What do I need for school

Nursing Students General Students

Published

Hi everyone,

I'm starting an ADN program in January and was wondering what I'll need other than my assigned books. (probably a slightly stupid question but...) I plan on getting a stethoscope and I have RN notes becuase i read they are really helpfull. I also have a medical dictionary from my prereqs.

So, what else do you suggest I get?

Thanks.

Specializes in PCU, ICU, PACU.

Thanks everybody. Now all I have to do is survive finals. :0

Specializes in Education, Acute, Med/Surg, Tele, etc.

Good shoes, more than one uniform (LOL!), oxyclean (LOL), really great pens! (TONS!), clipboard with conversions on it, steth, BP cuff if you want but I got two stolen...PEN LIGHT!!! (you can never find one when you want one!), Good thermos (for that coffee!)..oh and good coffee and a electric grinder if you want the good stuff, some people loved having a leatherman (check with your department to see if you can have one.....).

A good bag for books and stuff keep in mind it will be HEAVY!, NOTEPAD (trust me...nice to jot things down when you need it!), current nurses prescription book!, lab value book, ANY "Nursing made incredibly easy books" (trust me big on those! Worth the cost and found at all major book stores...that was my saving grace in school!).

A leather bound (or equivalant) day/week/month planner, address book (for numbers...you always need them..I can't tell you how many times I needed to call my clinical instructors cel and was too tired at 0400 to remember the number as I cried because my car wouldn't start!!!).

Some fun stuff (and some expensive)...one of those key paging devices with a recorder on it for giving yourself messages, fun socks (because...they normally go easy on funky socks so what the heck..be an individual!), nice fun lanyard if you need it, Thank you cards (they come in handy!!!), personalized stationary, a fax machine and computer..LOL!, laptop, reliable car, phone card, cel phone (almost a MUST!), and I had one of those nursing aprons (came in so handy..saw oncology nurses with them and I still use mine...very handy if they are okay with the ol uniform deal...I found mine at a apron company online...they are like a fanny pack, but go in the front with lots of pockets...).

And find a way so that you don't need a purse or large wallet to hold what you need. Those things get stolen...best to keep it to the bare min, and ON your person at all times!

And it may be handy to have an account at flowers.com or something for those times you have a stressed enduced outburst at a loved one..LOL!!!!!!!! (oh trust me it happens!!!!!)....

Somthing that has helped me a ton is an NCLEX review book. Can't tell you how clear it makes things. It's a great way to supplement what you have in your book and what notes you get from class.

I have Saunder's Comprehensive Review book...I find it VERY useful!

NCLEX BOOKS ARE A MUST! If you can, get them early and look over them. Tests in Nursing school are not like any test you have probably every had. Soon you to will hate critical thinking :p The books help alot...

Specializes in Med-Surg Nursing.

While I was browsing in the bookstore the other day, I saw a Nursing Care Plan book that had Med/Surg, Psych. Peds and OB all rolled into one. ALWAYS bring your drug book to clinicals with you. I suggest getting a clipboard that has nursing stuff written on it along with a calculator. They run about $15-$20. As far as drug books go, I recommend Nursing 2005 Drug handbook. And for the stethoscope, I recommend a Littmann Classic SE. A perfect Christmas gift for a nursing student. Good luck to you!

Kelly :)

Specializes in PCU, ICU, PACU.

Wow, thanks everybody.

so I need:

Books, books, books,

shoes, pens, clipboard, coffee,

something fun, rolling backpack

thanks again, Now i get to go shopping. :)

I agree with that long list you've gotten so far, but also, re:clipboard, consider getting one of the metal ones with the tray underneath. Check office max, that's where I got mine. They run about $22, but are worth it! Everything from my stethoscope to my cell phone, mints, pens, scissors, two paperback handbooks, my RNotes and calculator all fit in there, and it's no more of a hassle to hang onto than a regular clipboard. The calculator/cheat sheet boards are neat, but this one works a TON better (and all that same info is in RNotes anyway). No purse to keep track of!

Deana

Specializes in CCRN.

I think a planner is the most essential item. You will have many assignments and deadlines to keep track of. I take the first day of class, as soon as I have syllabus in hand, to fill mine in for the entire semester. I also include any phone numbers (pass it around to classmates the first week) and e-mail addresses. Having all the information in one place reduces my stress.

Our uniform pants are white so I carry a clorox bleach pen with me. Handy for that morning when the coffee spills on the pants on the way to clinicals. I also would highly recommend the Nursing diagnosis cards ISBN 1-58255-218-5. I have two other care plan books that I don't use since I found these cards. They are fabulous when writing care plans, and you will do plenty of care plans.

Get lots of rest!

Good luck!

Specializes in Med-Surg.
Clogs don't alway meet workplace safety regulations. Open heel leave your heels exposed and if injured in that area, WCB can turn down claims due to unsafe footwear.

Penlight, dressing scissors, badge holder, support hose (yes even under scrub type uniforms).

Dansko has closed back nursing "clogs" as well. Check them out. I picked up the "professional" (closed back clog) for about $100 and have been glad I did, they're really comfortable for me. Other things I am so glad I got:

**A good PDA with a good drug program loaded in.

**A good stethoscope (some will tell you all you need is cheap, but I believe a good stethoscope for a student is essential... you have to be able to hear and differentiate different heart & lung sounds... something that is not easy to do when you are first learning, but a good scope makes it much easier for you).

**A rolling backpack. You can tell who the nursing students are at our college by their rolling backpacks! We carry hundreds of pounds of books around though, so it's essential.

**An NCLEX-RN book. This is a must have. Pick one up and start going through it from the beginning. Before each exam I look up whatever sections in the book apply to what we've learned and I self-test. Nursing exam questions are different, and this book helps you get used to them, helps you understand the rationale behind the "most correct" answer, and helps you score better on both your nursing exams and later (I've heard...) you're NCLEX.

Good luck to you, and welcome to the wildest ride of them all

a simple calculator.

if you can get your hands on the math book you'll be using, it will be helpful for you to browse the conversions to become familiar with them.

for example: browse the apothecaries' system, household measurements, etc.

good luck :)

+ Add a Comment