Recommended iPhone and iPod touch Nursing Apps
Professional Nursing Knowledge and Judgment Required
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- Regardless of the publisher or developer, errors can exist.
- Nursing apps for iPhone or iPod touch will never be a substitute for professional nursing knowledge, experience, and judgment of the practicing nurse or student nurse.
- Verify that your facility or educational department approves an app before purchasing or using it.
- Cite references according to your department’s policies.
- The right and best app for you will depend on your unique requirements, specialty, and circumstances.
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For software features that require Internet access, iPhone requires 3G or Wi-Fi, and iPod touch requires Wi-Fi.
The prices below are accurate at the time of the web page’s last update. Prices fluctuate constantly. Click the iTunes App Store Button for the app’s current price.
iPhone iPod touch Nursing Applications Suites Comparison
Nursing apps suites are expensive, and shopping and researching for the right suite to fit your needs can be frustrating and confusing.Read all the fine print at each developer’s website and iTunes App Store page because each developer has different terms and conditions and different purchasing instructions and options.
Unbound Medicine vs. Skyscape vs. Lexi-Comp vs. Epocrates
Skyscape’s Nursing Constellation Plus and Unbound Medicine’s Nursing Central are very similar. They both include:- Davis’s Drug Guide for Nurses
- Diseases and Disorders: A Nursing Therapeutics Manual
- Davis’s Comprehensive Handbook of Laboratory and Diagnostic Tests with Nursing Implications
- Taber’s Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary
The Winner: Unbound Medicine’s Nursing Central
Nursing Central $159.99
Why it wins by a substantial margin for nursing students and many nurses:
- The iPhone and iPod touch apps are permanently functional even after the 12-month subscription for updates ends.
- Most importantly included in the price is 12 months of access to the Nursing Central website. In fact, the Nursing Central website existed even before the iPhone and iPod touch native apps, and it is an excellent online resource.
- The user interface mirrors Apple and iPhone’s design philosophy of productivity through simplicity and ease-of-use. In real-world use, this is significant.
- Drug and term audio pronunciations (requires Internet access).
- Provide free-trial versions for both the native iPhone and iPod touch native apps and the Nursing Central website.
- Years ago, the Nursing Central website had a fully functional trial Open House. This is how we first discovered and tested Nursing Central.
- Visit DrugGuide.com and search for “acetaminophen” to try out Davis’s Drug Guide .
- Visit Unbound MEDLINE.
- Visit Taber’s Online for a completely crippled peek.
- The actual Nursing Central website user interface consolidates all these features and is easy to use and powerful. Again, they need to implement a free-trial version.
Individual Unbound Medicine iPhone and iPod touch Apps
If you prefer not to buy a nursing software suite, Go Student Nurse highly recommends Unbound Medicine’s Davis’s Drug Guide for Nurses and RNotes®.
Davis’s Drug Guide for Nurses $49.95
Excellent. Includes 12 months of access to DrugGuide.com.
RNotes® — Unbound $29.95
Excellent.
Tabers’s Medical Dictionary $49.95
Includes 12 months of access to Taber’s Online.
Davis’s Laboratory and Diagnostic Tests $49.99
Website access only available with Nursing Central suite.
Diagnosaurus DDx $0.99
Skyscape Nursing Apps — Confusing User Interface
Compared to Unbound Medicine and Lexi-Comp, Skyscape’s biggest downfall is its atrocious user interface for iPhone and iPod touch nursing software applications.If the user interface looks cluttered and confusing, imagine what it’s like to use, especially in a fast-paced environment.
Can you guess which one is Skyscape in the images below?
Hint: Do you immediately know what I, A, Pk, CP, AE, Ix, Do, Im, UB or x stands for? Neither do we.
Click the image below for a larger view.
the free Skyscape Medical Resources despite the horrible user interface. The free suite includes:
- Outlines in Clinical Medicine Nice content.
- RxDrugs Drug Guide Worthless for student nurses or nurses, especially compared to the excellent and free Epocrates Rx, which is discussed later in this web page.
