What are the item(s) you need most for nursing school? - Page 9

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  1. Aug 31, '05 by
    Quote from curlyfries
    I guess I better go and by myself knee-highs and support hose for men! Is there knee-highs and support hose for men??? LOL
    Yes, they are in the men's panty section....go ahead and get some to support your
    legs.
  2. Aug 31, '05 by
    Quote from following_faith
    Oooh-that is so nice! I hope I make some friends in school! I am so shy that I think sometimes I come off as snobby. It's funny though, I am also a Realtor and I am one of the most aggressive ones you will find. I never lose in real estate but stick me in a school setting...and I am pure
    I am the same way and I know that friends through this is a necessity. I am hoping to be able to reunite with some of the gals I took prereqs with.
  3. Sep 1, '05 by
    Quote from slinkeecat
    I just graduated from my LPN to BSN in May 2005 I took my boards and passed in June!!!!

    I have been an LPN for 15 years... I have been an RN-BSN for a few months..,
    That being said i can tell you what I think works well in the real nursing world
    and in the Student nursing World....

    1. Your watch.... a simple wrist watch with a second hand like a moderate TIMEX with Indiglo ( lights up in the dark....) very handy... I found that leather tends to wear and rot from frequent wetting... I use the metal gold tone/ or silver tone expandable watch wear you can slide it up on your arm and it will stay put... They are easier to clean.... and you need to clean them b/c when you do treatments, creams can get on them.... Alcohol wipes do nicely...

    2. Your shoes... You will be pounding your feet for the rest of your life be kind to them and don't skimp on the support and comfort... I love rockers and new balance...go to a nursing store and test drive them... wear a pair in the store as you browse.... Spend your money on them ..... so important!!!

    3. SOCKS... I am 37 years old and I have very sexy legs from the fact that my mother ( an old nurse) made me wear support hose, knee hi's...prevents calf pain and varicose veins... makes a big difference.... yes... you young ones may think I am crazy, but they really make a differeces when you are trudging down hard linoleum floors pushing a 200 lb Med cart....

    4. Scissors... 3 1/2 inc and 5 1/2 inch scissors GET YOUR NAME engraved on them to prevent the Kleptos from stealing them.... I have my clipped to my retractable namebadge holder... SO...... handy!!! Hemostats are not that important....

    5. Pens... lots of them retractable....are the best....BLACK ink can't go wrong!!!
    Retractable to prevent spillage leaking.... BUY a TIDE/Clorox bleach pen to remove said ink stains from uniform and a spray can of the stinkiest hair spray you can find as this will get ink out of you uniform .... trust me on this one....spray hair spray on ink stain and wash it .... works well...
    SHARPIES... buy them ( retractable now too )

    6. The all important bag.... it's a personal choice... I loved the leather back pack I have had for my school days... I confiscated it from my daughter... lots of pockets and flaps for all my junk

    7. Hilighters, sticky notes and sticky flags from the post-it company.... awesome way to flag important info....

    8. In your first year start buying a resource book not on the "suggested list"
    I highly recommend " Nursing made incredibly easy.... Patient teaching book" You will need supplental info to fluff your assignments and you will use them in your career. Each semester get another one like "Nursing made incredibly easy.... Pathopysiology..." These will be great for you to really understand alot... B/C sometimes the textbook or the lecturer will make you feel retarded and you don't get it... But when you read the rationale and info in these books... it will bring it on home to you....

    9. Network.... Ask others you know who have become RN's LPN's if they have any books they want to part with....I have ton's of stuff and am waiting for the sweet soul who wants it....

    10. Get a subscription to Nursing2005 or RN magazine.... this will save you butt when you need to find a current nursing trend. Ask other nursing friends if they have issues old ones and get them they are handy to have....You will need them for reports and papers

    11. Find a partner in class...team up with someone who desires nursing as much as you do and work together.

    I have other tips, but i have to go and feed the horses..... They are getting cranky......

    Good Luck!!!

    KAT

    PS
    lots a great ideas I am going to use the de-binding thing... as I start my Masters in the Spring!!!!!!!



