Let’s skip the fluff: Nursing school is hard. With a heavy credit load, a rigorous curriculum, and hours of studying for the NCLEX exam, nursing school is challenging. However, most nurses agree that if you take the time to study, develop a routine, and take care of yourself, a nursing degree can be in your future. That being said, there is a variable that makes nursing school in this day and age a bit more manageable: All hail technology! From smartphones to nursing apps for students to wearable technology in healthcare, the best intelligent gadgets can aid in relieving some of the stress of nursing school. Moreover, the following helpful medical gadgets are recommended for nursing students who want to be on the cutting edge of healthcare.
Read on for the best intelligent medical gadgets and smartphone apps for nursing school.
Three Healthcare Gadgets for Nursing Students
1. Livescribe Smartpen 3 Pro Edition for Smartphones
Nursing students rave about the Livescribe Smartpens because these tech pens are really that smart! As a matter of fact, this smart health gadget can listen, write, and record all of your nursing school notes without missing a beat. In other words, this magic-like pen eliminates the time-consuming task of note-taking during critical lectures by letting you simultaneously record audio while taking notes. From there, you can sync everything you wrote down to your smartphone using the free Livescribe+app. For a short tutorial on the Livescribe functions, you can check out this video here. Or, head over here to purchase the Livescribe smartpen directly.
2. Veinlite® Vein Finder
The Veinlite Vein Finder is a great medical gadget for those “harder-to-stick patients.” And, if you happen to be studying to become a nursing professional, you probably already understand how challenging it can be at times to draw blood on patients. That’s why the Veinlite Vein Finder can eliminate the stress of finding veins by using side-transillumination technology to reveal underlying venous structures. This smart healthcare gadget has been clinically proven to improve vein access success and thereby increase patient comfort. Check out all the features of the Veinlite Vein Finder here.
3. KardiaMobile® 6L EKG
Electrocardiogram (EKG) technology or EKG sensors are at the forefront of wearable technologies in healthcare gadgets. That’s because EKG sensors can track and record EKGs in seconds, sync results with a smartphone, and detect and diagnose heart rhythm abnormalities. One particular breakthrough technology is the KardiaMobile® 6L EKG portable monitor. This FDA-cleared six-lead portable EKG can record medical-grade EKGs and detect certain heart conditions such as AFib, Bradycardia, Tachycardia, and Normal Sinus rhythms. Check out the full list of KardiaMobile® 6L EKG portable monitors here.
The Three Best Nursing Apps
Some of the best technology for nursing students comes in the form of nursing apps. Helpful nursing apps for students include study aid apps, career search apps, as well as mental health apps. Here’s a look at some of the most recommended apps for nursing students.
1. Epocrates
Epocrates is a free app that contains information on diseases, treatments, diagnostic approaches, and so much more. According to an app review series listed on Pub Med Central sponsored by the National Library of Medicine, Epocrates is “an easily navigable service for looking up information about medications: uses, dosing, contraindications, reactions, interactions, pregnancy, pharmacology, and more.” For more information on the Epocrates app or to download it now, head here.
2. Ginger
Ginger is an on-demand mental health app that offers one-on-one mental health coaching, therapy, and self-guided care that anyone anywhere can use. The app is now merged with Headspace to provide professional and emotional support around the clock. Furthermore, the app guarantees human-to-human care by bringing together skilled coaches, therapists, and psychiatrists to tailor a mental health and wellness plan specifically for you. For more information on the Ginger app, check out all the fine-tuned details here.
3. Nursa
Are you a new grad nursing student looking to get your feet wet in the medical world? Whether you are a registered nurse (RN), licensed practical nurse (LPN), or certified nursing assistant (CNA), picking up a shift has never been easier with Nursa's per diem nursing app. Nursa is a platform and app that helps connect medical facilities and skilled clinicians who want to fill short-term shifts immediately. To walk through a demo, download the app, or pick up a shift today, head on over to the Nursa app here.
How Smartphones Help Students
It's no wonder why smartphone technology and apps are making their way into the workspace of healthcare. After all, around 85 percent of the US population uses smartphones. And while smartphone technology can have negative consequences such as user distraction and/or dehumanization of care, studies show that when mobile technology is used correctly, it can “improve nurses’ performance and the quality of care provided.”
Therefore, if you are a nursing student, go ahead and take advantage of your smartphone and the latest medical gadgets and apps that simplify healthcare. We said it before, and we will say it again now: Nursing school is hard, so why not use a little tech to make it easier?
