Getting a smart phone vs small tablet for rotations...

[ll strife ll]

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Hey guys,

I hear that smartphones are quite useful in your rotations to look up stuff online.

I currently don't have a smartphone and plan on getting some kind of device soon.

I'm thinking about getting a Samsung Galaxy Tab 7" which is a small tablet. It's 60-70% size of an ipad. It fits into your palm and it would let me do far more stuff than I could on a smartphone for school and non-school related stuff.

So, right now, I'm planning on getting the Galaxy Tab instead of a smartphone to use on my rotations.

What are your thoughts on it? Would it be too much of a hassle to bring this thing around on my rotations?

Here's a vid of galaxy tab: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHOZZJ_2Wjg

 

[EBT12]

I am currently on rotation, and do have a smartphone. However, I have only used it a handful of times in 6 months. My current preceptor does not allow any devices that have internet access. Instead, we have to use their computers. Other places I have been have had really poor service (think middle of hospital) or had tons of computers available. I wouldn't buy a device just for rotations.

 

[xiphoid2010]

Hey guys,

I hear that smartphones are quite useful in your rotations to look up stuff online.

I currently don't have a smartphone and plan on getting some kind of device soon.

I'm thinking about getting a Samsung Galaxy Tab 7" which is a small tablet. It's 60-70% size of an ipad. It fits into your palm and it would let me do far more stuff than I could on a smartphone for school and non-school related stuff.

So, right now, I'm planning on getting the Galaxy Tab instead of a smartphone to use on my rotations.

What are your thoughts on it? Would it be too much of a hassle to bring this thing around on my rotations?

Here's a vid of galaxy tab: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHOZZJ_2Wjg

Are you going to carry a phone and a tablet all day? If you set it down for few minutes, you sure you wont forget or it wont disappear? Carrying just one phone is more practical.

Will admitt that you got good taste for which tablet to pick. But I am more partial to the 8.9" galaxy tab personally.

 

[CUpharmD2013]

Our school gives each of us an iPod touch, that's all you really need. If you think that you'll get functionality from the smart phone outside of your rotations, then you can go with that. Keep in mind that you'll have to pay for a data plan with a smart phone, unless you only want to use it for internet over wifi. I haven't been on rotations yet, but I would imagine that a tablet would be overkill. I would want something that fits in my pocket and that I don't have to carry around. I would imagine, too, that a preceptor would be most accepting of something like an iPod touch, then a smart phone, and lastly a tablet because of the increase in functionality of doing things other than your work.

 

[Sparda29]

I am currently on rotation, and do have a smartphone. However, I have only used it a handful of times in 6 months. My current preceptor does not allow any devices that have internet access. Instead, we have to use their computers. Other places I have been have had really poor service (think middle of hospital) or had tons of computers available. I wouldn't buy a device just for rotations.

Wow, that's bull****.

 

[Praziquantel86]

I generally frown about students using devices on rounds, so whichever is better for you afterwards. I would get a smartphone if you don't already have one, because I find them to be useful for many more things than a tablet is.

 

[Pharmacopia]

It depends, on some of my rotations at large hospitals, I lived and died by my smart phone. Most of the time though, I would just use whatever computer I could get my hands on to check references, etc.

Of course whatever device you use, get permission from your preceptor first. You do not want them to be under the wrong impression as to what you are using your phone for.

So get the smart phone, its better to have it when you need it than not have it when you need it.