May 12th is Nursing Informatics Awareness Day. Learn more about nursing informatics at http://www.himss.org/handouts/NIAwareDayFlyer.pdf
Monday, May 9, 2011
Sunday, May 8, 2011
iRecorder app
Kendra and I conducted a focus group with graduating senior nursing students a couple of weeks ago. We wanted a qualitative component to assess the BSN program effectiveness. We used a borrowed digital recorder and I experimented using iRecorder on the iPad (downloaded the free version). We placed the microphone for the digital recorder in the middle of the tables (there were 17 students who participated). I had the iPad in front of me at one end of the tables. The most amazing thing is that iRecorder picked up the conversation with amazing clarity which was much better than the digital recorder!
We discovered that the downside to free version of iRecorder was that we could not share the recording file. I "broke the bank" and downloaded the $2.99 version of iRecorder, but the app did not recognize the file that was recorded with the free version. I ended up loaning my iPad to Kendra for a couple of days so that she could complete typing up the transcript.
The results of the focus group were very helpful. We plan to repeat the process with every graduating cohort! Next time we will use the purchased version of iRecorder in order to take an advantage of file portability.
If anyone has ideas for the recording/transcribing process - please share.
We discovered that the downside to free version of iRecorder was that we could not share the recording file. I "broke the bank" and downloaded the $2.99 version of iRecorder, but the app did not recognize the file that was recorded with the free version. I ended up loaning my iPad to Kendra for a couple of days so that she could complete typing up the transcript.
The results of the focus group were very helpful. We plan to repeat the process with every graduating cohort! Next time we will use the purchased version of iRecorder in order to take an advantage of file portability.
If anyone has ideas for the recording/transcribing process - please share.
Sunday, April 24, 2011
NEJM This Week App
New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) has an app for the iPad or iPhone - NEJM This Week. The app is free and includes numerous articles, images with interpretation, audio summaries of articles, and video tutorials. The articles are on a variety of topics. As an example, this week there are articles on implementation of healthcare reform in California, accountable care organizations, and a case study of a 9-month child with liver failure. Examples of videos include blood pressure measurement, chest-tube insertion, and paracentesis. The videos are pertinent to medical and nursing students. The quality of the videos is excellent!
Friday, April 22, 2011
Holistic Care Issues
Interesting article - "Mystery Patients Help Uncover Medical Errors at http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2010-07-19/health/ct-met-mystery-patient-20100719_1_mystery-patients-medical-errors-physicians
Bottom line - explains that socioeconomic factors must be considered when assessing patient problems. Although the article addresses physicians, the topic is certainly applicable to nursing.
Bottom line - explains that socioeconomic factors must be considered when assessing patient problems. Although the article addresses physicians, the topic is certainly applicable to nursing.
Keyboard Shortcuts for Windows and Mac Computers
Keyboard shortcuts can save lots of time! Sure you can use the right-click menu or use the application menu, but that entails using the mouse.
Information about common keyboard shortcuts will be included in the 4th edition of Informatics & Nursing: Competencies and Applications.
To learn more about keyboard shortcuts for Windows 7, go to
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Keyboard-shortcuts
To learn more about keyboard shortcuts for the Mac OS X, go to http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1343
The shortcuts in the websites above are very generic to other versions of the operating system. Many of the shortcuts for Windows and the Mac are virtually the same. Try it. On the Mac use the Command key instead of the Control key. For example, to copy text on a Windows computer, use Control C; on the Mac computer, use Command C.
Information about common keyboard shortcuts will be included in the 4th edition of Informatics & Nursing: Competencies and Applications.
To learn more about keyboard shortcuts for Windows 7, go to
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Keyboard-shortcuts
To learn more about keyboard shortcuts for the Mac OS X, go to http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1343
The shortcuts in the websites above are very generic to other versions of the operating system. Many of the shortcuts for Windows and the Mac are virtually the same. Try it. On the Mac use the Command key instead of the Control key. For example, to copy text on a Windows computer, use Control C; on the Mac computer, use Command C.
Loaning/borrowing a Kindle eBook
Amazon allows users to loan ebooks now. You can read more from http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html/ref=hp_200549320_receive?nodeId=200549320&#receive
From what I understand - the public library can be the lenderer or any one of us can loan our ebooks. If I loan one of my ebooks, I will not be able to read it when the book is checked out. The loan period is two weeks. During that time, the borrower can "mark up" the book, but that will not be available to the lenderer when the book is returned. The ebook can be loaned to a person only one time. The second time, the borrower will be required to purchase the book.
Wow! What a terrific idea!
From what I understand - the public library can be the lenderer or any one of us can loan our ebooks. If I loan one of my ebooks, I will not be able to read it when the book is checked out. The loan period is two weeks. During that time, the borrower can "mark up" the book, but that will not be available to the lenderer when the book is returned. The ebook can be loaned to a person only one time. The second time, the borrower will be required to purchase the book.
Wow! What a terrific idea!
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Free Credit Card Bar Code Reader for Payment
If you have ever visited a large Apple store - like the one in San Francisco, you have probably experienced a salesperson who comes to you, offers to assist you, and then completes the payment transaction - where you are standing in the store (as opposed to going to a cash register). Well, the Square (https://squareup.com/), a free credit card bar code reader provides that ability to anyone. Yes, it is FREE and soon should be available for pickup at any Apple store. The Square works with the iPhone, iPad, and Androids.
Square charges the customer 2.75% per swipe. It should be a huge assistance to small store owners who have traditionally had to purchase equipment. Most of us the the US are dependent upon the use of "plastic" for purchases, rather than cash - so it is helpful to the consumer, too.
Overall, the Square is an interesting concept to explore and follow.
Square charges the customer 2.75% per swipe. It should be a huge assistance to small store owners who have traditionally had to purchase equipment. Most of us the the US are dependent upon the use of "plastic" for purchases, rather than cash - so it is helpful to the consumer, too.
Overall, the Square is an interesting concept to explore and follow.
Subscribe to:
Posts
(
Atom
)