5 things a new RN must have...

KRVRN, BSN, RN · Feb 3, 2005

More than one pen. I always carry 2 pens, so I'm not stuck without one if I leave the other one sitting somewhere. Unit secretaries usually have extras sitting around too, so you can always ask.

Highlighter. Helps you easily spot important stuff on your paper.

Scissors. There's always a use.

Good shoes. Even if they are pricey, they will be so worth it. Another pearl of wisdom regarding shoes: some shoe stores won't accept shoes back if they've been worn. Wear them around the house a few days before wearing to work! Also don't forget that if you put surgical shoe covers over them as soon as you get to work, they will probably stay clean enough that you can return them anyway!

Support hose. Not sexy or attractive but they will reduce achy leg pain substantially. Just sort of figured that out about a year ago. I thought, well I don't have varicose veins, why bother? But I had awful achy leg pain and slight edema every day after work! They really help.

Patience with your patients. (and their families).

Quickbeam, BSN, RN · Feb 3, 2005

A pension!

NurseFirst · Feb 3, 2005

however ...

:banghead: don't try to cut a smilie from your post unless you copy what you've written elsewhere. :angryfire probably better for y'all, since i'll try to be briefer!:chuckle

btw -- thanks for the compliments. i'm glad i've been able to help. (blush).

here's what i wanted to say:

1. here's the best medical dictionary on the web:

http://cancerweb.ncl.ac.uk/omd/

it even has "kelly clamp" :rolleyes: . the ones at medline and http://medical-dictionary-online.org don't. been using the above one for years. seems like there's an expansion in websites offering medical dictionaries lately.

2. i *think* my last watch said it had indiglo, maybe not. it broke :crying2: and i replaced it with another watch that said indiglo. unfortunately, you have to hold the button down to see the hands. my last watch had something painted on the hands so that i could see it in the dark without having to hold something in--that is what you want. i don't work nights, although clinicals that start at 0630 this time of year are definitely at o'dark thirty. the first watch was bought when i was taking emt classes, and trying to take a pulse in the dark did cross my mind...

wannabemw:

3. best pda --

a. first, for a student, only buy a pda after you've bought yourself a "digital voice recorder." (see below).

b. the most expensive one you can afford. keeps it's value longer. look for package deals of pda+medical software. i got mine through http://www.pdamd.com for about list price of the pda itself, but also got 1 yrs subscription to the epocrates software. american association of critical care nurses has also had a pda+medical software deal. i wanted one with palmos, since the first pda medical software was written for them.

4. for students: buy a digital voice recorder, one that you can upload your voice files up to your computer (you do have a computer, don't you?) and listen to them there; with mine, i can download any lectures i might want back to the dvr. medical dictionaries don't talk, and the phonetic symbols don't help me a lot. :crying2: you can then hear your instructors say those difficult medical terms -- without ruining recording tape -- over and over again, as well as catch what you didn't catch when you fell asleep in class. :uhoh3: you want a dvr because it is geared to picking up voice, and, consequently, has much smaller files. i can record an hours' worth of lecture in 3 or 4 m. i've even recorded counseling sessions with my instructor (with her permission, of course.). overall, my dvr (diasonics) will hold up to 90 hours of voice--at the slowest mode, which is usually not good enough for lecture. but the middle speed will record 45 hours worth. never have to worry about running out of tape or the tape getting messed up, or re-using the tape. with the dvr, get a battery recharger and batteries. it will save you a fortune in batteries. i usually come home, upload my files and stick the batteries in the charger, returning them to the dvr before i leave in the morning.

5. one other thing, good for everyone: one of those foot massager baths.

this list is great! thanks for all the input. i especially like the pda advice and the indiglo watch idea. i never heard a hemostat called a kelly clamp in nursing school so thanks for the clue. google is a close friend, btw, as is froogle.
thanks again!

TracyB,RN, RN · Feb 4, 2005

Nursefirst.... I am soooo glad I am not the only one who refers to the early hours as "o'dark thirty." Most people look at me like I am crazy when I say that, LOL.... Learned the expression from my dad light years ago & have been using it ever since....

saskrn · Feb 4, 2005

Must haves...

