Williamsburg Technical College nursing instructor Sheila Forester (right) shows nursing student Heather Stevens of Hemingway how to operate the program’s new medical PDA.

WILLIAMSBURG TECHNICAL COLLEGE NURSING STUDENTS

ON CUTTING EDGE OF TECHNOLOGY

Williamsburg Technical College nursing students have replaced the tomes of books required for their profession with a convenient source they can hold in the palms of their hands. In order to make critical reference materials available to students electronically, the WTC nursing program recently started loaning each of its students a personal digital assistant (PDA) to help make their learning experience easier everywhere from the classroom to a patient’s bedside. The devices are provided for student use through grant funding.

PDAs are small devices that operate on a rechargeable battery. They are compact enough to fit in the hand or slip into a pocket, yet can carry more information than a stack of books and can perform tasks just like a computer. “The technology can help decrease medical errors and can save hours a day,” says program director Sheila Forester.

Among the printed materials available electronically are clinical procedures guides, quick-check references guides, and English/Spanish dictionaries.