NurseBrain® Synapse vs Mosbys PDQ for RN
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
NurseBrain® Synapse
Streamline your nursing workflow with a digital report sheet. Capture patient information, tasks, and notes efficiently throughout your shift. Generate organized reports and progress notes with ease, reducing manual rewriting and saving valuable time for patient care.
- Customizable digital brain sheets
- Organized patient tracking
- Efficient shift handoffs
- Voice and quick note entry
- PDF export for reports
- HIPAA-compliant
- SBAR format organization
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Less rewriting. More time for your patients. Nurses already rely on a report sheet or brain sheet to stay organized. NurseBrain® Synapse takes that same workflow and turns it into something you can use throughout your shift, so the information you capture once keeps working for you at report, at the bedside, and at handoff. Instead of juggling paper, memory, and the EHR, everything stays connected in one place. WHAT YOU CAN DO WITH NURSEBRAIN SYNAPSE Your brain sheet. Your workflow. Build a brain sheet around the details you actually track. Choose a template for your unit, customize the fields and layout, use it digitally during your shift, or export a clean PDF when you want paper. Stay organized throughout your shift Keep patients, tasks, notes, and handoffs together. See what needs attention now, what is done, and what is coming up next, without relying on memory. Give report without starting from scratch Each patient has a clear, organized view with SBAR, notes, and updates. Everything is already structured, so you are not scrambling when it is time to give report. Capture information as you go Use voice or quick entry to record updates during your shift. No need to remember everything later. Turn your shift into usable notes The information you already captured can be turned into progress notes and care plans, ready to copy into your charting. Share a handoff without retyping Hand off a patient to another NurseBrain Synapse user by QR code. Works the way nurses actually work You are constantly switching between patients, report sheets, and the EHR. NurseBrain Synapse is designed to fit into that reality. Use it at the workstation, on your phone during rounds, or on your watch for quick updates. Built for real nursing shifts Bedside nurses, travel nurses, charge and resource nurses, and nursing students. Secure and nurse-built NurseBrain Synapse is HIPAA-compliant and designed with patient privacy in mind. Built by nurses, based on real workflows, not theory. Free trial, then one subscription Free to download. The Brain Sheet Builder is free to use. Everything else is included in one subscription, and you can start with a free trial. Plans, prices, and trial details are shown in the app before you subscribe. Use fictional examples while you explore. Before adding real patient information, follow your organization's policies. Replace your report sheet and bring structure, clarity, and confidence back to your shift.
Mosbys PDQ for RN
Access essential nursing facts, formulas, lab values, and procedures quickly. This guide offers concise information for clinical settings, including special populations and emergency care. It features updated content reflecting the latest developments and assessment tools.
- Quick access to essential nursing facts
- Formulas, lab values, and procedures
- Information for pediatric, maternity, and geriatric patients
- Emergency care guidelines
- Updated clinical developments and drug information
- New assessment tools
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"Try before you buy" - Download the FREE App, which includes sample content. In-App purchase required to unlock all content. An easy-to-use guide to the hundreds of important nursing facts, formulas, lab values, procedures, ECG info and many more. Find essential nursing information at a glance! Mosby’s PDQ for RN: Practical Detailed Quick is an easy-to-use concise guide to important facts formulas and procedures used in the clinical setting. It offers quick access to details you need but don’t usually memorize such as signs and symptoms medications conversions abbreviations and normal/abnormal ranges for lab tests. When in doubt check this handy reference! New to this edition * NEW! Expanded coverage addresses oxygen delivery, hypoglycemic drugs, cardiac rhythms (STEMI), seizure treatment, breath sounds, and more. * NEW assessment tools are included for pain, nutrition, and alcohol abuse. * UPDATED content reflects the latest clinical developments, screening guidelines, and drug information. Key Features * Sections provide quick access to essential facts, formulas, lab values, procedures, and more. * Easy to access on any iOS device and use in any clinical setting. * A focus on special populations includes separate sections on pediatric, maternity, and geriatric patients. * Emergency Care section provides guidelines for treating stroke patients, assessing trauma patients, and responding to cardiopulmonary arrest. * HIPAA- and OSHA- compliant information reflects the latest practice standards and guidelines. * Colorful charts and tables make lookup easy, and data is thorough enough for even experienced practicing nurses. ISBN 10: 0323400280 ISBN 13: 9780323400282 SUBSCRIPTION : Please purchase a yearly auto-renewing subscription to receive content access and available updates. Yearly auto-renewing payments- $24.99 Payment will be charged to your iTunes Account at confirmation of purchase. Subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the current period. Subscription may be managed by the user and auto-renewal can be disabled at any time by going to your device “Settings” and tapping “iTunes & App Store”. Any unused portion of a free trial period will be forfeited when you purchase a subscription, where applicable. If you have any questions or comments, email us any time: customersupport@skyscape.com or call 508-299-3000 Privacy Policy - https://www.skyscape.com/terms-of-service/privacypolicy.aspx Terms and Conditions - https://www.skyscape.com/terms-of-service/licenseagreement.aspx Publisher: Elsevier Health Sciences Company
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Mosbys PDQ for RN at 5.0 against NurseBrain® Synapse's 4.1. Mosbys PDQ for RN also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 85%) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 17.6). NurseBrain® Synapse's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (weekly vs every 4 months). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. NurseBrain® Synapse sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $29.99 per month and Mosbys PDQ for RN sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $18.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Mosbys PDQ for RN holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: NurseBrain® Synapse has 31 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 85% of NurseBrain® Synapse's written reviews are positive against 100% of Mosbys PDQ for RN's.
NurseBrain® Synapse ships an update weekly, Mosbys PDQ for RN every 4 months. Both last shipped on November 3, 2026.
| Parameter | NurseBrain® Synapse | Mosbys PDQ for RN |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.1 (31 ratings) | 5.0 (3 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 85.1% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 31 — better | 3 |
| Update frequency | Weekly — better | Every 4 months |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | 13.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 158 MB | 149 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | Nursebrain LLC | Skyscape Medpresso Inc |
Customer experience
NurseBrain® Synapse
Mosbys PDQ for RN
Bugs and requests
NurseBrain® Synapse
Reported bugs
7 issues- App won't let users sign up and make an account
- Cannot log in after signing up
- App glitches and won't load
- Cannot edit active patient list
- Patient list duplicates entries
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- Desktop version not functioning
- Nursing AI feature returns errors
Requested features
4 requests- Include more specialties, specifically for outpatients
- Add a 'Return' button for new lines in text fields
- Ability to time medications
- 24-hour clock option
Mosbys PDQ for RN
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
NurseBrain® Synapse
- Monthly Premium Access7 Days trial$29.991 Month
- Quarterly Student Access$29.993 Months
- Yearly Premium Access7 Days trial$149.991 Year
Mosbys PDQ for RN
- 25% Off Limited Period Offer$18.991 Year
- 20% Off Limited Period Offer$19.991 Year
- 15% Off Limited Period Offer$21.491 Year
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- Mosby's PDQ for RN 1/Y Sub7 Days trial$24.991 Year
Questions
Is NurseBrain® Synapse free?
Is Mosbys PDQ for RN free?
Which has better reviews, NurseBrain® Synapse or Mosbys PDQ for RN?
Do NurseBrain® Synapse or Mosbys PDQ for RN have ads?
Which is updated more often, NurseBrain® Synapse or Mosbys PDQ for RN?
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