Save a Life with your Device – 10 Nursing Apps you Should Try

I have to be honest – before writing this review I had zero apps on my phone related to healthcare, and now I have five. I have never been the technological type and for the last 10 years I have been relying on google, my critical care pocket guide and two folders full of reference pages when times get tough.

Because there is an overwhelming number of healthcare apps in my iPhone app store, I decided to rank my most recommended apps based on current reviews, stars they received and peer recommendations.

I purchased a few that looked interesting to me and downloaded the free ones so I could personally check them out. Here is a list of a few apps that I thought would be useful for both new and experienced nurses.

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Speak the language

There is nothing more frustrating than a language barrier. The hospital provides us with those trusty translator phones, but let’s be honest here, they are a pain to use every time you need to communicate. Here are a few apps that I recommend to help improve communication between you and your patients:

MediBabble Translator (3 Stars, 30 Reviews, Free)  is a language translation tool made for the medical field that translates medical terms to different languages. It includes features such as a physical exam translator which is extremely helpful when dealing with sensitive exam maneuvers. The translation is written out and also has audio for those of you who are not familiar with the language. You also have the option of downloading multiple languages for free.   I found this one extremely useful especially when dealing with sensitive, potentially uncomfortable situations.

Dr. Patti Medical Translations (5 Stars, 6 Reviews, $4.99) is also a medical translation tool.  I added this one on here because it has the best reviews out of all the other apps. This app only focuses on Spanish, Mandarin and Pinyin. The reviews say that it is very easy to use and there is a youtube video attached to this link if you want to learn more about Dr. Patti and her app.

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For those of you who are familiar with the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), you know that it can be difficult to remember all of the examinations and can be very tedious. Well guess what – there’s an app for that!

Tally the score with these apps

NIH Stroke Scale (3.5 Stars, 32 Reviews. $2.99) allows healthcare providers to quickly and accurately identify the severity of a stroke. It also includes a guide for t-PA administration.  I rarely go to stroke alerts and I prefer to use my handy reference papers with all my stroke patients, but loved the ease of use on this one. There is a Spanish version of this app that also costs $2.99 that I’m still considering downloading.

NIH Stroke Scale from StatCoder (4.5 Stars, 5 Reviews, Free) is an app for iPhones that allows quick assessment and scoring of stroke patients. It’s easy to use and gives a description on how to perform the exam. I’m not sure I would put it to use because I prefer my papers instead, but would recommend it for physicians or ER nurses who need a quick result.

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Apps with heart

Another nursing skill that tends to be tedious and confusing is reading ECG’s, especially when you don’t see every cardiac rhythm every single day. These ECG apps are a great reference for basic and 12-Lead ECGs.

Instant ECG (3.5 Stars, 414 Reviews, .99) helps you understand ECG physiology, identify waveforms and myocardial ischemia, and gives you the ability to test your knowledge.  This app incorporates both strips and 12-Lead examples and also has a feature where you can play “movies” of ECG’s. There are many pros to this one, but unfortunately wasn’t able to get the video to work.

SubtleSTEMI (Unrated, Free) uses a formula to help practitioners quickly identify STEMIs. I downloaded this because my co-worker said she liked it and it’s free. While a bit basic, it’s a good reference when looking at a 12-Lead to determine if you have an emergency on your hands.

Pocket lab Values (4.5 Stars, 164 Reviews, $2.99) is an app gives a description of over 300 lab values, what color tubes they are drawn in and an explanation of various reasons why they may be out of whack. This was my favorite out of the three.

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Test prep in your pocket

For those of you trying to get your RN license, CCRN or are just looking to keep up with the latest evidence, I found a few apps that will help you study anytime, anyplace.

CCRN Exam Prep (4 Stars, 50 Reviews, Free) is a preview to the full $19.99 version.  While it does have some great example questions, the free version is pretty bare.  The full version boasts 700 questions and has rationale for each answer. This would be a good supplement to any book you are currently using to study. The full version cost $19.99 which is comparable to most CCRN study books which usually cost over $20, so buying the full app wouldn’t be a bad idea if you prefer to study on the go.