- Archimedes Medical Calculator Many more tools than Epocrate’s MedMath, but that horrid user interface.
Here’s a hint: Numeric keys vs. QWERTY keys for a “cal-cue-lay-tor.” Also, compare the input field size.
Click the image below for a larger view.
- The nice thing about Skyscape is they offer many free-trial versions of their software.
- At their website and at the iTunes App Store, they have a large library of software applications that are not available elsewhere.
- On multiple occasions, we have found Skyscape’s customer service to be exceptional.
- Hopefully, they can address the user interface.
- If you decide to purchase Skyscape nursing apps for iPhone or iPod touch, Go Student Nurse recommends the Standard Version over the Subscription Version. Also consider the SkyPlatinum Membership for $24.95. Be sure to read all the fine print when ordering.
- According to Skyscape’s excellent 24/7 online chat customer service, their apps on iTunes are the Standard Version.
Skyscape Medical Resources Free
Skyscape Nursing Constellation Plus $179.99
Lexi-Comp Nursing Apps — Best Free Trial
- Nice user interface similar to Unbound Medicine.
- Possible deal-breaker: All apps are subscriptions only. No permanent apps are available.
- Best feature: Free 30-day trial of all apps in the horribly named Lexi-Comp Individual Application, so you can decide if any app fits your needs or specialty.
Lexi-Comp Individual Application Free
Lexi-SELECT $219.99
Lexi-PEDIATRIC SUITE $179.99
Epocrates Rx — Best Free Nursing Reference App
All nurses and nursing students should install Epocrates Rx on their iPhone or iPod touch. It’s a nice cross-reference to Unbound Medicine’s Davis’s Drug Guide.
Epocrates Rx Free
Informed Publishing Nursing & Medical Reference Guides
Beautiful user interface. Concise and relevant content. Awesome price.s the Informed Publishing apps using the iTunes links below.
(We do not recommend the Avatron Publishing PDF app versions that are also available in the iTunes App Store.)
Informed RN Pocket Guide $9.99
Excellent.
Informed Emergency & Critical Care Pocket Guide $9.99
Excellent.
More Nursing & Medical Reference Apps
Medscape Free
Excellent update.
Medical Encyclopedia Free
University of Maryland Medical System. Requires Internet access. Poor optimization: Slow.
Medical Abbreviations and Eponyms
Download the Joint Commission’s The Official “Do Not Use” List of Abbreviations, and read with any of the recommended iPhone or iPod touch PDF readers which are described later in this web page.
It’s handy to have multiple medical abbreviation apps.
Medical Abbreviations $0.99
Integrates one-touch access to Wikipedia Mobile and Google.
MedAbbreviations $0.99
Integrates one-touch access to Wikipedia Mobile and Google.
Quick Medical Terminology and Abbreviation Reference $0.99
Nice.
Medical Terminology Aid $3.99
Same as above plus custom flashcards.
Eponyms (for students) Free
Medical terms derived from a person’s name.
Eponyms $1.99
Foreign Languages and Medical Audio Pronunciations
Follow your department’s certified medical interpreter policies.
Pocket Medical Spanish with Audio $4.99
Excellent.
Pocket Medical French with Audio $4.99
Excellent.
MedSpeak Cantonese Translator Lite Free
MedSpeak Cantonese Translator $14.99
MedSpeak Mandarin Translator Lite Free
MedSpeak Mandarin Translator $14.99
Drug Pronunciations Lite Free
Drug Pronunciations 2.99
Microbiology Pronunciations Lite Free
Microbiology Pronunciations 2.99
Maternal, Labor and Delivery, and OB Nursing App
Perfect OB Wheel $1.99
Easy to use. Worked great in my L&D rotation.
iPhone and iPod touch Games for Pediatric Nursing
These games really helped me with my pediatric clinical, but think carefully if you want to risk damaging or losing your expensive iPhone or iPod touch.
Talking Carl $0.99
One of my favorite apps. I learned about it from designer Alex Malkin’s funny video and tweet.
