[TazziRN]

Originally Posted by Wise Woman RN

I'm an "old nurse"... I carry LOTS of black pens and my bandage scissors in my right hand pocket... Left hand pocket has highlighter, red pen, black marker, alcohol wipes and my brains... LOL I usually start with about 5 pens, go home with one if I'm lucky...

New nurses carry all that plus 2x2's, tourniquet, clamps, opsites, and the kitchen sink!

[SharkLPN]

Let's see.....

In my right pocket I carry my bandage scissors and MagLite (I attached the Mag to one of the finger loops on the scissors - somehow that has made them theft-proof by 'safety-in-numbers'), my 'brains', my four-color pen that only sees the light at the beginning of shift when I fill out said brains, and after initial assessment, my scope.

My left pocket holds about 4 or 5 black pens (I'm a lefty, BTW), alcohol swabs, paper tape and any meds or lab draw slips that need attention earlier than their normal time.

My tuckus pocket holds my Blistex, mini Altoids tin, and change for the vending machine.

[TazziRN]

The tape! I forgot the tape!!!

[SaraO'Hara]

About my "timepiece" - it is an inexpensive wristwatch, which I bought because it has 24-hour numerals under the usual ones, plus luminous dial and hands. Unfortunately, it's too large for my wrist (I was unable to try it on prior to purchase). It's a just-for-now watch, until I have enough money for one of the pin-on type.

So - pens, bandage scissors, stethoscope, watch, alcohol wipes, and whatever paperwork the supervisor happens to give me?

[LPN1974]

I carry ink pen, scissors, a black laundry marker {we have to use those on my job to mark out people's names off of blister paks..it's a privacy issue...you may not need to do that, since you are a CNA}
Sometimes chapstick for my lips,
small pocket/sample size tube of hand cream...my hands get very dry, washing them so much.
A small bottle of that alcohol gel or sanitary wipes for cleaning your hands when water/soap not handy...but nothing beats water/soap.
On my job, I have to travel to different buildings, so I have a small canvas bag with other necessary items............such as B/P cuff, stethoscope, Tylenol bottle, gloves, trash bags, my thermometer and covers, bandaids, TAO, Dulcalax suppossitories, KY jelly, tape measure...I think that's about it.
But I'm constantly updating my supplies...trying to think what I might need, or if I might need something different, because it might save me steps and time.

[luvmy2angels]

I always carried a highlighter and highlighted things on my assignement sheet that were out of the norm that i needed to make sure to report to my RN supervisor.

[meownsmile]

OH and as far as tape goes. Try to remember to take it out of your pocket and leave it at work. Once out the door it cant be used again inside the facility. Soooo,, fyi,, plastic nurses tape is almost better than duct tape.

[superRN39]

I only carry a blank pen (I usually end up with many by the end of the shift), assignment sheet and a sharpie. We have carts in the room with everything else in them (tape etc). I find if I have to much stuff in my pockets - I can't find anything!!!

[texas_lvn]

Originally Posted by Wise Woman RN

I'm an "old nurse"... I carry LOTS of black pens and my bandage scissors in my right hand pocket... Left hand pocket has highlighter, red pen, black marker, alcohol wipes and my brains... LOL I usually start with about 5 pens, go home with one if I'm lucky...

The one pen happens to me all the time. Not just a work. I can be studying with 5 highlighters, 3 different color pens, and a permanent marker, and wind up with only a pencil (!?!?!?) to be put up.

[texas_lvn]

Originally Posted by meownsmile

OH and as far as tape goes. Try to remember to take it out of your pocket and leave it at work. Once out the door it cant be used again inside the facility. Soooo,, fyi,, plastic nurses tape is almost better than duct tape.

I have wrapped christmas presents with it before. Works wonderfully