NCLEX RN Mastery 2015 (5 Stars, 283 Reviews, $29.99) I chose this app because all of the reviews are raving and carrying your phone around is way easier than lugging a book around.  While pricier than most apps, it is well worth the steep price tag.  With more than 1700 questions with rationales, mnemonics, quizzes, and so much more, this is truly a must have for anyone preparing for the NCLEX.

ICU trials by ClinCalc (5 Stars, 8 Reviews, $4.99 costs $4.99) This app keeps critical care professionals up to date on the latest evidenced based research; it highlights the findings so there is no need to read the full manuscript. Super user friendly and kept updated on a fairly regular basis.

The ability to use technology to make our nursing lives easier is a wonderful gift. Having information at the touch of a button is convenient and allows nurses to keep up to date on the latest and greatest information out there. It is important to keep in mind that you will not always have your phone with you to save the day and you should never allow technology to replace your professional judgement or your hospital’s policies and procedures. Use your apps wisely and remember that sometimes your best resource may be sitting right next to you.

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I am married to a murse. Yep, a male nurse. My very own Focker. Jokes aside though, being a male nurse is pretty awesome. My husband and I have talked a lot over the years about whether or not he would go back to school to further his education, but he loves being a nurse and the benefits are awesome. He will very likely retire as a murse and for good reason.

Men on the Rise

According to a report the Census Bureau released in 2013, from 1970 to 2011, the number of male nurses rose from 2.7% to 9.6% for RN’s and from 3.9% to 8.1% for LVN’s. Male nurses, even in the same role, are apparently out-earning their female counterparts by 9%. I personally find that statistic appalling and hard to believe since most hospitals these days pay strictly based on years of experience, but apparently the truth is in the numbers. My suspicion is that males tend to be more willing to negotiate their salary than females, but that is just my speculation.

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Endless Opportunity

Being a male nurse isn’t as faux pas as it once was.  It is no longer considered a female career path or a stepping stone to becoming a doctor. My husband, Skyler works with many other male nurses, and it even seems that many couples are both nurses. There tends to be a pattern that if one spouse is a nurse, then often times the other spouse seems to go back to school to become a nurse too. Heck, I strongly considered it for a long time until I finally accepted that I am just not cut out to be a nurse.

Although nursing is not for me, I can totally understand why more and more couples are opting to work the same career.  Nursing is a great career choice for many reasons: the schedule (three on, four off every week), high pay considering it’s only a two to four year program in school, great benefits, and not to mention it is a very fulfilling career.  Also, a travel nurse duo is dynamite! But, I digress.

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Another draw to becoming a nurse, male or female, is that it is such a varied field. It’s not just labor and delivery or your school nurse that people might think of when they think of nurses. You can specialize in OR, ER, ICU, OB, Telemetry, Medsurg, Dialysis, Home Health; the list is near endless.  From those specialties you can even further specialize like Skyler has as a CVICU (Cardio Vascular Intensive Care Unit) nurse.

There is also always management if you get tired of bedside care. We even have a friend who works from home for an insurance company as an RN. And of course, you can always travel! There are hospitals (large and small, teaching and private), clinics, surgery centers, schools, etc. You can go back to school and become a nurse practitioner, a nurse anesthetist, a physician’s assistant, a doctor, etc. You get the gist.

Unlike many careers where you are locked into one role, as a nurse you have so many different directions you can go in. It is such a varied field with truly endless opportunities.  Also, our country has such a shortage of nurses, you are pretty much guaranteed a job once you pass boards (or at least once you have some experience).

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Scheduling Perks

I touched on this above, but another draw is definitely the scheduling flexibility. For a family, this is a great perk. I would guess this might be one of the many factors that play into the rise of male nurses. If one or both of the partners are nurses, it is so much easier to work around scheduling conflicts.