Pocket God $0.99
Kid pleaser at all ages.
Flight Control $0.99
Child and adult favorite.
Wallace & Gromit Free
Comic book.
Miscellaneous Nursing Apps
Blackbag Free
Medical News
GCS Free
Glasgow Coma Scale
STAT Adult Immunization Free
CDC immunization schedules for adults only.
STAT Immunization $4.99
CDC immunization schedules for children and adults.
You can also download CDC immunization schedules and read them with any of the recommended iPhone or iPod touch PDF readers which are described later in this web page.
Location Based Information Apps — Requires Internet
For restaurants, gas stations, supermarkets, hotels, etc. Many include reviews and directions. Nice for community nursing, travel nursing, and personal use.
AroundMe Free
MapQuest 4 Mobile Free
Urbanspoon Free
Fun.
Yelp Free
YPmobile Free
Yellow pages.
Personal Productivity Apps for Nurses and Nursing Students
BeejiveIM with Push $9.99
Integrated interface for multi-service instant messaging. Awesome.
Skype Free
Free Internet phone calls and instant messaging.
Units Free
Easy-to-use and free unit conversion app.
WeatherBug Free
Weatherbug Elite $0.99
Awesome weather app. Love it. No ads. More features.
Dictionary.com Free
My Lists $1.99
Simple, easy & cheap.
To Do Free
Simplest.
Things $9.99
Popular, feature-rich task management app.
Delivery Status touch, a package tracker $4.99
Great for online shoppers.
Notetaking Apps and PDF/Document/File Readers
This is one of the most important categories for me as a student, a reader, and a writer.With many of the apps below, iPhone and iPod touch can store, read, and/or email MS Office, iWork ’09, PDF, HTML, RTF, RTFD, TXT, and image files. Be sure to read the specific app’s iTunes page for supported features.
PDF files are nice as they retain all formatting. If you use a Mac, PDF support is built into OS X by “printing” to create a PDF file. With OS X’s Preview app, you can manipulate PDF files. Although it’s expensive, Adobe Acrobat Professional is great for the power user.
I’m 95% paperless, and all my notes, lecture PowerPoints, and PDFs reside on my iPhone or iPod touch where I can review them while I’m standing in line, at the beach (tip: touchscreen works even through Ziploc bags), or just about anywhere.
My workflow revolves around Notebooks and Good Reader. These two apps can handle just about anything. The other apps have also been tested and work well. They are listed to give you more choices to meet your individual preferences or workflow needs.
Notebooks — Write Notes and Store Files $5.99
One of my favorite iPhone and iPod touch apps. It’s powerful and customizable. Go Student Nurse would not exist without this app. It has increased my productivity significantly. I use it for journaling, personal notes, and drafting all sorts of written content.
It stores, reads, and emails most types of files and has a robust file and folder management interface.
Alfons Schmid is the developer of Notebooks and his customer support is outstanding. I requested an option for adjustable colors for background and font colors for text files, and he delivered it in a subsequent update.
Good Reader (Large PDF Viewer) $0.99
Worth every dime. Amazingly powerful, stable, and fast. This app will handle nearly any PDF. Full of features: zoom, text search, bookmarks, orientation lock, scroll lock, passwords, and more. Although it can read many file types, it is the best app for PDF files, especially complex and large ones. Their customer support is also excellent.
Simplenote Free
Instant cloud sync and web browser access.
FileMagnet (Read, Email Documents) $4.99
My workhorse before I discovered Notebooks and Good Reader.
Air Sharing (View and Store Files) $2.99
Similar to FileMagnet.
Air Sharing Pro (Disk, Print, Email) $9.99
Same as Air Sharing with many more features.
Social Media Apps for Nurse and Nursing Student
Facebook Free
MySpace Mobile
Tumblr
I love Tumblr. Read Tumblr for Nurses and Nursing Students.
