10 of the most useful apps for nurses

We know nurses have to do it all: gain the trust of the medical staff and tend to patients' physical and emotional needs, all while having some of the best memories in any industry. While the emotional side of the job usually comes with years of experience, there are a few apps out there geared toward making the information part of nurses’ lives a little easier to learn and remember. If you’re a nurse, or know a nurse, check these apps out and prepare to rejoice.

1. Human Anatomy Atlas

This 3D atlas of the human body lets you search for the exact anatomy you need to see. With extremely detailed visuals that you can move and dissect, you'll also get definitions with pronunciations of tons of medical terminology, a 1,000+ question test bank, and the ability to read information in 7 languages.

2. Med Mnemonics

Daunted by all the terminology you need to remember cold? This app helps you figure out ways to trick your brain with fun and easy-to-remember wordplay for more than 1,900 terms and concepts.

3. NCSBN Flashcards

The Medication Flashcards from the National Council of State Boards of Nursing give you an instant download of an entire medication library. It’s great for studying for exams like the NCLEX, but also a great reference point throughout your career.

4. Epocrates

This app is a one-stop resource for all medical professionals. In it, you'll find tons of information on prescription drugs, interactions, and diseases; medical news; the ability to calculate key formulas; and much, much more.

5. PEPID

There’s a different version of this app for everyone—nurses, EMTs, physicians, students, etc. It’s a great (and comprehensive) resource guide for all stages of a medical career, in which you will have access to a drug database, dosing and medical calculators, and high-resolution art.

6. Taber’s Medical Dictionary

This is a mobile version of one of the best medical dictionaries out there. It even has photos, pronunciations, videos, and the ability to save “favorites.” This free resource gives you more than 65,000 definitions and 1,200 images at your fingertips.

7. Nursing Central

This is another one-stop-shop app that gives you references for diseases, drugs, and exam prep, plus a literature search function. You'll also gain access to a bunch of databases including Davis’s Drug Guide, Taber’s Medical Dictionary, Diseases and Disorders, and MEDLINE Search and Journals.

8. NurseGrid

This one helps you organize and plan your life with color-coding and calendars galore. You can coordinate your schedule and shifts with your entire department: see who you’re working with, message your colleagues, and generally stay on top of your work and personal life, all for free!

9. Pill Identifier and Drug List

Need to identify a drug and learn everything about it? This is the app for you—and it's free! In it, you will find information for 60,000+ drugs, plus images of many medications so you can identify them by color, shape, and imprint.

10. MediBabble Translator

Use this app to communicate with non-English speaking patients. Even if you have some working knowledge of another language, chances are the medical terms will be tricky!