The feasibility of using mobile devices in nursing practice education

Abstract

This paper focuses on an exploratory evaluation of the use of m-learning in nursing education. We report on Stage 2 of the formative evaluation of a project to integrate mobile learning into the Bachelor of Science Nursing curriculum in a Western Canadian college program. Third year nursing students and instructors used Hewlett Packard iPAQs for five weeks in a practice education course in April - May, 2007. The iPAQs provided WiFi and GPRS wireless capability and were loaded with programs such as Microsoft Office Mobile 6.0 and the 2007 Lippincott Nursing Drug Guide. Our participants found the mobile devices supplied to be easy to learn and comfortable to use. They felt that the devices were readily portable and the screen size sufficient for programs designed for this medium. However, they nonetheless had difficulty using the wireless connectivity afforded by the devices and found that, despite an initial orientation, they did not have time to fully learn the devices in the context of a busy course. We concluded that it was feasible to implement mobile devices in nursing practice education, but that further investigation is needed on the use of m-learning for communication and interactive purposes.