Tumblr Free
tumblr gear Free
Twitter for Nurses and Nursing Students
Twitter. It’s all about streams of consciousness and connectivity. It’s addictive and fun, especially with iPhone and iPod touch apps. Learn more about Twitter. Many apps below have Instapaper and TwitPic integration and allow easy management of multiple Twitter accounts.The right Twitter app has much to do with personal preference.
SimplyTweet $4.99
Beautiful and simple. Twilight (black) theme. 2-5 minute push notifications. Multiple accounts.
Twitter Free
Excellent. Dealbreaker: No traditional retweet function.
Boxcar — Push Notifications
2 minute push notifications. Supports multiple accounts. Add services with a small one-time fee.
Twitterific Free
Nice.
Twitterific Premium $4.99
Same as free version, but without advertisements.
Twittelator Free
Feature-filled.
Twittelator Pro $4.99
Includes all features.
Echofon for Twitter Free
Good.
Echofon Pro for Twitter $4.99
Multiple accounts. More features.
Apps for Nurses and Nursing Students That Love to Read
Instapaper Pro is one of my favorite iPhone and iPod touch apps. It’s very easy to use, but a bit hard to describe. Read the Instapaper FAQ, and try out the free app below. Many RSS feeds are now on Twitter and work great with Go Student Nurse recommended iPhone and iPod touch apps for Twitter since they all have Instapaper integration.
Instapaper Free
Instapaper Pro $4.99
I love this app. Many extra features over free version.
There are many ebook apps available. What I use:
Kindle for iPhone Free
Classics $2.99
B&N Bookstore Free
Check inventory and reserve books at local stores.
Utility Apps
Best Camera $2.99
I love this app and philosophy: The Best Camera by Chase Jarvis website.
1Password Pro $14.99
A power user must-have, especially for Mac owners.
Speedtest.net Speed Test Free
Test your Wi-Fi, 3G, or EDGE speed.
MobileMe iDisk Free
For MobileMe subscribers.
Keynote Remote $0.99
For Keynote in Apple’s iWork ’09.
Remote Free
For iTunes and Apple TV.
Internet Radio Apps
Many iPhone and iPod touch radio apps are available. You can output the sound to your car or home stereo if you have an auxiliary input and the correct cable.For the best dance music, check out Energy 98. My favorite Internet radio station since 2003. They also have a weekly new dance music show called The Listening Room that is also available as a free weekly podcast.
SHOUTcast Radio Free
Thousands of free Internet radio streams.
TuneIn Radio $1.99
TiVo-like: listen/record/replay. Option to listen in background in Safari on iPhone.
Pandora Radio Free
Nursing Apps Not Rated by Go Student Nurse
Handbook of Nursing Diagnosis $39.99
Unbound Medicine
Merck Manuals $49.95 – 79.95
Unbound Medicine
Pocket Guide to Diagnostic Tests $39.99
Unbound Medicine
Cram Fighter: NCLEX-RN Edition $4.99
Customized NCLEX study scheduler.
American Heritage Desk $3.99
American Heritage Deluxe $34.99
Lipid Calc $0.99
CHADS2 Score Free
MedRef $0.99
Normal Lab Values $1.99
MedCalc Free
Acid Plus – The ABG Calculator $3.99
iMurmur 2 $2.99
Code Blue $.99
Search iTunes for More Nursing iPhone and iPod touch Apps
Click the iTunes button above and type the terms below in the iTunes search field for many more iPhone and iPod touch nursing apps, nursing applications, and nursing software for nurses, student nurses, and nursing school:
- anatomy
- ECG, EKG
- infuse, infusion
- IV
- Wikipedia
- dictionary
- USPS, UPS, FedEx
- UK iTunes: Nursing Jobs (free app)
Medical & Nursing iPhone and iPod touch Profile
Medical & Nursing iPhone and iPod touch Profile
Medical & Nursing iPhone and iPod touch Profile
Medical & Nursing iPhone and iPod touch Profile
AirStrip Technologies 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.
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
What are the differences between iPhone and iPod touch?
