[3perfectcats]

My orientation is not until the end of Sept. and is about two weeks before the program starts. They have not given a supply list and when I have asked they told me they will let us know at orientation. The problem with that is that my money is very tight and I need to pick up things over the summer as I can afford them.

Can you guys share some items your schools have said you will be needing. Not textbooks, but the other stuff. I have a stethoscope and a cuff as well as a watch, bandage scissors and a pen light. Will you be needing a separate nurse's bag aside from your book bag? Did they recommend you have a PDA and if so what type are they saying is good for students? I have all my vaccinations done but I think I'll get a new TB test just before the quarter starts. Do any of you plan to tape you lectures and if so do you have any ideas for a good quality, inexpensive MP3/tape recorder I can check out? I figure anything I get that I don't need I can return if I hang on to the receipts. What sort of shoes are your schools recommending?

I will be sewing my own scrubs and I have a good pattern and a place to buy fabric once they decide to share with us what color we need. I don't know about you but I have an awful time getting scrubs that fit right since I am tall, short waisted with too much bosom. The rise is never right so I always hitching up my pants or pulling them down. If I find a scrub top that fits across the chest my cleavage is showing which makes me really self conscious. Most people wear a tee shirt under their tops but it just makes me sweat like a pig.

I have no idea why they wait so late to share this information. I asked about a textbook list but they say they won't have it until Sept. They asked me why I wanted to know all this information and I told them money is an issue and I want to get my textbooks used which I have a better shot of finding if I have the whole summer to look for them. They seemed to think the idea of a poor student was something unheard of.

[angelc]

Our school is recommending PSA'a and will prob. switch to mandatory PDA's. I was told that they would sell them in the bookstore and all of our textbooks will give us the option of software or PDA software. Our scrubs have to be ordered by a specific company becuase it has to have the logo plus school program on it. We dont have to have a seperate bag but everything you already have is required (bpcuff,steth.,penlight,bandage scissors,forecepts etc.) plus of course white shoes.
Hope this helps. I start on Aug. 18th but we already had our uniform fitting and registration this past Wed.
Good luck to both of us

[Acosmo27]

I know you have ants in your pants, but it may be best to just wait until your orientation...they will most likely tell you everything you need and more.

At my school, they required a PDA with all the nursing software (drug book, labs etc..) however in my semester it was not required. However it would be nice to have, just expensive (around 400 dollars).

Your making your own scrubs? While clever, does the school not require their own scrubs?

I use an olympus recorder...works very good, was about 50 dollars but there are cheaper ones out there. I actually just recently lost it though, accidently left it after class, boo!

Why dont you just save the money that comes up over the summer? (you know, instead of spending it on supplies your not sure you may need?) That would be my best suggestion... good luck!

[tiggerdagibit]

We had to purchase a lab kit that had supplies in it to learn skills, but it was purchased from the bookstore. I'm not sure if that's what you mean by a nurse's bag, but figured I'd throw that in.
We were not required to buy a PDA, but I know some schools do make you. I would actually like to get one, but money is tight for me as well and I haven't been able to afford it yet.
A few people in my class record lectures. I thought about it, but then realized that I probably wouldn't ever listen to them again because I never did when a friend would email me A&P lectures. If you think you would, I would just find a decent digital recorder so you could upload to your computer and send it to your mp3 player (if you have one) to listen to while you exercise/ clean house/ etc. or burn to cd to listen to in the car. That's what I've heard some students do.
We had to order our scrubs from a specific store that was there on the day of our orientation. We all have to wear the same pants and there is a female top and a male top and a jacket that have the school logo embroidered on it. Shoes just have to be white.
The only things that I can think of that I had to buy extra were a stethoscope, and the basic school supplies.. paper, black pens, highlighters, binders, etc. Oh.. and parking passes for the hospitals.

[natrgrrl]

Here is a list of things I really needed during school last year.
Printer paper, printer and extra ink cartridges.
Current drug guide for nurses.
Pocket guide for clinical procedures.
Medical dictionary.
Fine tip markers in a few different colors for rewriting notes.
Sturdy inexpensive clipboard.
Black dry erase marker for clinicals.
Black click pens (not gel).
Supportive 18 hour bras.
During the summer you might want to review math for nurses and medical terminology. Also, if you have taken a CNA class, review all the skills you learned because it will really help with time management. If it takes you 5 tries to safely transfer your pt from bed to chair it will throw your whole day off!
Talk to the librarian about the textbooks. You might be able to check out a few of the books from the library until you can find used ones.

Congratulations on starting nursing school!

[3perfectcats]

Thank you for all the information. Our school does not require special scrubs with a school logo. We can buy or make our own as long as they are the right color. At least that is one less expense. I am very worried about having enough funds to make it through the first year. My financial aid office is trying to locate more money and I'll feel a lot better when I know everything is covered. This summer I am working three jobs and trying to save all I can. That is never an easy task even in good economic times, but there always seems to be a need for CNAs Thank God I did well in A&P and Micro because I picking up a lot of work as a tutor and it is good review. I had a hard time with acid/base for some dumb reason so it is good to be looking at it all over again

I have already begun the math review since that is my worst subject. I guess math anxiety is pretty common since I see the subject comes up a lot. I have forgotten almost everything I once knew about my calculator. I picked up some of the "Made Easy" books used and it has some really good review material and yes, it really is made easy if even I can understand it. I look forward to getting to know everyone as we travel this road together and thanks again for all your advice.

[CT Pixie]

What they wanted us to have for clinicals (and could/would turn you away and send you home if you didn't have them with you at clinicals)

watch w/second hand
penlight
black pens
small note pad
stethescope
scissors

I'd hold off on a recorder for lectures. some teachers do not want them used.

In terms of shoes, we were just told for clincials we had to wear white shoes, no open toes, no clogs. I wore Nike Shox for the entire time I was in school. They were a bit pricey ($105) BUT my feet never hurt, nor did my legs or back, after hours and hours on my feet.

Wishing you the best as you start this journey. Its a long, bumping and trying journey but the end destination is so well worth it

[KimB]

This is the first time our school made a PDA a required supply. The package they set up for us on skyscape cost me over $500...in the long run though I think I'll be happy to have it.
We were also told we needed all white shoes, stethoscope, blood pressure set, pen light, bandage scissors, multicolored pen, penlight, watch with sweephand, and our uniforms.
We have orientation 4 days before school starts and that is when they are supposed to tell us more about what they want. I went ahead and asked the department for more info so that I could start buying now.

Kim

[chaxanmom]

Originally Posted by KimB

This is the first time our school made a PDA a required supply. The package they set up for us on skyscape cost me over $500...in the long run though I think I'll be happy to have it.
We were also told we needed all white shoes, stethoscope, blood pressure set, pen light, bandage scissors, multicolored pen, penlight, watch with sweephand, and our uniforms.
We have orientation 4 days before school starts and that is when they are supposed to tell us more about what they want. I went ahead and asked the department for more info so that I could start buying now.

Kim

$500 seems a little ridiculous for skyscape. Constellation is like $89 I think and it has about everything you would need. I'm upgrading to a MotoQ next month and getting Constellation.

[KimB]

I'm sorry I should have been more clear.
The PDA itself, a Palm tx was included in that amount as well as the software package that the school required us to have. The package of the software and the palm tx was set up on the skyscape website for us to purchase it all together for a "discounted" rate. All in all, with shipping it cost about $512.

Sorry for any confusion!

Kim