Full-time visiting nurses with Visiting Nurses Association Home Health Systems in Santa Ana, Calif., are receiving personal digital assistants (PDA) specifically programmed with in-depth clinical information and electronic nursing forms. The PDA is a small, handheld computer that can synchronize data with larger computers. Use of the PDA is cutting the time nurses spend on paperwork from three to four hours per shift to one to 1½ hours.

Nurses report that this gives them more time to do what they went into nursing to do. "People are nurses because they love nursing. The best part of the PDA is that it makes my life a lot easier. Once nursing can get rid of paperwork, there is going to be a big change," said Elaine Glaser, RN, a visiting nurse.

Used with a mini modem and portable keyboard, the PDA allows the nurses to access schedules, patient charts, extensive medical references, and to fill out and submit nursing forms.

The proprietary nursing software was written by Jeneane Brian, the VNA Home Health Systems' CEO.

Online degree program
Associate degree nurses interested in earning a BSN now have the option of attending an online program offered by Jacksonville University (www.RNtoBSN.com). This accredited program offers a convenient and flexible alternative to traditional classroom studies. The curriculum's goals are to sharpen nurses' critical-thinking skills, provide the conceptual and theory base necessary to make sound decisions, introduce nursing research and strengthen nurses' liberal arts background.

The virtual "classrooms" are designed with the latest technology and give students the digital tools they need.

These tools include on-demand video-streamed lectures that allow students to view the lectures as many times as they need, an asynchronous online bulletin board that permits students and faculty to interact on key topics, and chat rooms that are used by instructors to host "virtual" office hours where students can collaborate with faculty members in real time.

Tuition is comparable to that of other private universities.

Worldwide resource
The World Health Organization Web site (www.who.int) provides up-to-date information about health care topics around the world. Nurses researching worldwide health issues will find this reference useful.

The site, which can be accessed in English, Spanish or French, covers a host of health topics from A to Z, and posts updates on worldwide disease outbreaks and information on emergencies by country, as well as archives of historical data by year and disease.

Also provided is detailed information on vaccination requirements and health advice for travelers. It also lists links to the Bulletin of the World Health Organization, World Health Report, International Statistical Classifications of Disease and Related Health Problems and the Weekly Epidemiological Record.

Health reference
PDR.net (www.pdr.net) is a medical and health care Web site created by Medical Economics Company Inc., a publisher of health care magazines and directories, including the Physicians' Desk Reference.

PDR.net is customized for specific audiences including consumers, physicians, physician assistants, nurses, nurse practitioners and pharmacists. PDR.net's contents and services are free for nurses who register with the site.

The Nurse's PDR Resource Center allows nurses to search the 2001 drug database, browse clinical drug headlines and find out what's new in drugs.

Drug information on the site is presented in the same format as the PDR Nurse's Drug Handbook, which includes classification, action, uses, contraindications, side effects, overdose management, interactions and dosage.

Contact Congress
The nursing profession has a great deal at stake when it comes to the topic of health care legislation. Nurses frequently find they have an area of concern that they would like to address with their U.S. senators or representatives.

Nurses can visit www.visi.com/ juan/congress/, a Web site that contains contact information for legislators. Because e-mails addressed to Congress have bounced back to senders, the site recommends that nurses send their messages via telephone, fax or ground mail.

To receive information for a state, click on the state and follow the links. The site also advises how to format letters to Congress and whom to contact.