Apple’s iPhone and iPod touch web pages and videos detail usage, features, and specifications. You can also visit your local Apple Retail Store.
Both devices are compatible with Windows and Apple Mac computers and will run nursing software sold exclusively through the App Store using iTunes.
How do I buy iPhone 4 and transfer my phone number?
For a qualified AT&T customer in the U.S., iPhone 4 starts at $199 with a 2-year contract. All iPhone cellular plans include mobile 3G Internet access.
Presently, AT&T is the exclusive iPhone wireless provider. AT&T’s CEO stated this would not last forever.
Visit AT&T Wireless to learn about their mobile phone and data plans for iPhone.
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 process.
You can buy iPhone from Apple, AT&T, Best Buy, Radio Shack, and Walmart.
iPhone is also available internationally with various wireless carriers.
Why iPhone instead of iPod touch for nurses, nursing students, and nursing school?
iPhone: Less Stuff in Your Purse or Pocket
Everything is integrated and mobile: phone, iPod, email, Internet, camera, video, and apps.iPhone: Mobile 3G Internet for Everything
You can instantly find a picture of the appendix to teach your 10-year-old patient about appendicitis.
Search & Teach
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.
How do I type on iPhone or iPod touch?
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 at the following web page:
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 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 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.
What is push email?
iPhone and iPod touch instantly notifies you when you have email.
A big productivity booster.
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:Email accounts such as POP, IMAP, or AOL 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.
- MobileMe
- Microsoft Exchange
- Yahoo!
Note: A Wi-Fi connection is required to send and receive email on iPod touch.
What about Gmail?
Push Gmail via Google Sync
Should I purchase MobileMe?
The MobileMe website explains the features well.
- Duplicate contact and calendar data.
- Push email notification doesn’t always work.
- iDisk can be slow using Mac’s Finder. It’s fast using the MobileMe iDisk web interface.
- Sync problems with some Wi-Fi networks.
- Effortless sync for Mac, iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad devices.
- 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, support documents, and support forums for fixes and workarounds.
- Back to My Mac.
- Neat features: Find My iPhone, Remote Wipe, and iDisk for iPhone app.
- Excellent MobileMe Chat support.
How do I clean and protect iPhone or iPod touch?
Clean
Go Student Nurse recommends iKlear The Complete Cleaning Kit for Mac, iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad for nurses, nursing students, and nursing school.Read the directions, and keep fluids away from all openings to avoid damage.
The glass on iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, and iPad has an oleophobic coating which makes cleaning easy with any soft cloth.
Protect
There are many cases available to suit your preferences.The glass on iPhone 3GS and iPad is extremely durable and scratch resistant, but not impact or drop resistant.
The iPhone 4 glass:
… the same type of glass used in the windshields of helicopters and high-speed trains.The video below shows the durability and scratch resistance of the glass on iPhone 3GS and iPad (the first 30 seconds is a parody of Apple videos):
The Apple Online Store and Apple Retail Stores no longer sell protective screen films for Mac, iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad.
The majority of us at Go Student Nurse no longer use protective screen films.
However, if your preference is to use a protective screen film, recommends Power Support Crystal Film (not the Anti-Glare Film). Reading the instructions, using Scotch Magic Tape, and having patience guarantees a dust- and bubble-free installation.
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 workflows involving accessing the Internet, searching nursing references, and 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, recommends the Belkin Micro Auto Charger with Charge Sync Cable which is sold at Best Buy and the Apple Online Store.
This item is especially useful for a community nurse, road-going nursing educator, or power user.
What is the resale value?
The full price of iPhone is often subsidized by wireless carriers with multi-year contracts.
Due to high demand, iPhone has very high resale value.
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 (Settings > Sounds).
Some educators 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, iPod, iPad, and iOS 4?
For me personally, it’s a revolution in personal and professional digital communication, information, and entertainment that has unleashed and expanded my own productivity and creativity which have enabled and fueled the creation of Go Student Nurse to be a worldwide advocate for nursing students and for the adoption of personal technology in nursing.
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