Nursing schedules can be anywhere from per diem working only a few days a month, part time working 20-30 hours per week, full time working 36-40 hours per week, to full plus overtime working 60-72 hours a week. You can work eight hour shifts, 10’s, 12’s or even 16’s.  There is really no such thing as a “typical schedule” for nurses anymore.

My husband and I prefer a schedule of three 12 hour day shifts so that Skyler can be home four days a week and doesn’t have to recover from being on nights. A friend of ours prefers night shift so that she can work an opposite schedule of her spouse so that somebody is always home with their child. Others we know prefer eight hour shifts because that is what works best for them.  It is so varied which is truly awesome! It ain’t your typical 9-5!

Incredible Benefits

Nursing benefits are typically second to none, especially when you consider that it only takes 2-4 years of post-secondary-education to become a nurse. Pay is pretty good to just plain awesome throughout much of the country and overtime is usually a great possibility because of the nursing shortages.

Healthcare benefits are usually great, especially if you are treated at your hospital. Paid time off can be pretty awesome, often times 3-5+ weeks a year for many nurses just starting out. There are typically great retirement plans and perks to employees with seniority, etc.

All-in-all, nursing benefits are better than most other careers. As families are trying to choose careers that fit their lifestyles and goals, nursing is now an attractive option for both females and males.

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The Funny Thing about Being a Murse

I asked Skyler and several of his friends if there is anything funny that they experience because they are a male nurse. Honestly, being in CVICU, there are several male nurses so it’s not really anything unusual. Now, I would imagine a male nurse in Labor and Delivery would have some funny stories!

The general consensus with my group of guys is that when people/strangers find out that they are nurses they always ask the most awkward questions about whatever might ail them. Keep in mind, this group of guys did what they had to do to pass boards when it comes to female issues and then have spent the rest of their career trying to forget it (haha), so they truly have no idea. If you are recovering from a heart surgery, they are who you want. Or even if you have suffered from some sort of trauma, they’re your guys. When it comes to anything regarding lady stuff, they do their best to not remember that part of school and aren’t going to be helpful with any of that.

Being a Male Nurse Rocks

In general, there aren’t a lot of differences in being a male nurse versus a female nurse. It’s equally awesome for both, and it’s cool that more men are choosing this career path. While discussing this article with my husband tonight he said that today there were actually only two female nurses and five male nurses on his unit – so that should give you some insight in to how things are shifting in the world of healthcare and gender roles! Being a nurse is awesome – and being a male nurse rocks!

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In my opinion, there are 3 elements that can make or break a nurse’s 12 hour shift; the behaviors of his/her patients, the neediness of their family members and the overall health and well-being of the nurse. I have been a nurse for almost 10 years and have finally come to a place in my career where I can say that 90% of my shifts are relatively stress free.

I attribute this stress free nurse life to a few things; working night shift, sleeping plenty, not taking things personal, and developing certain routines that I can apply to all of my patients.  Because working nights and sleeping may not be an option for some of you, I have developed a few “nurse life hacks” that everyone can incorporate into their daily nursing lives.

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Being prepared for long work days will greatly improve your nursing life as a whole

• Buy enough groceries and cook enough food to last you for all of your shifts – You will be eating leftovers for 3 days but I guarantee it will be healthier and cheaper than buying food at work.
• Eat long acting carbohydrate foods – Foods such as fruit, vegetables, brown rice, beans, whole grain breads and sweet potatoes will help prevent you from hitting that dreaded 3 o’clock wall. This is especially important for night shift workers.
• Make sure you eat throughout your shift – Take five or ten minutes in the morning and the evening to grab a quick healthy snack. This will help keep your blood sugar steady and you feeling good throughout the day.
• Fill your water bottle before you get report – It is vital to stay hydrated so make sure you are not finding yourself taking your first drink of water at lunchtime.
• When you get home from work stick your whole lunch bag, Tupperware and all, into the refrigerator – Eliminate the need to wash any dishes. You can refill your Tupperware with the same exact food you had in it the day before.
• Try working one night on, next night off, then finishing your last two shifts or vice versa – This is especially effective f you are having a hard time with the night shift schedule.  You will have more time for the gym, sleeping or whatever else you do on your time off.

