Do nurses and nursing students really need iPhone or iPod touch?
iPhone or iPod touch can enhance your productivity and maximize your learning and working experiences if you learn to use it.
However, unless a specific device is required by your facility or nursing school, all nurses and student nurses can succeed without one.
This article is intermittently updated. Be sure to also read:
Recommended Nursing Apps — iPhone iPod
Reviews and recommendations based on real-world testing of the best iPod touch and iPhone nursing apps.
Why does Go Student Nurse recommend iPhone or iPod touch for nurses and nursing students instead of other smartphones or PDAs?
Momentum
Beginning with the 2007 launch of iPhone and the subsequent 2008 launch of iPhone 3G and 2009 launch of iPhone 3GS, Apple’s iPhone and iPod touch have gained the momentum to become the dominant hand-held computing and communication devices in the consumer and medical markets.
Sales
- Apple Reports 2009 Fiscal Third Quarter Results
- 5.2 million iPhone devices sold for the quarter
- 626% iPhone growth in 12 months
- 130% iPod touch growth in 12 months
Apps
- 1.5 billion apps downloaded in the first year
- 65,000+ apps available in 77 countries
- 40 million iPhone & iPod touch devices sold
- 100,000+ developers in iPhone Developer Program
Competitors
- 300,000 Palm Pre devices sold
- 50,000 Palm Pre sold in first 2 days of June 6, 2009 launch
- 1 million iPhone 3GS sold in first 3 days of June 19, 2009 launch
University Student Requirement — iPod touch or iPhone
- University of Virginia Nursing, Medicine
- Georgetown University Medicine
- University of Florida Pharmacy
- University of Missouri Journalism
Corporate Information Technology
Apple states that almost 20 percent of Fortune 100 companies have bought 10,000 or more iPhones while “multiple corporations and government organizations” have bought 25,000 phones.
Medical & Nursing iPhone Profile
Medical & Nursing iPhone Profile
AirStrip Technologies now supports iPhone to securely deliver critical patient information, including virtual real-time waveform data.
Although nursing students and nurses might not use AirStrip applications, AirStrip is highlighted to show the momentum of iPhone in all healthcare professions.
If you’re using an RSS reader, you may want to click through to see the two videos below.
Speaking with The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW), AirStrip’s President and Chief Medical Officer, William Cameron Powell, MD, states that iPhone is “a paradigm shift” and “game changing.”
Future Medical Accessories Development
With the iPhone Accessory API (application programming interface), developers can engineer integrated medical software and hardware solutions:
- blood glucose monitoring
- blood pressure monitoring
- EKG monitoring
- spirometric monitoring
- bar code readers for medication and patient ID numbers
The acquired data can be used with iPhone’s data analysis and wireless data communication capabilities.
What are the differences between iPhone and iPod touch?
Apple’s iPhone and iPod touch web pages and guided tour videos are comprehensive in detailing usage, features, and specifications.
Both devices are compatible with Windows and Mac computers and will run nursing software sold exclusively through the App Store using iTunes.
iPhone 3GS is the fastest model and exclusively includes video recording, a digital compass, and an upgraded camera.
iPod touch does not have camera or video recording functions.
iPod touch Cost & Purchasing
- iPod touch 8GB $199
- iPod touch 32GB $299
- iPod touch 64GB $399
- 32GB (Part Number MC008LL/A) and 64GB models have 50% faster performance and earphones with remote and microphone.
- Internet access requires Wi-Fi.
- For 32GB, be sure to purchase Part Number MC008LL/A which has the upgraded processor speed. Be careful, as many retailers may still be selling the older, slower model.
iPhone Cost & Purchasing
For a qualified AT&T customer in the U.S., iPhone 3G starts at $99, and iPhone 3GS starts at $199 with a 2-year contract. Monthly rates start at $70. All rate plans include unlimited mobile 3G Internet access.
Presently, AT&T is the exclusive iPhone wireless provider. AT&T’s CEO stated this would not last forever.
AT&T’s iPhone iReady checklist and Frequently Asked Questions are comprehensive in detailing prices, rate plans, and qualifications.
Verify voice and data coverage for your local area using the AT&T Coverage Viewer.
If you are with a non-ATT carrier and would like to switch, verify with your carrier for any applicable early contract termination fees.
Transferring (or porting) your current number is easy if you are eligible. AT&T’s Local Number Portability FAQ clearly explains the entire process.
You can buy iPhone from Apple, AT&T, Best Buy, and Walmart.
iPhone is also available internationally with various wireless carriers.
What does Go Student Nurse recommend?
Simple Answer
- iPhone 3GS 16GB or iPod touch 32GB (Part Number MC008LL/A).
- Only get more memory if you plan on having a lot of music or video data on your device.
- iPod touch 8GB is a great value and an excellent choice also, but iPod touch 32GB/64GB is 50% faster. In real-world use, this is significant.