1) Birkenstocks

2) Littman (Master Cardiology preferred)

3) Pens (more than one) - the clicker kind, so you don't have to be bothered with a cap

4) A pocket full of alcohol swabs

5) Pockets

6) A good IV drug book

7) Good stain remover at home

8) Some snacks in your locker, so you have something to eat quickly when you don't get your breaks :)

allnurses Guide · Feb 4, 2005

Nursefirst.... I am soooo glad I am not the only one who refers to the early hours as "o'dark thirty." Most people look at me like I am crazy when I say that, LOL.... Learned the expression from my dad light years ago & have been using it ever since....

My husband says that too. I thought it was logger talk.

steph :)

NurseFirst · Feb 5, 2005

My husband says that too. I thought it was logger talk.
steph :)

I learned it from one of the Readers in our Church. When a parishioner dies, their body is brought to the Church the afternoon of a particular prayer service that is done (pannykhida), with the typical funeral services done the following morning. From the end of the one service to the beginning of the second we take turns in reading Psalms over the body of the departed--all through the night. And that's where the Reader used the expression, in referring to one of those time slots in the middle of the night. I think it is terribly expressive!!!:)

NurseFirst

neneRN, BSN, RN · Feb 5, 2005

Depends which area you're gonna work in...in the ER, all I carry in my pocket is a couple of black clicky pens and a highlighter, and never go without my stethescope around my neck. At my desk, I keep trauma scissors, a calculator, and a drug guide for critical care gtts. (Okay, and a pack of cigarettes hidden in the desk drawer)

frekinbrechin · Mar 17, 2005

A couple of pairs of nursing scissors, a Kelly clamp, blue Bic ball point point pen with black, blue, red, green ink, a couple of mechanical pencils, either a small nurse's apron where you can put all of these into, or a small nylon pen pocket with a change purse..(when you go into a uniform store you will know what I mean) it has slots for your pens scissors and to stash small amounts of money,that will fit into your scrub pocket. A PDA is sooo handy too. Pocket Med and IV books if you don't get a PDA. I used to use a clipboard but find that a small notebook comes in handy to take report if the floor doesn't print out report flow sheets and of course some very nice colorful and very comfortable scrubs and shoes...now you're ready to hit the nursing unit!!!

Depends on what area of nursing you will be working in. You might want to invest in a clipboard, ( the ones that have a compartment come in handy.) you can put in extra pens, pencils, etc.

A good pair of shoes are a must.

A good stethscope. Littman cardiology is great

Scissors, hemastat

When you go to your local uniform shop, check with them, they usually can give you a lot of insight on what you may need, and usually the best kind to get.

Good luck, and keep your head held high.

LPN1974, LPN · Mar 17, 2005

A small kitchen digital timer is nice to have to time in between eye drops, your lunch break, etc.

You could get a watch with one, but I found one at a kitchen gadget store that worked well for me and it was small enough to fit in my pocket or clip on my scrub top. {It had a small watch battery in it.}

Watches with timers are too confusing to me to get them to work easily.

rjflyn, ASN, RN · Mar 17, 2005

In the ER I always keep a throw away pen. You know the one that goes in the trash after your grungy, greasy handed, bloody patient signs their

discharge papers. I'll also second the minimalist idea. Sucks every time you bend over and all your stuff lands on the floor, worse when it lands in the pool of ...name your body fluid here. But since a list of 5 was asked for here it is

1) Trauma shears

2) Stethoscope

3) Roll of tape

4) Alcohol pads

5) Bottle of NTG 0.4mg

I also carry my PDA with its various references. But with more and more hospitals becoming wired its just as easy to look up meds via Micromedex online.

RJ

jaimealmostRN · Mar 17, 2005

IMO, 1. Dansko clogs!!! OMG, after 13hrs I have NO leg or feet pain...they are heaven.

2. Good steth (littman personally!)

3. A wonderful preceptor (s)!

4. A long/good orientation so you feel comfortable with basic procedures like IVs, foleys, admissions, discharges, ordering, the comp. system, and the general environment where your working.

5. Great friends who are in the "same boat" so you can celebrate and comisserate together.

Snowfreeze's #6- a spine to be a pt advocate. I found this out today when I had to tell a veteran tech that she should pay less attention to her meal tray and gossip and more to our confused, manic patient (not violent, but risk of self harm, wandering, injuries, etc, ect, ect!). She was unhappy and complained LOUDLY about me, but my preceptor, the other staff RNs and the NM all told me I had done the right thing! What a feeling! :)

7. An awesome online forum to share your crazy and rewarding expirences...guess which one!