Implementing a Clinical PDA Program for Nursing Students

Karen Crowell, MLIS

Francesca Allegri, MLIS

Julia Shaw-Kokot, MSLSHealth Sciences Library

Judy Miller, PhD, RNSchool of Nursing

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Accessing Information

Clinical access Current resources Lifelong learning skills

14-Month Second Degree Option

Students already have a bachelor's degree in another field

Record of academic achievement Commit to full-time study, to complete the

BSN requirement

Course Integration

Week 1 Summer

Weeks 7-10

Summer

Fall Spring

NURS 63Assessment Across the Lifespan for Health Promoting Intervention

NURS 64Intervention for Clients with Altered Basic Physical

Functions

NURS 65Care of Adults and Elders with Major Health Problems

NURS 85Evidence Based Clinical Practicum with Individuals

Anticipated Uses

Clincal ResourcesCurrent drug informationReady reference information

Lab values Medical dictionary

Students would not be required to buy print textbooks

Calendars and contact information

Information Technology Grant

Proposal submitted late February Approved in March Lack of funding Decision to continue in May

Hardware

Palm OS 16 MB Memory Color screen Hard case Keyboard (optional)

Health Sciences Library Role

Locate and recommend software Prepare documentation for selected software

and utilities Assist in training students Lead the project evaluation team

Software Selection

Medical Spanish Medical Abbreviations Back Up Utility Security Software

Support

Health Affairs Bookstore Hardware Packaged Software

School of Nursing IT Staff Installation Sync station Troubleshooting

Downloaded Software

Free Software Medical Spanish Medical Abbreviations iSilo

Other Software MedLabRef BackUp Buddy Sign On Application Usage

Orientation

Instructions for downloading software Review of basic features of PDAs Demonstration of installed software

Questions to Answer

Important factors in PDA hardware and software selection

Support, including cost Influence on students’ information seeking

behavior Faculty’s view of student PDA use Requirement for all students

Evaluation

Team approach Lead faculty, SON Clinical faculty, SON Director of Curriculum Development, CTL Head of User Services, HSL Health Informatics Fellow, HSL

Formative Measures

Formative evaluation: list of measures

Pre-post survey of 2nd degree students

Pre-post survey of comparison group of students

Structured interviews with faculty

Time logs of project partners

Student evaluation of project orientation and support

Usage data

Anticipated outcomes

Use of tools in classroom and lab

Use of tools on clinical floors

Use of tools in clinical conferences

Faculty receptivity

Student perception of costs

Trends in usage data

Use of support Reactions to instruction

Unanticipated outcomes

Pre-PDA survey

Categories of questions: Information-seeking behaviors Perceptions of information currency and

security Instructional needs related to PDAs Concerns about PDAs Use of PDAs, if already owned

Pre-PDA survey

2nd Degree Students 95% response rate 62% look for info

several times per week 59% what they learn

will be out of date

BSN Students 58% response rate 81% look for info

several times per week 57% what they learn

will be out of date

Pre-PDA survey

2nd Degree Students 91% unaware of HIPAA 35% use of PDA extremely

valuable 51% cost of PDA a

concern 30 out of 37 did not own a

PDA All but 4 purchased one

BSN Students 95% unaware of HIPAA 24% use of PDA extremely

valuable 24% need/usefulness of

PDA a concern 16 out of 19 did not own a

PDA

Orientation/training survey

Categories of questions: Type of problems and level of difficulty with

PDAs Types of help used Estimated PDA usage Additional help needs

Orientation/training survey

Range of difficulty with PDA use: 0.933-2.25 Downloading applications: 1.63 Sources of help figuring out PDA (could check

more than one): figured it out on my own (24), used handouts from PDA orientation (17), PDA orientation (19), friends/students (14), called IT staff (3)

Orientation/training survey

Estimated use of PDA: none (2) 1-5 times (7) 6-11 times (10) 20 times (5) 30 or more times (9)

Anecdotes

“We specifically designed cases for the first week of Nur65 to have them use their PDAs...What was fun was seeing them ON THEIR OWN pulling out their PDAs as we did PBL this week!”

Adjustments, Lessons Learned

Content: ePocrates RX Program for EKG

arrhythmias More comprehensive

Spanish dictionary that allows you to add terms

Training: PDA=stethoscope; keep it

with you Provide orientation and

training in modules, e.g., optional help session for downloading software

Adjustments

Data collection:

Use survey vs. usage tracking software

Conduct periodic education and support assessments

Support:

Provide extensive, personal help for some

Offer drop-in technical support sessions

Allow time for IT staff to learn software

Look for insurance against loss

More to come…

Use survey(s) Support services data Faculty interviews Post-survey of two groups of nursing

students