- For iPod touch 32GB, be sure to purchase Part Number MC008LL/A which as the upgraded processor speed. Be careful, as many retailers may still be selling the older, slower model.
iPhone 3GS: Less Stuff in Your Purse or Pocket
Everything is integrated and mobile: phone, iPod, email, Internet, camera, video, and apps.
iPhone 3GS: Mobile 3G Internet for Everything
Yes, you can instantly find a picture of the appendix to teach your 10-year-old patient about appendicitis.
Search & Teach
Or, you can instantly find the pathophysiology about your patient’s Kartagener Syndrome.
But, your life as a nurse or nursing student is not just about nursing. Are you in an unfamiliar neighborhood and don’t know where to eat? Use the Urban Spoon, Yelp, or Maps app to find a pizzeria, get contact info, and directions.
Suppose you’re at Apple’s campus in Cupertino, California:
- Type “pizza” in iPhone’s Maps app.
- The red pins indicate nearby pizzerias.
- You decide on Pizza My Heart and get address info and directions.
- Tap on the orange and white “little guy or gal” symbol to the left of “Pizza My Heart”, and you’ll see a Google Street View.
Click the images below for a larger view. If you’re using an RSS reader, you may want to click through.
iPhone 3GS: “S” Stands for Speed
The primary cost of iPhone is for the monthly phone and data plan. Compared to iPhone 3G, the extra capabilities of iPhone 3GS are easily worth the extra $100.
Everything is much faster with iPhone 3GS: application launching and closing, searching, retrieving data, loading web pages, everything.
In real-world use, it’s a significant difference whether you’re a nurse on a fast-paced floor, a mobile community nurse, a nursing educator, or just using it for a very, very important function—fun.
The demand for iPhone 3GS is exceeding the supply. For U.S. Apple Retail Stores, iPhone 3GS availability is updated hourly.
How do you type on iPhone or iPod touch?
Apple’s web pages and videos are excellent:
What type of iPhone or iPod touch nursing apps or applications are available?
Based on real-world testing and interviews from practicing nurses and nursing students, Go Student Nurse has published numerous reviews and recommendations for iPod touch and iPhone nursing applications in the following article:
Recommended Nursing Apps — iPhone iPod
Apps can be purchased individually or sold in bundled suites, and prices range from free to over $200. Apps include drug guides and numerous medical references (terminology, labs, pathophysiology, nursing skills, etc.).
For a practicing nurse or a student nurse, personal productivity apps are also extremely important. Many apps are included with iPhone or iPod touch such as Mail, Calendar, Contacts, and Maps.
Other productivity apps include ebook and document readers (Office, iWork, PDF, Kindle, etc.), English and foreign language dictionaries, and unit conversion calculators.
For mindbody health, there are also thousands of apps to increase the enjoyment of your personal life outside of work and school: games, restaurants, cinemas, hotels, music, radio, ebooks, videos, travel, exercise, personal health, photography, etc.
Price does not dictate quality. Thousands of apps are free, and thousands more are $1–5.
Epocrates Rx
A great free app is Epocrates Rx, and it should be on every nurse’s iPhone or iPod touch. It includes an excellent drug guide, InteractionCheck, and Pill ID images. It also includes the MedMath calculator and reference which would be an amazing app on its own.
Click the images below for a larger view. If you’re using an RSS reader, you may want to click through.
What is push email?
Simply, your phone instantly notifies you when you have email.
It’s a big productivity booster and one reason the Blackberry became so popular.
From Apple’s Supported Push Mail Accounts on iPhone and iPod touch:
Email accounts that use the push method for message retrieval enable you to have email messages delivered directly to you as soon as the message is received by your email provider instead of checking periodically or manually for new messages. On iPhone or iPod touch, push email is supported for the following email account types:
- MobileMe
- Microsoft Exchange
- Yahoo!
Other email accounts such as POP, IMAP, AOL or Gmail accounts do not support push message retrieval on iPhone or iPod touch but can instead be setup to fetch mail at specified intervals or manually when the Mail application is opened.
Note: A Wi-Fi connection is required to send and receive email on iPod touch.
Update: Push Gmail via Google Sync
Should I purchase MobileMe?
The MobileMe website explains the features well.
Go Student Nurse has a love/hate relationship with MobileMe and recommends the $99/year service only if you’re ready for possible intermittent problems.
Intermittent problems I’ve experienced:
- Duplicate contact and calendar data.
- Push email notification doesn’t always work.
- The web applications are unreliable, especially for mission-critical tasks such as email.
- iDisk can be slow.
- Sync problems with some Wi-Fi networks.
- RSS unread items not in sync.
- Update: MobileMe email is still intermittently unreliable. Frustrating.
Reasons I keep the subscription:
- Steady, incremental improvements in reliability and features.
- Most of the time, the features work well, but you may have to waste time with MobileMe Chat support representatives, support documents, and support forums for fixes and workarounds.
- Back to My Mac.