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Improving patient care will improve your personal care

Taking care of patients with certain diagnoses can be a challenge some days. Developing a routine on how you approach these patients will improve the quality of your life and the patients all at the same time.

• Pain patients – Set up a pain schedule immediately upon introduction.  For chronic pain patients tell them exactly what you will be giving them and when. Write it down on the whiteboard and stick to the schedule. As long as they know you are coming with their Dilaudid they won’t call you every 5 minutes. For regular patients with pain, ask them what they take at home and if they would like to be woken up for a pain assessment. Remind them to not let the pain get out of control.
• Restless Patients – Tylenol and a bath before bed usually does the trick. I have found that this combo helps people sleep.
• Unruly Alcoholic Patients – For alcoholic patients who needs sublingual Zyprexa, get a mouth swab wet, stick the Zyprexa to the swab and insert into patient’s mouth.  This prevents any unnecessary biting.
• ICU Patients – A good way to remember which drips require a weight with calculation think of the 3 D’s: Dopamine, Dobutamine and Diprovan.
• Do hourly rounds – I’m sure you have heard this from administration and you find it really annoying but trust me it works. Peaking your head into your patient’s rooms every hour, and if they are awake, asking them if they need to go to the bathroom or need anything else, prevents falls and call lights.
• Chart at the bedside as much as possible – This helps prevent forgetting anything and will refrain you from using your body as a notepad.
• Make a plan with your CNA at the beginning of your shift – This is especially important if you have total care patients. Talk about your turning schedule and when you will be bathing them.

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Family care can be just as important

• Keep your patients looking clean and comfortable – Nobody wants to see their loved one all disheveled or with blood on their sheets. Put a sheet over them regardless of their temperature. Modesty is important to most people.
• Take two minutes at the beginning of your shift to introduce yourself and discuss the plan for the night – Most family members will go home once they know their loved one is in good hands.
• Be open to answering questions no matter how trivial they seem – Family members like to be involved and know that you have the patience to teach them.
• Fill out the whiteboard – Keep the family informed of answers to questions that someone might ask. Even if your patient is incapacitated keep the family as up to date on information as possible
• Keep the room clean!

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Establishing a routine is one of the greatest Nurse Hacks

Learning tricks on how to insert foley catheters and NG tubes is an interesting and important part of nursing, however, I believe in the larger scheme of things.  Setting up a routine in your daily nursing life is a much more effective way to save time and energy. Initiating a routine will not only greatly improve your job satisfaction but will also help improve the quality of life of your patients and their families.

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I am a travel nurse’s spouse. I love being a travel nurse’s spouse! It seems like there are more and more couples/families taking on this adventure together, and for good reason – it is a fun and exciting opportunity!

That being said, there are always two sides to every coin.  Here is a glimpse into our experience over the past five years of travel nursing.

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Advantages of Traveling as a Duo

When we first discussed travel nursing back when my husband Skyler was still in nursing school, we always knew it was something we would do as a team. We didn’t know exactly what that would look like for me at the time, but we knew we wanted to live this adventure together.

As our travel dream finally came to fruition, it became clear pretty early on that it wasn’t going to be realistic for me to get a job outside of the home.  Luckily, I have a home-based business which allowed me to work from anywhere which was great for us so I didn’t have to get temporary jobs that would have tied us down on his days off.  We were traveling for the adventure as much as for his career!  Here are a few of the many perks of traveling as a couple:

• Somebody to share adventures with – We got to see and experience new things TOGETHER. We got to share that experience with someone. Somebody was there when it was fun and when it was scary.

• Travel nursing as a team has strengthened our marriage considerably – We were on our own away from family and friends. It caused us to rely and depend on each other fully. We got to spend fun days off together; we went grocery shopping together; we took long road trips together; we explored new cities together; etc., etc., etc. It has really caused us to focus more on what is important to us and our marriage. We were no longer in the typical “rat race” – we were living our dream, our way.

