Best Apps for Nurses

Do you use nursing apps in your practice? You should! Finding the right nursing apps can make all the difference in your busy days. In our fast-paced world, you can rely on apps to help you manage your schedule, stay up-to-date with medical knowledge, and even find a moment of calm. Whatever you need help with, there are nursing apps for that! In this blog, we’ll share 10 of the best nursing apps for nurses so you can excel in your career and make life a little easier. Time to start downloading!

The 10 Best Nursing Apps You’ve Got To Try

1. Epocrates

Epocrates is a comprehensive medical reference app that provides drug information, disease details, diagnostic tools, and more. It’s like having a mini-medical library in your pocket. With Epocrates, you can quickly access information about drug interactions, dosages, and side effects. It also offers a pill identifier and calculator for various clinical functions. This app is particularly useful for double-checking medication information and ensuring patient safety.

How It Helps:

• Provides instant access to critical drug information
• Helps avoid harmful drug interactions
• Offers diagnostic tools to assist in patient care

2. Medscape

Medscape offers a wealth of medical information, including drug references, medical news, and clinical tools. Plus, it has a great continuing medical education (CME) section. You can read up on the latest medical research, case studies, and expert commentary. Medscape’s extensive library covers many specialties, making it an invaluable resource for staying informed.

How It Helps:

• Keeps you updated with the latest medical news and research
• Offers CME credits to support your professional development
• Provides detailed information on a wide range of medical conditions

3. Nursing Central

Nursing Central is an all-in-one app with access to drug guides, disease information, clinical calculators, and nursing journals. It’s perfect for students and practicing nurses, consolidating several references into one convenient app. It includes Davis’s Drug Guide, Taber’s Medical Dictionary, and the latest nursing journals.

How It Helps:

• Consolidates multiple references into one app for convenience
• Offers detailed drug and disease information
• Provides access to the latest research and nursing journals

4. Pill Identifier

Pill Identifier helps you identify unknown pills by imprint, shape, or color. It’s a lifesaver for ensuring accurate medication administration and patient safety. You enter the pill’s characteristics into the app, and it can quickly identify the pill and its potential uses. This is especially useful in scenarios where patients cannot recall the names of their medications!

How It Helps:

• Ensures accurate medication identification
• Helps prevent medication errors
• Provides peace of mind when dealing with unfamiliar pills

5. My Shift Planner

My Shift Planner is designed to help you easily manage your work schedule. It offers customizable shift patterns, reminders, and syncing with other calendars. You can track your hours, set alerts for upcoming shifts, and even plan your days off. This app is perfect for nurses working irregular hours or juggling multiple jobs.

How It Helps:

• Simplifies shift scheduling and management
• Helps keep track of work hours and overtime
• Ensures you never miss a shift with timely reminders

6. Headspace

Headspace is a meditation app that can help manage stress and promote mental well-being. It offers guided meditations tailored to various needs, like sleep, focus, and relaxation. Headspace also includes short exercises for quick mental breaks during a busy nursing shift. Incorporating mindfulness into your daily routine can improve your mental health and resilience!

How It Helps:

• Provides guided meditations to reduce stress and anxiety
• Offers exercises to improve focus and relaxation
• Helps promote better sleep and overall mental well-being

7. Doximity

Doximity is a social networking app for healthcare professionals. It allows you to connect with colleagues, stay updated on medical news, and participate in professional discussions. Doximity also offers secure messaging and faxing capabilities, making communicating with your healthcare team easier. Networking with other professionals can open up opportunities for collaboration, mentorship, and career advancement.

How It Helps:

• Facilitates professional networking and collaboration
• Keeps you informed with the latest medical news and trends
• Provides secure communication tools for patient information

8. Lecturio

Lecturio is an educational app designed for healthcare professionals, including nurses. It offers video lectures, quizzes, and study materials on various medical topics. The content is created by top educators and covers various nursing subjects, making it an excellent resource for students and practicing nurses looking to expand their knowledge.

