassle. With greater storage, you can reference everything quickly without loading and changing memory cards, which is another time saver.

Definitely worth the investment. Besides, if you work as a student extern and use it on the job, it's tax deductible, which helps reduce the expense.

[RosesrReder, BSN, MSN, RN]

PDA's in general:

address/contacts

calander

software (such as pdr, drug guides, medical dictionary, care plan references)

Some pda's:

email

web

phone

They do other things as well. Simply replacing a 900 pound reference book is enough. QUOTE]

Main reason to have one, and if you have a smartphone you have even more in the tips of your hand. :)

[Sheri257]

Main reason to have one, and if you have a smartphone you have even more in the tips of your hand. :)

Yeah ... the only problem with phones is that you can't use them in a hospital.

[Someday-C.R.N.A.]

This topic has definitely been beaten to death here, but this is THE best approach to the question that I've seen.

Nice work, OP!!

To the rest of y'all - them little jobbers got alarms on 'em, right??

So I can program the little bugger to wake me up, or just get my attention and tell me to do something productive with life??

[chattypattyCRNA2B]

With the PDA, the info is instantly available. I also load all of my school notes from past classes into my PDA for quick reference and review, which really helps when instructors expect you to remember everything from previous semesters.

You can do that???? What do you use? A scanner? Is the quality good?

[Sheri257]

You can do that???? What do you use? A scanner? Is the quality good?

I don't scan hand written notes. I've always transcribed taped lectures and, also, typed notes from my reading into basic Word files for school, which has come in handy since the files transfer easily to the PDA. That way, I can easily search info with the "find" function in the Word files.