Introduction 

The PDA or 'Personal Digital Assistant' is a small, handheld computer that can synchronize data with larger computers. Personal Digital Assistants ( also called Hand held computers, Palms or PDA's) are a valuable and under utilised tool that can be of immense benefit to nurses. However at present there is a trend in US for nurses to use PDA to decrease prescription errors. PDA's are useful tool to carry in pockets. It is like carrying a lightweight 200 gms encyclopedia of knowledge with you all the time. It works as a ready reference reckoner for any doubt that may arise during patient care.

Why use a PDA for nursing care ? 

The PDA usually works as an extension to the main desktop Personal computer and when not in use should be put in the Syn unit that is connected to one of the computer slots. This habit of syncing your PDA to your PC is important so that data stored in PDA is not lost.

Full-time visiting nurses with Visiting Nurses Association Home Health Systems in Santa Ana, Calif., are receiving personal digital assistants (PDA) specifically programmed with in-depth clinical information and electronic nursing forms. Use of the PDA is cutting the time nurses spend on paperwork from three to four hours per shift to one to 1? hours.

Nurses report that this gives them more time to do what they went into nursing to do. "People are nurses because they love nursing. The best part of the PDA is that it makes my life a lot easier" . (?? who said this) Used with a mini modem and portable keyboard, the PDA allows the nurses to access schedules, patient charts, extensive medical references, and to fill out and submit nursing forms.

Online Degree program 

Some universities have programs that offers a convenient and flexible alternative to traditional classroom studies. The curriculum's goals are to sharpen nurses' critical-thinking skills, provide the conceptual and theory base necessary to make sound decisions, introduce nursing research and strengthen nurses' liberal arts background.

The virtual "classrooms" are designed with the latest technology and give students the digital tools they need. 

These tools include on-demand video-streamed lectures that allow students to view the lectures as many times as they need, an asynchronous online bulletin board that permits students and faculty to interact on key topics, and chat rooms that are used by instructors to host "virtual" office hours where students can collaborate with faculty members in real time.

Tuition is comparable to that of other private universities.

Contributed by Miss.Vanessa, Dr.Sunil Shroff