Enhancing Nursing Student Competencies with PDA Technology

1. Case Studies in Student Mobility: PDA’s in Action Fran Cornelius PhD, MSN, RN, CNE Mary Gallagher Gordon MSN, RN, CNE Drexel University College of Nursing and Health Professions

2. Session Focus • Provide an overview of an innovative approach to providing a hands-on lab experience to nursing students in the virtual learning environment utilizing Blackboard and Centra. • Discuss how this provided structured learning activities to build point-of-care information management competencies among nursing students. • Provide a candid discussion of the experience and outcomes

3. Key Points • Healthcare professionals practice in a dynamic environment in which technology and innovation is the norm. • PDAshave emerged as useful and often indispensable tools for healthcare providers. • The ability to manage information effectively and efficiently at the point of care is a core skill that students must master. • Educators must identify strategies to provide structured learning activities that give students opportunities to practice accessing and utilizing information to build these competencies. • This, in turn, can support the development of clinical competency and clinical decision-making skills

4. Innovate • Our college has a long tradition of innovation, cutting edge technology and responsiveness to the needs of a rapidly changing work environment. In keeping with that tradition, the introduction of handheld devices into the undergraduate nursing program was viewed as an essential step in preparing our students for the workplace. • Attaining competencies among students is a major goal in undergraduate nursing programs and having vital information for decision making at the point of care is essential. Early introduction to tools that assist in this process is critical in skill acquisition and practice development. The adoption of new technology into nursing practice is a challenging task.

9. Thank You! Mary Gallagher Gordon MSN, RN, CNE mag45@drexel.edu Fran Cornelius PhD, MSN, RN, CNE fc28@drexel.edu Drexel University 1505 Race Street, MS 501 Philadelphia, PA 19102-1192