I am going to go on a mission. A mission to focus and significantly decrease the number of apps I currently have by looking at redundancy and prioritizing. I probably don't need 9 exercise apps. I do like testing them, but still if I want to have a hope of using them I need to consolidate, use one reliable way.

The lofty goal will be 7 (plus or minus 2), there is something magical about that number, but also scientific. There is research that backs up that cognitively this is about how much we can remember at any given time. Hence, a 7 digit phone number. I am not sure if I will be able to get there, but I'm going to try and drill down towards it. Even if I don't come close making progress will most certainly help to reduce the clutter.

At the very minimum, even if I am unable to limit myself to seven I do want to make these pages (which I will eventually link here):

• 7 Essential iPhone Apps from a Nurse
• 7 Essential iPad Apps from a Nurse

The Apps my change over time, but I'm going to let you know the absolute must-have's that I would not dare to part with, because the long list I have currently would not do anyone very much good.

Pillboxie is a digital pill box. Like the handy plastic containers Pillboxie helps you to organize your medications, and allows you to set reminders for when you need to take it.

I'm fortunately healthy enough not to need to take a daily regiment. However, I tried using it as a reminder to take my daily vitamins. Also, Jared passed along the following certificate codes for anyone that ones to try it:

• ET4K6JJ39TAP
• J7FAMXAAF7XL
• H3RFFTLHWRKJ
• 7N3N4LKF6LPA
• HPFY67AAF6EA
• YELKT3XYJXTT

I'm sure they won't last long so grab one and test out the app. I'm sure that @JaredSinclair would love to hear your thoughts.

Although this application is useful, it is not what got me most excited about it. Seeing a nurse - that works in the ICU - picking up developer tools and taking time to design and develop a mobile application. This time of project is no small task, which is why it is so incredible. I've regularly looked at opportunities and potential in other fields and wanted to see them translated into healthcare. So it is encouraging to see a nurse seeing potential in other fields and rather than leaving the profession taking time to integrate those interests. Definitely an refreshing thing to see and I find it very inspiring.

iPad Apps for a Nursing Student

If you want to be a technology evangelist then you need to understand the technology. That and a hundred other half baked justifications (excuses), a bit more student debt, one expensive trip to the Apple store and this nurse has an iPad.

In all seriousness I want to test the iPad's usability and see if it has a felt (since I can't 'measure') impact on my workflow. The product is only weeks old (in Canada), and there are already some fantastic applications and more on the way.

For now I'm starting with:

Productivity iPad Apps

Good Reader: PDF/document viewer. I have been using it to sync research reports that I need to read. I sync 1-5 for fun, and then stacks (20+) when I'm writing about a particular topic so I can flip through them on the subway.

Evernote: I was not a big user of Evernote until the iPad. This application syncs notes, which can include photographs/screenshots, audio (20 minute intervals) and video attachments. I like this for tracking ideas (this blog post for example), random thoughts, project materials, and to file some of the random things I like yet don't have a place for.

Things: This is a expensive To Do list manager and a bit for project management, I'm sure you could get better free ones, but this one syncs with the paid for apps (iPhone/iPad/Desktop), which is mandatory for my lists.

Pulse: A fantastic visual viewer for RSS feeds

Kindle: Free app for eBooks, this is fantastic. I'm not sure about you, but I am definitely an optimistic packer- meaning whether on vacation or a trip to school I will bring extra books just incase I get time to read them. Now I have the books I want to eventually get through on more than my night stand.

Clinical Resources iPad Apps

Epocrates: Provides information on drugs and a range of options from FREE all the way to $199 a year.

Universal Doctor Speak: Don't be scared off by the name of this app, it is really a translator for basic in clinic conversations and has potential for nurses as well. It provides english to French, Spanish or Chinese, as well as some speech options. This allows you to point to an instruction so patients understand your questions/instructions.

Web MD: This app allows you to check out symptoms, drugs and basic first aid information. Useful for interest and to recommend for patients. Interesting to see what patients are able to learn and find out without health care providers.

Health Related iPad Apps

Sleep Cycle: Fascinating app that lets you track the quality and length of yourself. Sleep is very important for nurses and nursing students, this app allows you to measure you average sleep and set an alarm that tries to wake you up when you are coming out of a deep sleep cycle. I also wonder what it would be like to have this type of functionality for out patients, it would be extremely useful to know how much rest they are actually getting. Think about how much we wake up our patients, if we knew they were in a REM cycle perhaps we could wait the extra half our before getting them up for a bath or round of medications.

Lose It: Another important health measure is out daily calorie and nutritional intake, and again this app could make a great addition to our electronic health records. Image your patient handed you a detailed report of their daily, weekly, and monthly calorie intake and weights. Much better than the traditional pen and paper 24 hour system we often use. I also know a lot of nurses that use this app on the iphone once they book their flights to warmer climates.