Mobile software developer Epocrates released survey results that polled nurses who use their Epocrates smartphone application. This most recent survey follows a similar format to the one the company conducted recently with medical students -- revisit the results from that poll here. Here are the metrics that resulted from the most recent Epocrates survey:

More than half of the nurses express significant concern that a national nursing shortage will negatively effect patient safety and care.

About 46 percent said that the shortage already forces nurses to spend less time with their patients.

About 42 percent said the shortage has led to increasing responsibilities for them.

About 37 percent said the shortage has increased their patient load.

About 50 percent said they save more than 30 minutes each day thanks to Epocrates.

The nurses surveyed favor Palm PDAs and smartphones -- followed by iPhone or iPod touch -- and then BlackBerry devices.

For Epocrates' press release about the survey, read on here