[cns48]

Hello Everyone,

I am a new RN who will be working on a cardiac stepdown unit and wanted to see if any of you have any suggestions of what supplies I should invest in. I have a Littman stethescope and after a little while may invest in a true Cardiac stethescope. Any other suggestions?

CNS48

[fleur-de-lis]

EKG calipers - I am doing my residency on a CSU and will be starting an internship there in October. I use mine every day when we print out tele. Good luck!!!

[Spatialized]

Littmans are good. I wouldn't drop a huge amount on a fancy cardiology stethoscope yet. Besides, though seem to walk off if you let them out of your sight...

Here's what I always carry, in my pack and pockets:
EKG Calipers, Palm Pilot, kelly clamp, penlight, scissors, tape.

I end up collecting these throughout the shift:
alcohol pads, misc. IV parts (connectors, hubs, little bits and pieces), flushes (5 & 10 mL), extra tele pads, tourniquets and a partridge in a pear tree.

Luckily I only had to buy the calipers, Palm and scissors, I've "collected" the rest over time...

Cheers,
Tom

[meandragonbrett]

I don't fool with calipers, I use the electronic one on the monitors. Saves time and another piece of crap to carry around. Only thing I keep on my person is my steth and two pens.

[loriann]

I tend to use the calipers on the monitor as well. However, if you want practice, you can print strips and use the old stanby! We have mailboxes on our unit, so I leave my calipers in there.

Like Tom, I tend to "collect" lots of supplies, mainly because I like to have everything on hand rather than walk back to the medcart or supply room. I suggest you buy scrub pants that have lots of pockets...my personal choice are the Dickies Hip Flip, which have 4 pockets. Then, stick some tape on a kelly clamp and attach to scrubs and you're ready to go!