Nursing and Personal Digital Assistants

Introduction

Technological advances in the medical field have changed the way that medical providers access and manage patient information through health information technology. Personal digital assistant (“PDA”) provides easy and efficient access to patient health records, instantly (Thompson, 2005, p. 310). Gives nurses larger knowledge base, providing for optimal health delivery and reducing the chance for medical errors because of inaccurate information (Thompson, 2005, p. 310). Transforms nursing practice from the “limitations of human memory to the nearly unlimited resources of computer memory” (Thompson, 2005, p. 310). Developed in the 1970’s, and launched for public use in the early 1990’s. Increasing in popularity since then, particularly in the medical field. Used daily by a growing percentage of nurses as a valuable tool to improve efficiency and patient care.

(Full PowerPoint Presentation omitted for preview. Available via download)