Here are some sites and resources that I frequently reference and therefore think are awesome.
Mircromedex: I love this site. I typically reference it for checking IV compatibility and if I’m administering a medication I’ve never given before. I probably use this at least once a shift, so.. well, I hope they love me as much as I love them.
Pharmacists: I love you guys. If Micromedex can’t answer my question, I always call the pharmacy. If you don’t know how to safely administer something or if certain things are compatible, give them a call.
UpToDate: If your hospital has this on their Intranet – READ IT. It is all a one-stop shop for evidenced-based research. Per their website, it’s “trusted worldwide by healthcare practitioners to help them make the right decisions at the point of care”. Many NP’s, PA’s, and MD’s read this daily. A close friend is finishing her journey to becoming a nurse practitioner and a highly respected physician in a HUGE hospital told her that the difference between being a good practitioner and a great one is reading UpToDate for 30-45 minutes a day. You’ll stay up to date (ha!) on all the latest research and therefore be able to influence change at your facility and be an informed care provider.
American Association of Critical Care Nursing: I love the research articles in their journal. They are awesome and very applicable to bedside practice. You can engage in conversations with physicians and nursing educators about changing the way you practice, based on the latest evidence-based research. If you start a convo with, “Well, I read that the latest research from the AACN says…” then you’ll look like a rock star.
My hospital’s Nurse Scientists: Saw some new product you want your hospital to purchase? As them to do a lit review for you. Want to know why you do a certain thing at your hospital? Ask your nurse scientists for some research on it. They’re a wealth of knowledge, and if they don’t have an answer to your question, they’ll know which direction to point you.
Scrubs Magazine online (scrubsmag.com): Need some advice on something nursey and can’t find it on the Nurse Eye Roll blog? Check out scrubsmag.com. It’s a great informal resource for the practical nurse-life side of things. I like the way the website is organized, there is humor, realistic advice, and a large engaged nursing community.
I honestly don’t have a bunch of medical apps on my iPhone. I know many do, but I just use the resources my hospital provides frequently and haven’t had a need to download additional apps in order to provide safe patient care. I really don’t think you need a ton of bells and whistles to do what you need to do for your patients, but that’s just me. Are there any additional resources that people use on a daily basis that are extremely helpful for the bedside nurse?