Handheld Devices

The handheld computer or personal digital assistant (PDA) has become standard equipment in health care settings to assist in handling an increasingly complex and large amount of information that nurses encounter on a daily basis. Nurse educators are charged with the task of preparing nurses to have adequate skills to access information quickly and efficiently at the point of care, and handheld technology is an effective means of developing clinical competency and clinical decision-making skills. For this discussion: •Discuss your personal experience with using a handheld device in the class and clinical setting. •Analyze specific issues related to using a smartphone as a handheld device in the clinical setting.