What Supplies Should I Get for School?

[SKay226]

Hi Everyone!

I'll be starting nursing school in January or May and I'm looking for input. I know a lot of schools require specific scrubs, stethoscopes etc. but I'm wondering what other unforeseen supplies I may need. I'm working now and want to get as much as I can now while I have some extra cash coming in.

What did you find incredibly useful during school? Any particular study guides, study devices, bags, organization materials etc.

Thanks for your input!

P.S. I'm hoping to be in an Accelerated (14 months) Bachelors program...in case that matters!

[jena5111, ASN, RN]

You can wait on most supplies until school starts; your instructors will give you an idea about what you need.

I'm only going into my second semester of NS so I may not be an expert, but--my clinical facility would have never allowed outside supplies (BP cuff, pulse oximeter, etc.) to be used on patients. Each patient had his/her own BP cuff that hung on the bedrail for the duration of their stay, for example. Hospitals are incredibly/rightfully concerned about infection control. My point is that I wouldn't spend money on this equipment when it probably can't be used. Also, it's good to familiarize yourself with the hospital's equipment as part of the learning experience.

A note about clipboards: I used a White Coat clipboard last semester and it will be retired for semester number two. I'm switching to a small notepad instead; less clunky and less of a barrier between myself and my patients. I agree with a comment from another school supply thread that refers to these clipboards as "security blankets" for students. I never saw an RN on our busy med-surg floor carrying a clipboard :)

[DisneyNurseGal, BSN, RN]

- Compartment clipboard: This is the best tip I have! I used my compartment clipboard every day in clinicals to hold scratch paper, notes, handouts, and reference sheets. The compartment part was invaluable to hold confidential patient information that I was carrying around in clinicals. You want to make sure you have a label with your school's name, your name (first name only, please), and a quick disclaimer that this folder carries confidential information and to please return to nurses station if found.

I would hold off on buying this until you get to school. I too purchased one of these before school started based on recommendations from this website. Opened the package, write my name on it, only to find out that I could not use it at my hospital. Many hospitals have the rule, if it is laid down in the room, it stays in the room, and this applies to bandages, cups of jello and even clipboards. Yes you can use it still at clinicals based on this rule, but it is very unlikely that you can hold it the whole time you are in a room. Not saying this is a 100% no go, just wait and see.

Good luck!