Technological advances can be seen on a daily basis throughout the medical field. The nursing instructors at Piedmont Technical College strive to keep up with those advances to ensure that graduates are prepared to meet the challenges they face when they enter the work force. The newest tool they are introducing is the iPod Touch.

“We set out to find the best software on the best hardware possible for our nursing students,” said Eric Hawthorne, IT technician.

The students had been using Palm Tungsten E2 devices and Hawthorne said he was assisting students with problems on a weekly basis. So, he approached Dr. Dan Koenig, associate vice president for instructional support and technology as well as representatives from the nursing department, asking if they could address the issue.

“The students had the Palms, but rarely used them because they were so difficult to work with,” said Lori Cooper, nursing instructor. “When Eric came to me, I was definitely on board.”

The pair began a 12-week pilot during the summer. Since the Palm device was no longer on the market, they compared the Windows Pocket PC and the iPod Touch, looking at hardware specifications and software availability.

“The iPod was a clear choice for us. The devices had more memory, supported a broader range of software and were less expensive,” Hawthorne said. “But, the deciding factor was the availability of applications for this field.”

The iPod Touch includes more than 2800 for applications for education and over 480 medical applications. While the iPods are being recommended for all first-year students, Cooper said the important piece is the software.

“The main change for us is the software. Nursing Central provides easy access to books, journals and tons of other medical information,” she said. “While we are encouraging students to purchase the iPods, we are allowing them to use what they have, such as a Blackberry, as long as it supports the software.”

Cooper said that many of the second-year students are upgrading and that some of the nursing program graduates are contacting her about the iPods.

“I love mine,” said Nikki Keith of Laurens. “I can see how this is going to be a very useful tool during clinicals.”

For more information on the nursing program, contact Janean Reish, nursing support counselor, at (864) 941-8720.

Photo Caption: Nikki Keith, right, an associate degree nursing student from Laurens, performs a patient evaluation with her new iPod Touch as instructor Holisa Wharton observes.