[RNCRNA2BE]

Originally Posted by nurse-lou

I just got a Palm TX loaded with Epocrates (free), Kathy White's Fast Facts for Adult Critical Care.

I also recommend Nancy Diepenbrock's Quick Reference to Critical Care!

A good stethoscope! Love my Littmann Master Cardiology Scope!

A good pair of shoes! Love my Crocs!

Welcome to the world of Critical Care Nursing!

That looks like a lot of great advice! Thank you! Thankyou! Thank you!

[BBFRN]

Originally Posted by nurse-lou

I just got a Palm TX loaded with Epocrates (free), Kathy White's Fast Facts for Adult Critical Care.

I also recommend Nancy Diepenbrock's Quick Reference to Critical Care!

A good stethoscope! Love my Littmann Master Cardiology Scope!

A good pair of shoes! Love my Crocs!

Welcome to the world of Critical Care Nursing!

Same here, to all of the above!

[Ruby Vee]

My wallet, cell phone, keys, PDA and a trashy novel.

Oh, you meant for WORK! My PDA, of course. It has all kinds of reference materials in it, from lab values to drugs to policies and procedures (on Documents 2 Go) to my schedule, phone numbers I'll need (the "back" number for the Cath Lab to bypass that annoying secretary, pager numbers, etc.) and a free cell game for those (rare) moments of down time.

[deeDawntee]

Originally Posted by TopherSRN

Mine helps me to drowned out all those annoying alarms so I can concentrate on my Sudoku.

LOL

[ghmccart]

one bag w/three ring binder for educational stuff, couple crit care refs, chapstick etc, gum for bad breath, other things work in and out of the rotation. on my person I carry crit care ref. and very important to me is my little not pad that I write pearls from the experienced nurses " so what about this or what do you do when this happens" or when I learn something really good and want to recall it laters. every now and then I will read all the pearls I have written just to put them in my mind once again. two pens one sharpie in front L pocket, alcohol, caps in bottm L, tubex,calipers, and mini calculator in front R pocket(I calculate all my own gtts the old way), and thats it, dont forget to have a watch with a couple timers/alarms for odd situations

[nurse2bKY]

Originally Posted by RNCRNA2BE

come on, some one has something, I'm sure!!

How about an American Express card? The commercials always told me never leave home with it (hehe.) Sorry, just my little smart-alec in me. Acutally, I want to be a crna also, so I hope to work in an ICU after graduation also, and I know I want to be prepared too. Good luck.

[incublissRN]

I always have 2 pens, highlighter, permanent marker, penlight, calipers, 2 hemostats, scissors, and alcohol pads.

[CVICURN2003]

I always have
*MY stethescope (Littman Card III is best for me),
*hemastats can never find any fast when you need them like untangling the gtts when they arrive to the unit and you cant get that cap off to draw and flush
*my fine tip no run gel ink pen at least two for writing your I&O really little on the flow sheet and NEATLY
*A Sharpie to mark CT drainage and write on dsg's
That's what I carry in my pockets

I also have a bag with a cc reference pocket guide, calipers, hijacked little blue plastic hemastats for CRRT, One of those carpuject things (but a mouth swab end or straw works just as well) extra pens, a highlighter, calipers, extra sharpies and some gum or breath mints (I chew when I am stressed)
Oh and I never leave home without my DIET DR PEPPER and my sense of humor (dry and sarcastic as it may be)
Patience...I also always try to remember how i would feel if it were my husband, parent or child laying there and endure the STUPID questions they ask. And I do mean STUPID. To us anyway, not to them. But sometimes you will want to scream at them "I am just trying to keep hubby, mama, grandpa ALIVE right now...I don't need YOUR entire history about the leg cramps you endured as a child
Good Luck! I hope you love it. I do.

[celticcare]

Thanks also from me for this thread, its great to get some ideas as CCU is where I want to start working when I graduate. Great to know what to get and sort of things to have to get used to carrying them or using them on my final clinical rotations.

Keep safe out there

Scotty

[Needa Nurse]

I thought I posted before, but I can't find it. Sorry if I am repeating.

I never leave for work without my stethoscope, calipers, hemostats, sharpie markers, a pen, 1.5 liters of water, and, most importantly, at least 2 packs of gum. At my hospital, we have policy and drug references on line, so I don't need to bring them. All of our charting is computerized too.

Another things I take/wear are comfortable scrubs, a sweatjacket for when the temperature drops at 0300, good footwear ( cross trainer sneakers for me) and a good supportive bra. (Sorry to the guys on this one! )

Hope this helps! Don't bog yourself down by lugging too many books/ supplies- make priorities!