School of Nursing, University Computing Services, Teleplex, & Bracken Library

PDA’s (Personal Digital Assistants) in the

Classroom, Clinical Simulation Laboratory, and Healthcare Agency

Clinical Experiences

Ball State University

•Public (Indiana State) institution

•172 major and minor areas of study in the arts, sciences and humanities

•20,000 students

•School of Nursing: Undergraduate & Graduate

Partnership in Action

• PDA Project began as a School of Nursing/University Computing Services Partnership (2005)

• Partnership now includes:

– School of Nursing

– University Computing Services

– Teleplex

– Bracken Library

– External partners: NuSoft Solutions, Skyscape, Microsoft, Hewlett Packard, and consultation from Cardinal Health Care System Library (hospital)

BeginningImplementation:SophomoreLevel

• Beginning with the Fall 2006 semester, all incoming sophomore students were required to purchase a PDA instead of reference texts– HP iPAQ hx2790

• 1GB SD Card

• Windows OS Mobile 5.0

– Palm devices are not be supported at this time

• PDAs were incorporated into courses and clinical materials as a model for future courses at the junior and senior levels: graduate program: and RN to BS degree programs

Spring Preparation

• Project Implementation team began working on project in Fall 2005.– Project Implementation team: NursingLRC

Staff, University Computer Services Representatives, and external partners

• Weekly meetings of the working group continued Spring and Summer 2006 – Working Group: Curriculum committee

representatives, faculty, administrators, LRC staff

• Developed video clips for PDA use.• Brainstormed additional video content ideas for

fall implementation.• Planned for integration into other baccalaureate

classes and distance education programs: graduate and RN to BS completion

Summer Pilot Test

• Pilot Test 1: Focus Group – Summer 2006– PDAs provided to students and faculty for pilot testing– Returned student devices distributed to faculty

• Pilot Test 2: the integration of PDAs within course/clinical lab (campus & agency) in second adult health course during the second 5 weeks of summer.– PDAs provided to students and faculty for pilot testing– Returned student devices distributed to faculty

• Finalized reference books for PDAs:– Taber’s Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary, 20th Ed.– Davis’s Drug Guide for Nurses– Nurse’s Pocket Guide: Diagnoses, Interventions, and

Rationales, 9th Ed.– Nurse’s Manual of Laboratory and Diagnostic Tests,

4th Ed.– Diseases and Disorders: A Nursing Therapeutics

Manual, 2nd Ed.

Summer Pilot Testing

Summer Pilot Testing:Sample Results

When asked to describe how the PDA can be used in nursing course lectures:

Quick reference guide at finger tips.

Looking up nursing diagnosis, drugs, labs, etc. Much easier to carry than large books. May be utilized in case studies.

When asked what was liked best about the PDA:

The portability and access to nursing diagnosis, drug, and lab values at your fingertips.

When asked what was liked least about the PDA:

Not getting to learn everything you can do with it.

Fall Semester Course Integration

• Sophomore courses: – orientation consisted of four 1.5 hours sessions each

containing 20 students. – PDA purchase and set-up: each student was required to

report to the nursing lab to receive their Skyscape reference software and custom software developed by NuSoft Solutions

• The NursingLRC & partners provide technical

support:– individualized help– Tech Clips (http://www.bsu.edu/techclips/pocketpc.htm)

– Our own University Library has developed a mobile page for accessing library resources on a PDA. (www.bsu.edu/libraries/mobile)

• Integrated into course and clinical materials:– Case studies, surveys, quizzes, videos, digital images,

library resources, e-mail, internet access– used as reference for homework or in-class question and

answer.

Custom Application Developed

• We worked with University Computing Services and NuSoft Solutions to create an application that allows students to view case videos, view lecture notes, and course materials wirelessly on a PDA or other mobile devices using a sharepoint server as the backbone for data access and storage.

• An interactive quiz/survey tool was developed by University Computing Services to gain more student interaction and stimulate material interest in the classroom setting.

Fall 2006 In-Class Use

• Nursing Lecture – 75 students

• 3 Staff/GA Assistants for PDA Support

Use in Clinical Laband Agency

Student Use EvaluationItem # 3

What do you use the Clinical Decision Support Tools on your PDA for?

12

20 20

4

0

5

10

15

20

25

To Prepare forClass

To look upinformation inclinical setting

To look upinformation during

class

To study forexams

# o

f S

tud

ents

Item # 8What were the most important benefits you experienced using

a PDA with medical decision support software?

1820

7

12

7

2

0

5

10

15

20

25

Time savings Portability ofInformation

Reduce Errors EasyInformationNavigations

(smART link)

Ease ofUpdating

Information

Other

# o

f st

ud

ents

Planning for the Future . . .

• Continued undergraduate program integration 2007-2008

• Mobile device integration for graduate program – Spring 2007

• Follow-up evaluation of students and faculty

• Mobile device integration for the RN to BS completion track

– Fall 2007

• Continued evolution of technology as there is convergence of devices and practice applications

Questions?