• Being able to afford for me to “stay home” – My staying home was a big change for us as I have worked full time since I was in college. It has had its advantages and disadvantages, but the positives have far outweighed the negatives. Some of the advantages:
  • I could handle most of the chores (cleaning, paying bills, cooking, laundry, etc.) while Skyler was at work, so days off were true days off.
  • I had more time to plan and research what we wanted to do in each new area so that we were ready to have fun and explore during his time off.
  • I was able to take a lot of the stress off of his shoulders by keeping his licensing and paperwork requirements for traveling organized.  I was also able to work with his recruiters when we were looking for new assignments, fielding emails and calls. He of course had to speak with them once it came time to interview but I usually narrowed it down for him as well as handled the contract negotiations.
  • I have become a pro at researching housing and other need-to-know things about new cities before we move.
  • Staying at home has allowed me to focus on things that are more important to me. I was in a job that I wasn’t happy with before we started traveling so I have been able to focus more on my blogging, my home-based business, and most recently being a mom full time.

Click here to discover the perks of being a travel nurse.

Challenges of Traveling as a Duo

I have to admit, there weren’t many challenges for us in terms of traveling together. It was our dream so we made it work and loved it.  For us there were really only a few challenges we faced that specifically pertained to traveling together:

• Only having one car – We decided after our second assignment to sell our second car as it was too cumbersome to try to move two cars every few weeks.  Living with only one car has definitely been something new to get used to. We have always each had our own vehicles since we were sixteen so it has taken some adjusting to. If I needed the car on a day he was working I either had to take him to and from work or he had to arrange to take a cab or get a ride.  We have however, found housing within walking distance from the hospital which made things easier. Only having one car wasn’t too big of a deal but it has definitely left me feeling restless a time or two when I was stuck at the house three days a week.

• Not being able to find work as the spouse of the traveler – Some people are fortunate and do find work, but I haven’t had that kind of luck.  I am honest upfront about my situation and most employers (understandably) don’t want to train somebody for a mere three months. Plus the whole no car thing was an issue and most important to us is we didn’t want me to be working on the days he had off.

• It could be lonely on the days my husband was at work – I struggled with being lonely on the days Skyler was at work, especially before we had our child. Some contracts had him working 48+ hours a week which was a lot of time alone.  We made the decision together to have him work longer hours in order to earn extra money, especially since we went from two incomes to one, but regardless it could be lonesome. It was at times very hard for me to meet new people when we traveled. I was often at home by myself, without a car, and didn’t know anybody in our new city while he is gone for 13 hours at work. He has made some nurse friends that we hung out with on his days off, but when he was at work I was typically by myself.

• Going down to one income was a lot of pressure – We have always been a two income family so going from two to one added some extra pressure on my husband’s shoulders. It was hard not to worry about the what-if’s.  For instance, if he were to get injured somehow and not be able to work for a while, what would we do?  Also adding to the pressure – he is only one person and could only work so many hours to make the income we needed/wanted. We budgeted and planned carefully to help relieve this extra stress, but all the planning in the world doesn’t fully alleviate the fear of the “what-ifs”.

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That is about all I can think of on the negative side. There are of course some challenges that will arise as you go, but the benefits of traveling together far outweigh any challenges.  I know everybody’s situation is different, but try to find a way to make it work and make the best of it! It is a fun adventure that we will always look back on with the best memories!

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Travel nursing has its many challenges and staying healthy while on the road is definitely one of them.

If you already have a healthy lifestyle, then staying healthy while traveling will be a snap.  If you are someone who hasn’t found the time to acquire healthy habits, then travel nursing is the perfect opportunity to do so. With careful planning and research all travel nurses can learn to manage stress, exercise and eat healthy while on the road.