How It Helps:

• Provides high-quality educational content and video lectures
• Helps with exam preparation and continuing education
• Offers quizzes and study materials to reinforce learning

9. PEPID

PEPID offers clinical decision support, drug interactions, and medical calculators. It’s a great tool for enhancing clinical practice and improving patient outcomes. PEPID’s extensive database includes detailed information on diseases, treatments, and drug interactions. It also features interactive clinical tools like symptom checkers and dosage calculators.

How It Helps:

• Provides comprehensive clinical decision support
• Helps prevent harmful drug interactions
• Offers tools to improve diagnostic accuracy and patient care

10. UpToDate

UpToDate provides evidence-based clinical information on a wide range of medical conditions. It’s an excellent resource for staying current with the latest medical knowledge and guidelines. With UpToDate, you can read detailed articles written by experts, view patient education materials, and earn CME credits. This app is a must-have for any nurse committed to lifelong learning.

How It Helps:

• Provides access to the latest evidence-based medical information
• Supports clinical decision-making with expert-reviewed articles
• Offers CME credits to support your professional development

How These Nursing Apps Help Nurses Excel

• Improved Efficiency: Nursing apps like My Shift Planner help you manage your schedules more effectively, reducing stress and improving work-life balance. Efficient scheduling tools ensure you’re always on top of your shifts and personal commitments, helping you avoid burnout.
• Enhanced Knowledge: Nursing apps like Medscape, Lecturio, and UpToDate provide access to the latest medical information, helping you stay informed and deliver the best patient care. Continuous learning is essential in nursing, and these apps offer the resources you need to keep your knowledge up-to-date.
• Better Patient Care: Tools like Epocrates and PEPID support clinical decision-making, ensuring accurate diagnoses and treatments. Access to reliable drug information and clinical guidelines enhances patient safety and improves outcomes.
• Stress Management: Headspace offers mindfulness and meditation practices that help you manage stress and prevent burnout. Regular meditation can improve your mental health, making you more resilient and better equipped to handle the demands of nursing.
• Professional Networking: Doximity connects you with colleagues and industry experts, fostering professional development and collaboration. Building a strong professional network can lead to new opportunities, mentorship, and support in your nursing career.
• Medication Safety: Apps like Pill Identifier and Epocrates ensure you have accurate drug information at your fingertips, reducing the risk of medication errors. Ensuring the correct identification and administration of medications is crucial for patient safety.
• Patient Interaction: Nursing Central and PEPID offer valuable resources that can enhance your patient interactions. Whether you’re explaining a diagnosis or providing education, readily available, reliable information improves your communication and patient satisfaction.
• Time Management: Effective time management is critical in nursing, and apps like My Shift Planner help you stay organized and efficient. You can reduce stress and improve your work-life balance by managing your time effectively.
• Continuing Education: Many of these nursing apps, such as Medscape, Lecturio, and UpToDate, offer CME credits and educational resources. Keeping up with continuing education is essential for professional growth and ensuring you provide the best care possible. We encourage our nurses to take as many continuing education opportunities as possible!
• Enhanced Communication: Doximity’s secure messaging and communication tools make staying in touch with your healthcare team easy. Effective communication is key to providing coordinated and comprehensive patient care.

Our Nurses Excel by Leveraging Technology

Incorporating these nursing apps into your daily routine can significantly enhance your nursing practice. They offer valuable resources for managing tasks, expanding knowledge, and improving patient care. At Care Options for Kids, we encourage our nurses to leverage technology to enhance their professional lives and provide the best possible care for our clients. We provide our pediatric home health nurses with the right tools and support to launch their careers to new heights! Sound good?

Join the Care Options For Kids Team!

Are you ready for meaningful work that comes with benefits and not burnout? Join the compassionate care team that helps children and families live their best lives. Our clinicians provide best-in-class pediatric nursing, therapy, and school-based services. We bring individualized care to children where they live, work, and play. We have opportunities in homes, schools, and clinics across the country.

Apply at Care Options for Kids now. We make it easy to start so you can make a difference as soon as possible.