What do you take to clinicals?

[i♥words]

I know this question and/or similar questions have been asked, because I searched. Most of those threads are a couple of years old, though. I think this could benefit many of us entering nursing school in the fall. Thankfully, clinicals don't start (for me, anyway) until about the 8th week of classes. I'm just curious about what real life nursing students take to clinicals. According to my program, I must take

- tablet (Kindle, iPad, whatever)

- stethoscope

- clipboard

- hemostats

- bandage scissors

- penlights

- black ink pens

Where do you put all of this stuff? Where do you leave it? Do you stuff it all in your scrub pockets? I only have four. Four! And not huge ones, either. Do you use pocket organizers? Overnight bags? Do your patients mind holding all of your stuff while you assess them. (Calm down, I'm just joking.) What about personal stuff like Chapstick, and anti-nausea medication, and food? Besides all of this, do you have to carry patient charts too?

I want the details: what you bring, where you put it. Many thanks. :)

[beckyboo1, BSN, RN]

I'm curious to know what they expect you to do with the hemostats.....surely clamping off a bleeding artery is not something that you plan on needing to do (although Heaven help that artery if anyone actually does this)

LOL nothing that drastic. I keep 2 pairs with me to take apart stubborn IV tubings from saline lock tubings...think pliers.

[csmcj, BSN, RN]

What I take consist of:

Badge

Stethoscope

Penlight

Pens

Clipboard (I like the plastic clamshell type so I can store things inside)

Trauma shears

Tape (typically stored on my stethoscope tubing)

Small wallet (more of a business card holder, really. It just has my ID, debit card, insurance card, and a couple spare dollars cash)

Hand lotion (frequent hand washing/sanitizing is murder on your hands)

Alcohol wipes and 2x2s (these are typically provided by the clinical site; I grab a handful of each and keep them with me until I run out, then restock as necessary)

Spare scrubs, just in case (these I usually keep in the car, or in my locker if the clinical site provides one)

Phone (only used to access clinical software or to call/text my clinical instructor, and I always make sure to let the nurses on the floor know what I'm doing when I take it out so they don't think I'm using for unapproved purposes)

[SoldierNurse22, BSN, RN]

I find it humorous when nursing students show up for clinicals with so much crap they look like combat medics headed for a dust off, or they make as much noise as Inspector Gadget when they walk.

Muahahahaha. This made me laugh because I recall this mentality well from back in nursing school days.

Just let me know if someone starts calling in a 9-line. That's when you know **** just got real!

[MendedHeart]

The stethescope holder for the waist doesnt touch skin or hair as it does around the neck. If we didnt have a holder it had to be stored in our pockets, but again, the only time itll b needed is during assessment. There really is no need to carry it around all day. As far as name badges, our schools were not hanging low enough to touch the patient

[flyersfan88]

I can't imagine carrying around a clipboard or tablet....I'd feel ridiculous walking into my patient's room with all of that. I have a pocket sized notebook i take notes in. My rule is that if it doesn't fit in my pocket, I don't bring it. I bring my stethoscope, penlight, scissors, pocket notebook, and a pen. We're allowed to use our cellphones to use Dynamed, Micromedex, etc.

[DSavala]

I bought a see-thru makeup case with handles (it's purse sized) that I keep all my tools/papers in. I stash it at the nurses station and grab what I need as I need it.

[springchick1, ADN, RN]

The stethescope holder for the waist doesnt touch skin or hair as it does around the neck. If we didnt have a holder it had to be stored in our pockets but again, the only time itll b needed is during assessment. There really is no need to carry it around all day. As far as name badges, our schools were not hanging low enough to touch the patient[/quote']

But is still touches your hair and skin when you have it on. It is also going to brush up against things like the sink and the bed in the patient's room with it on your waist.

[BuckyBadgerRN, ASN, RN]

They make (or if you're handy and can sew your own) adorable stethoscope covers. Solves the problem of the tubing touching the natural oils on your skin AND helps your nice Littman from sprouting feet and walking off...

[dawniepoo]

I've lost count at the number of penlights I've bought and subsequently lost. The next one I get will have a Lo Jack

[psullivan95]

I second the not putting the steth on your neck. The tubing of my littman completely discolored from the oil of my skin, this happened to many other people I know as well. Unless your tubing is black and won't show discoloration, put it in your pocket.

Also, we were told not to wear them around our neck in case a patient becomes violent and tries to strangle us. If we wanted to wear an ID around our neck it couldn't be a lanyard type. It had to be the rope kind that detaches with force.