[SinfulCNA27]

I think I'm getting scholiosis (sp?) from lugging these books around!!! can someone get me a MAN-SERVANT....or at least a decent backpack on wheels?!

Sinn

[lvs2nrs3535]

I am in my 4th semester of an ADN program. The best advice I can think of has already been given by our peers, Seriously comfortable shoes, (I found that New Balance sneakers were the best, and you can buy inserts from Wal-mart for under 5 bucks to make them even more comfy). Scrubs with side pockets to hold the basics, alcohol wipes, saline flushes, a small calculator, tape for dressing changes and at least 3 or 4 gauze pads. 3-4 black pens, (it is true, pens disappear so quickly!), and 3-5 index cards with the drugs that are used the most. The other thing that I can advise the most is DONT be afraid to say, "I am not positive of the answer to that question, but I do know how to find it." Even my most hard ass clinical instructors have been happy to hear me admit I dont know it all, but I DO know how to find the answer. I have been in clinicals with fellow students who tried to fake their way through, and the instructors have been there, seen that, and know better. Also, your fellow students can be the best help you could ever find. Find someone, (or 3 or 4 someones) who you click with, and start a study group. The friends I have made in nursing school have been by saviors, my sanity, my sounding boards and SO helped me through. Good Luck, hang in there, and remember, this is the hardest thing we may ever do, but those of us that make it through should be so proud of ourselves. To all my fellow nurses to be, Yeah for Us!!: :hatparty: :hatparty: :hatparty: :hatparty:

[lvs2nrs3535]

Oh Yeah, and the rolling backpack is crucial, those nursing textbooks are brutally heavy, and LLBean makes a great backpack, it costs 60 bucks, BUT, you can order it online, and they have the best refund and/or exchange policy ever. If the backpack ever gets messed up, (even 20 years from now) you can get a brand new one! I bought a cheap rolling backpack to start, and finally gave it up to get an LLBean one, and seriously, it was like going from driving a 15 year old pinto to driving a brand new Chevy Tahoe SUV. And for the people that giggle at you for pulling around a backpack, the heck with them. Let them pick up one of those nursing books!! Not everyone can realize how cool nursing students are, you know?

[vegetarian_goddess]

Originally Posted by belabelisa

Another thing for the girls to get for nursing school...

A few pretty and modest sets of undies that you won't be embarrassed to wear in front of your lab parter.

I must be missing something... why would my lab partner see me in my undies?

[LKG6]

Originally Posted by tropicbound

But what is the "Saunders & HESI book" that blueiwahine mentioned on Jan 16?

NCLEX-RN review books.
You can look for those at bn.com, amazon.com or at other booksellers.
Katie

[LKG6]

Originally Posted by wanna-be-nurse

Why worry is that the binder will get too heavy and there wont be a necessity to carry all my subjects all the time OR carry each subject notebook when I need it although I'm scared I might need more than one at a time....AY!!!

I prefer binders. I have a 2" wide and that's not enough. There are always extra handouts, articles and copies of other stuff that I have to put there. I also keep all my classnotes there. So, I can review it whenever I have extra time at school.
Katie

[pixiepie]

Hi,

I'm new here. I haven't read through all the posts b/c there are so many, hence my apologies in advance if I repeat...

I found clipboards, esp. those ones that hold supplies underneath, were too wieldy to lug around; so I picked up some great org. folders at Target and Walmart.
--spiral bound folders; great for my leadership clinical (assigned to preceptor and grad. take over their client load). I'd put ea. pt's info in their own folder, but all bound together for easy access.
or
if you only have one pt, this is great for org. all of your notes, assign pages, etc.
--I also have another folder that I like to sometimes use for clinicals that holds a pad of paper and holds about four different folder slots inside for easy org.
--post it notes--I like to organize my day @ clinicals. I make a rough time line; write in when meds are due, when to do cares, vitals, etc; also for mult. pts, I write Rx by the time due and the pt's room number. If they don't have a lot of meds, I write in which ones are due. This is also great for writing reminders and notes. I post this on the inside front of my spiral bound folders.
--
--drug book
--Littman steth.--it's an investment, you'll be using it long after you're out of school
--dansko's--fabulous, fabulous
or
--ryka sneakers for the ladies out there--these shoes are designed by women for women--truely the most comfy shoes besides my danskos
--lunch bag
--coffee bags--they look like tea bags, but they're for instant coffee--maxwell and folgers have them. I carry these w/me for coffee whenever I want.
--highlighters
--scissors
--tape for drssg changes, etc
--binder, paper for notes
--organizer/calendar
--Pens, you can never have enough
--pencils for those pesky exams
--white lab coat and white long sleeve shirts for when you're freezing
--mints, b/c who wants a nurse or student nurse hovering over them w/bad breath
--mini calc. for when your instructor makes you recheck med dosages
--small change purse to carry extra change, license, etc b/c you won't be wanting to leave that in the breakroom...
--hand sanitizer--Purell, our home hospice nurses all carry a bottle w/them and it's easier than constantly going looking for a hand sanitizer dispenser
--bottle of advil/motrin/tylenol, etc b/c you're gonna need it
--bottle of water to carry w/you just in case
--LOTION b/c your hands will crack and bleed w/all that handwashing!
**Glysomed from CVS, Target, walmart, walgreens, etc. is awesome! Avon's silicone gloves hand lotion/cream is similar.
I also like Surgeon's skin secret sticks made from beeswax and lanolin. I rub it on my knuckles and cuticles before bed at night and then in the mornng. Lasts through handwashings.
--hesi nclex review book

[student_girl]

My first instructor advised us to bring lip balm. She said that we might not have time to drink enough, and that we wouldn't want dry lips. I now carry one with me at all time. That instructor, who was very practical, also told us that whenever we had a minute, to drink water to prevent dehydration.

[rn2blynn]

Hi there,
I am in my 4th semester of ADN program in Florida. I am in Pharm II and Med Surg II. I have found that a good stethoscope light was handy for me. It keeps me from having to search in my pocket to find my pin light when doing an assessment. They fit around the end of your stethoscope. You can find them on E-bay. That is where I bought mine. They are really cool. I also have a storage clipboard and a rolling book bag. I also wear Merrells to school or Nike Shox.
My hubby is a Podiatrist. He has insoles in my shoes called Spenco's. These are the best. Get the walker runner kind. They are made up of a material that Nasa uses (my hubby said some kind of nitrous gas? something). Anyhoo, these are absolutely the best!! Great for tired achy feet. Hope this helps. Will graduate August 2006!!!! Can't wait!!! I just passed my LPN boards 2/2/06!! wooohooo!! Take care everyone!!

[DarciaMoonz]

lots of pens, note pads, and notebooks, a good nursing dx book or a few of them, and some type of pocket reference like the RNotes or LPNotes, but definitely PENS and POCKET NOTE PADS. Depending on how strict your school is with uniforms, I would get one with lots of pockets. A stethoscope is good, BUT if you get a really nice on like the littmann or PureTone DONT PUT IT DOWN because it will get missing (had to learn that one the hard way).