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Tips on Keeping Your Mind Healthy

Moving to a new city, starting a new job and being alone are all very stressful situations, especially when they all happen at the same time. Avoiding a mental breakdown is key to becoming a successful travel nurse, or any nurse for that matter. My best advice to new and seasoned travelers is to plan, plan, plan, and prepare yourself for occasional boredom. Before starting a new travel assignment I highly suggest you:

• Research the city you are going to. Fill your calendar with touristy activities and invite your friends and family to come visit you.
• Get a Netflix account so you don’t have to set up cable service every time you move. Trust me there will be plenty of Netflix marathons and movie nights.
• Introduce yourself to your fellow travelers in hospital orientation. Get their phone numbers and let them know you are open to exploring the city.
• If you are in a city that is just too boring, working extra shifts is always an option. Remember, you are only there for 3 months, you might as well make some extra money.
• Take plenty of notes when you start your new job. Write down all your passwords and door codes and have a phone number list handy. Make sure you have pyxis, computer, badge and glucometer access before you start working on the floor.
• Keep an open mind and be flexible. Be prepared to float to other units and don’t be afraid to ask questions.
• Keep in mind that taking care of patients is virtually the same everywhere you go; at this point, it’s more about figuring out the equipment and learning where things are.
• Include yoga into your weekly exercise regimen. Deep breathing techniques are especially helpful when it comes to stressful work situations. I can’t count the number of times I have stepped into the med room, away from some family members, to take a few deep breaths. Not to mention, that yoga at the end of your 3 shifts, feels absolutely amazing on your sore back.

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Tips on Keeping Your Body Healthy

Exercise by itself is a great way to manage stress. If you already have an exercise routine, then researching local gyms in your new area is all you really need to do. It tends to be a lot easier if you belong to a nationwide gym like 24 Hour or Lifetime Fitness, so you don’t have to pay initiation fees every time you move.

If you don’t belong to a nationwide gym, then I recommend looking on Groupon or Living Social to see about getting a discounted monthly membership to a group fitness gym. Group fitness is especially good for those of you who don’t already have an exercise routine and tend to be a little lost in the weight room. This is also a good way to meet people.

If you happen to be traveling to an outdoorsy state such as Colorado, then going to a gym may not be necessary, as there are plenty of parks and hiking that you can do for free; all it takes is a little motivation. I like to pick a local race that I can train for such as a 5k or half marathon. I did my first triathlon in Texas, which was a great training experience. I also brought my bike with me to all of my travel assignments. Making exercise a normal activity in your life takes time. Find something that you enjoy doing; there is no need to suffer your way through it.

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Tips on Keeping Your Wallet Healthy

Stress management and exercise are key components to feeling great, however nutrition, I believe, is of utmost importance. What you put in your body effects your energy level, your mood, how well you perform at work and changing your eating habits can seriously impact the size of your wallet. Eating healthy is probably the most challenging lifestyle habit to change and one that I have personally mastered, even on the road. Here are my suggestions:

• Learn to cook. Cooking at home is not only healthier but it saves you money as well. Cook enough food to get you through 3 days of work. Once you finish all your leftovers, then cook enough food to get you through your days off.
• Make sure you bring enough food to work to get you through 12 hours. You are your most vulnerable to fast food and junk food when you are starving and if this becomes a habit it can seriously impact your budget.
• Try to only eat out a maximum of twice a week. Eating at restaurants is expensive and the portion sizes are much larger.
• If you are meeting some people for drinks, eat before you go out. There are plenty of happy hours and social meet ups when you are a travel nurse. This can be especially costly to your pocket and your health if you are not careful. Drinking your calories is never recommended.
• Eat your fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Eating high quality food leaves you feeling fuller longer and does wonders for your waistline and energy level, especially if you are a night shift worker.

Discover the country while getting paid!

Travel nursing provides you with a unique opportunity to get to know yourself. As a seasoned traveler you will have mastered navigating a stressful work environment, discovered what activities you enjoy the most and have hopefully become a somewhat decent cook. Take this quality time with yourself to practice what you preach and fine tune your own healthy lifestyle…your body will be forever grateful.

RNs can make up to $2,300 per week as a travel nurse. Speak to a recruiter today!