In the increasingly mobile modern world, a travel nurse or travel therapist may find smartphones an even greater tool than the average American – and that is saying something. According to comScore, 90 million Americans owned a smartphone by the end of 2011, reports the Android Community.
Application designers for those mobile users are getting the hint and will have designed nearly 6,000 mobile applications by summer 2012, reports Healthcare Traveler. Mobile technology, as a trend, seems to have reached a pinnacle and healthcare professionals, traveling or not, are using it.
According to expert testimony, the percentage of healthcare travelers using smartphones is mirroring the nation. The rapid advancement of mobile technology is providing traveling RNs with a variety of new tools to help personally and professionally. From access to medical texts to simple list tracking, mobile applications may provide everything and anything a travel nurse or travel therapist could wish for right in the palm of her hand.
In addition, here are three smartphone applications a travel nurse or travel therapist may wish to download immediately:
1. Epocrates. Specially catering to medical professionals, this one-of-a-kind application offers free clinical information on thousands of prescriptions, generic and over-the-counter drugs, formula information and various methods to identifying pills by imprint code and physical characteristics. It even provides information on drug side effects, BMI and GFR calculators and breaking medical news.
2. Evernote. Think you forgot something? Don't worry, if you are properly using your Evernote application, a travel RN or travel therapist can create lists on their phone that are accessible on any internet connected device. You can capture and save websites, photos, videos and print all on one feature for easy access. It even provides a custom search bar to locate notes quickly if a nurse can't find something she bookmarked.
3. Howcast. On assignment in Texas and want to learn how to properly complete a two-step? Howcast can help. This easy pocket guide provides video tutorials on how to complete a variety of topics. A travel nurse or travel therapist can use this nifty tool for both the mundane everyday tasks or on special occasions. The application comes with a favorites or bookmarking capability so that she can save how-to videos for later is needed.