Get support for your studies, wellbeing and career with our lowdown on the best apps for nursing students and newly qualified nurses
Apps can offer a convenient way to plan, learn, and even wind down after a busy day at work. Here are some of the best apps for different nursing needs:
Your studies and career
RCN Starting Out is an exclusive online resource for nursing students and newly qualified nurses. It provides the latest knowledge, expertise and support in one place. It can be saved directly on your phone like an app or used as part of the RCN website. It allows you to make the most of your RCN membership, read our latest clinical advice and guides, and get in touch with the RCN when you need support. You can also read the latest features from RCN Bulletin and RCN Students magazines.
Medicines information
The British National Formulary (BNF) app is for all UK health care professionals working for the NHS and also includes BNF for Children. Promising sound, up-to-date information about the use of medicines, the app has recently been updated with changes to drug monographs and treatment summaries. It has a simple search interface where you can switch between adult and child content, and is refreshed every month.
Time management
The MyDuty app can help newly qualified nurses and nursing staff schedule their shifts. You can create, manage and share your calendar with colleagues to keep track of each other’s busy schedules, and it lets you track duty changes without having to go back and forth through a complicated roster. You can also manage your annual leave and merge it with your family members', to help you maintain your work-life balance.
Mental wellbeing
Headspace is dedicated to mindfulness and meditation. It offers tools and resources to help reduce stress, reinforce resilience and improve sleep. From power napping to mindful eating, Headspace features ideas to improve different areas of your life using audio, animations, articles and videos.
Better sleep
Sleepio is an app-based sleep improvement programme, which is personalised to each individual and uses cognitive behavioural techniques to help tackle poor sleep. Sleepio offers a sleep review to help optimise your sleeping environment and habits, advice on stimulus control so you can build a healthy connection between your bed and sleep, and information on sleep restriction practices, which are proven to improve sleep schedules. It is freely available for NHS staff and nursing students until 31 March 2021.
