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Introduction
School nursing is evolving rapidly in its second century. School nurses'
essential roles and responsibilities, including care provider, health educator, and advocate, essential in the 1900s, are
more demanding, complex, and vital in 2005. As new information supplants old,
school nurses need technological tools that extend their capacity to recall and process substantial amounts of information
and deal with ever-increasing record keeping. The adoption of the use of computers in the 1980s, the Internet in the
1990s, and currently handheld computers (HCs) assists in this endeavor. The
utilization of information technology, including HCs, improves school nursing practice and consequently the health of
clients. The Handheld
Computers for School Nurses Web Site is designed to provide school nurses with information about HCs,
also called personal digital assistants (PDAs), and to assist them as they adopt this technology.
Handheld
Computers
HCs contain organizing,
computing, telephone/ faxing, and networking capabilities that may be utilized in personal and professional situations and
professional nursing applications may be added to them. Synchronizing allows
data contained in a HC to be exchanged, shared, and backed-up in clinic computers. Information
in a HC may be forwarded to colleagues' HCs by beaming-the term coined by Palm, Incorporated to describe the way data is transmitted
from one HC to another via infrared ports. These features significantly enhance
the functionality of HCs for school nurses. For further information see Epocrates PDA Facts to Share with Colleagues.
Crises
HCs are
especially useful in emergency and disaster situations that may occur on campus, in the community, or while traveling. Information concerning personal, student, and staff emergency contacts, health problems,
medications, and immunizations; eBooks-biochemical hazards, infectious diseases, medications, etc; and patient education and
inspirational materials can be conveniently carried in a HC. This eliminates the
need to access information contained in bulky binders, books, and/or boxes during a crisis. Wireless Information System for Emergency Responders (WISER) is freeware from the National Library of Medicine designed to assist first responders in hazardous material incidents.
Hurricanes
A compilation of resources to assist hurricane survivors, responders, and school nurses is available on the VASN Hurricane Page. See Marooned at the Ritz, The Baltimore Chronicle - 09/13/2005 and Army Ships Handhelds to FEMA Workers on Gulf Coast, Government Computer News - 09/02/2005
Study Aids
There are several convenient HC study aids for review of nursing theory and test/examination preparation. Medical Mnemonics is one example of a HC study aid. ACLS Review Flash Cards which requires QuizApp is another. Also, see nPreparing for a School Nurse Certification Examination Flashcards. qUtilization of the Flashcards on a HC requires Flashcard Exchange Full Membership and Adobe Reader. For further information contact Elizabeth Ann Murphy, MA, RN, NCSN.
q
Quote
In Handheld Computing:
The Next Technology Frontier for School Nurses, Journal of School Nursing, 2001, 17, 98-102, Sylvia Suszka-Hildebrandt states, "...daily tasks can be streamlined with the use of PDAs,
freeing valuable time that can be used to improve our ability to provide the quality nursing care that is the cornerstone
of the nursing profession. School nurses who adopt this technology can guide
the development of applications specific to health needs seen in the school setting."
Disclaimer
Product information and links to other web sites found on Handheld Computers for School Nurses are provided
for information purposes only. The appearance of information and links on this Site does not constitute endorsement of the
products and sites or advertisements found on them by Elizabeth Ann Murphy.
Contact
Please use the following form to contact the Webmaster, Elizabeth Ann Murphy, MA, RN, NCSN, regarding
handheld computers and Handheld Computer Primer for School Nurses and/or Preparation for a School Nurse Certification
Examination Workshops.
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