    11.
    I agree with all of the above. I have been a RN for 27 years, a BSN since 2001, and am smack dab in the middle of graduate school. I also teach nursing.
    I want to add:
    get a decent PDA. I have a Jornada, and I really like it. PDA's are worth their weight in gold.
    2. As an instructor, I require students to get shoes that do not have any holes, ie vent holes, on top. Think about all the body secretions and excrements that you would RATHER NOT think about that WILL end up on your shoes many times. This is to protect you. I like Nurse Mates and Klogs.
    3. The watch, get one that you can easily pull off, and also clean. One that attaches to your pocket is nice.
    4. A good attitude. Your instructor wants you to pass. Compassion because your patient needs it. Hardiness because you will need to work hard to learn, literally people's lives will depend on it, on YOU.
    Jackie Lamb, RN, BSN, CLNC
    mercuryrawks and princesasabia like this.
  4. Sep 8, '05 by
    I am in the third term of a five semester nursing program. I have a couple of things that I cannot live without.

    1. A GREAT COMFORTABLE PAIR OF SHOES.. I had a pair in the first nursing clinical I had and by the end of the day I couldn't walk, my feet hurt so bad. They finally allowed us to have tennis looking nursing shoes and I paid $80 for a pair of New Balances which I LOVE!!!

    2. I bought RNotes, its a pocket guide that I stick in my pocket, it has typical lab values, antidotes, injection, it's really a good book, I like it alot.

    3. I am anal about having study guides so I have the majority of Nursing Made Incredibly Easy, they are not a requirement but they help me understand stuff. They might have them in the library at your school, ours does.

    4. A good pair or support hose. I don't care what anyone says about them, they have saved my legs many times. After the first day of clinical and being on my feet all day, my legs throbbed the rest of the night, after I bought a pair of them, I never have that problem.

    5. Make sure you have plenty of pens, other students tend to "borrow" them and not return them so its a pain to have to track them down and get them back. Have a red one too, helps to track vitals.

    6. A good stethoscope. I had a cheap one that worked while my Littman was getting fixed but I wouldn't trade my Littman for anything now.

    7. Make sure your uniform fits, nothing like wearing an ill fitting uniform and worrying about how tight it is and pulling things down.

    I learned alot after my first clinical about what to have and what not to have, to me it was trial and error.
    Kiro686 likes this.
  5. Sep 10, '05 by
    Question about support hose!

    Do y'all wear the full hose, only knee-highs, thigh highs, all the above? LOL
  6. Sep 10, '05 by
    Another question about support hose, are you talking about just ones you buy at walmart, etc? Or are these "special" hose?
  7. Sep 10, '05 by
    Quote from NurseMommyof3
    Another question about support hose, are you talking about just ones you buy at walmart, etc? Or are these "special" hose?

    Good question! I know NurseMates sells support hose, but my mother and I were talking. She said I should get some that are made for diabetics.

    I'm not sure if that strong of support hose is needed.

    I guess knee, thigh, or full leg is a matter of preference.
  8. Sep 11, '05 by
    Quote from JessicaGmz
    I will be starting clinicals in January, but my friends who are halfway through the program suggest a good stethoscope, PDA, good comfortable shoes, and overall MOTIVATION :hatparty:

    Everyone who is in the program or graduated please post, I am interested too
    I am a senior in nursing school. I see a lot of my friends spending oodles of money on study guides. I think that the most current enclex review guide and a care plan book are good essentials. Of course Tabers is a true essential and probably required by your school. With instructors using various test banks, I think study guides are a waste of time. You are probably better off going on line for a good review of something that you are having a problem with. GNSK
  9. Sep 11, '05 by
    I forgot to mention the root of my response! I feel that we too often try to find "short cuts", but I am not sure that they are beneficial. Same with the electronic devices. Do they really help us learn? They sound great, but I feel that they are more beneficial to a new practicing nurse, rather than a student. I am sure some may disagree, but after much thought, this is my conclusion.
  10. Sep 11, '05 by
    My thought is not "short cut". I like to see things, or read things different ways.

    If I don't totally understand one book, seeing it explained in another may do the trick.

    As for study guides, I bought one for A&P, but kept forgetting I actually bought it. lol

    BUT.....I think they are a good thing. The more I can practice questions, etc, the better I learn the material.

    I can understand about the electronic devices.....told myself I didn't need an electronic stethoscope, even though they look cool!

    No, really, I love electronics....I like to have material items to show what I did with my money, instead of wasting it on "nothing". As far as a PDA, I've wanted one for a long time, nursing school is just my excuse to get one. hahaha

    (Some schools actually require a PDA, so they can't be that useless to a student.)

    Quote from ladynorma
    I forgot to mention the root of my response! I feel that we too often try to find "short cuts", but I am not sure that they are beneficial. Same with the electronic devices. Do they really help us learn? They sound great, but I feel that they are more beneficial to a new practicing nurse, rather than a student. I am sure some may disagree, but after much thought, this is my conclusion.