- Neat new features: Find My iPhone, Remote Wipe, and iDisk for iPhone app.
How do I clean and protect iPhone or iPod touch?
Clean
Go Student Nurse recommends iKlear iPod, iPhone & MacBook Cleaning Kit.
Read the directions, and keep fluids away from all openings to avoid damage.
Immediately after unboxing, the device should be cleaned gently with iKlear Apple Polish and Micro-Chamois.
Protect
After cleaning and before its first use, it should be protected immediately to prevent scratching.
There are many cases and skins available.
Go Student Nurse recommends the Incase Slider Case for iPhone and Incase Slider Case for iPod touch for all nurses and nursing students. It’s thin, protects well, and has a simple, pleasing design available in many colors.
Go Student Nurse also recommends Power Support Crystal Film for iPhone 3G/3GS and Power Support Crystal Film for iPod touch. Read the instructions. Scotch Magic Tape and patience guarantees a dust- and bubble-free installation.
The Incase Slider Case and Power Support Crystal Film are both very durable.
For general cleaning, use iKlear.
Disinfection wipes, depending on the specific wipe, may or may not damage the Incase Slider Case and Power Support Crystal Film. I have personally used large disinfection wipes and small alcohol wipes without any damage. Your results may vary.
Keep fluids away from all openings to prevent damage.
How long does the battery last?
It depends how you use it. Apple has dedicated web pages for iPhone and iPod batteries.
For a typical nurse or nursing student, the battery will easily last an entire 12 hour shift for accessing the Internet, searching nursing references, and checking personal communications (email, voice, or text).
Because iPhone and iPod touch are so capable and powerful, owners tend to use their devices heavily which can quickly deplete the battery. Activities that deplete the battery the fastest are games, continuous Internet streaming such as Internet radio, and video recording and playback.
There are numerous third-party car chargers and external batteries to meet your mobile power requirements.
If you need a car charger, Go Student Nurse recommends the Belkin Micro Auto Charger with Charge Sync Cable which is sold at Best Buy.
This item is especially useful for a community nurse, road-going nursing educator, or power user.
What is the resale value?
Similar to other mobile phones, the full price of iPhone is subsidized by wireless carriers.
Due to high demand, iPhone has very high resale value.
Go Student Nurse recommends NextWorth when selling iPhone or iPod touch.
I personally purchased an iPhone 3G for $199 plus tax. With the launch of iPhone 3GS, I sold my iPhone 3G for $239 directly to NextWorth. Prices do fluctuate.
What are some basic troubleshooting tips?
If the screen is blank and unresponsive, try charging first.
Apple: Restarting and Resetting iPhone & iPod touch
If something isn’t working right, restarting, force quitting an application, or resetting iPhone will likely solve the problem.
Restart iPhone:
Press and hold the Sleep/Wake button until the red slider appears. Slide your finger across the slider to turn off iPhone. To turn iPhone back on, press and hold the Sleep/Wake until the Apple logo appears.If you can’t turn off iPhone or if the problem continues, you may need to reset. A reset should be done only if turning iPhone off and on doesn’t resolve the problem.
Force quit an application:
Press and hold the Sleep/Wake button on top of iPhone for a few seconds until a red slider appears, and then press and hold the Home button until the application quits.Reset iPhone:
Press and hold the Sleep/Wake button and the Home button at the same time for at least ten seconds, until the Apple logo appears.
What about social and professional etiquette?
It’s like any other mobile phone or iPod. Use common sense and common courtesy.
Turn off the ringer and keyboard clicks.
Some instructors and hospital staff may view this type of technology with hostility.
Expect this. Plan, and act as the situation dictates.
Be flexible. Be diplomatic.
What are some ethical or social justice issues with this type of technology?
Is this technology really necessary for effective and improved educational and healthcare outcomes?
If a school or health facility requires a specific device, who should pay for it?
Do these devices give individuals who have the money and knowledge to use them an unfair advantage at school and at work?
Does society have an obligation to provide equal access to education and healthcare to its citizens?
Does this type of technology contribute to escalating educational and healthcare costs?
Personal and political values and beliefs on these issues don’t just affect an individual and family’s pocketbook, but they also shape the evolution of our human societies.
Why is Go Student Nurse so excited about iPhone?
For me personally, the iPhone is a revolutionary personal and professional digital communication, information, and entertainment device that has unleashed and expanded my own productivity and creativity which have enabled and fueled the creation of Go Student Nurse to be an advocate for all nursing students worldwide.
Be sure to also read:
Recommended Nursing Apps — iPhone iPod
Reviews and recommendations based on real-world testing of the best iPhone and iPod touch nursing apps.
This article is intermittently updated:
- August 2, 2009 — Added push email information.
- August 22, 2009 — Added intermittent MobileMe email problems.
- September 12, 2009 — New, faster iPod touch model information and recommendations.
- September 27, 2009 — Added Push Gmail via Google Sync
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