What do Home Health Nurses Keep in their Trunk!!!

[ilovenursing2009]

HI!!!

I just started with a home health agency as a case manager and some shift work (IV therapies). They gave me tons of stuff like papers and supplies to keep in my trunk. My trunk looks like an office/supply room!!!

What do you as a home health nurse keep in your trunk and what do you carry with you into the home?!!

Thanks!!!:)

[KateRN1]

Oh, boy. It'd be better to take a picture than try to explain, but I'm too lazy to go out and do it.

Okay, in the trunk we have:

1 large flat Rubbermaid box (the underbed storage kind) with wound care supplies, IV supplies, gauze, tape, etc.

1 large file folder-type Rubbermaid box with resource material for me, including OASIS manuals, wound care books, a CEU program that was really helpful so I printed it out, KCI manual, the physicians directory, labels (for lab tubes), and some notepads.

1 large file folder-type Rubbermaid box with resource material for patients, including handouts on every disease imaginable (well not really, but you get the idea), medication sheets, and videos to loan.

1 expanding file with extra paperwork like nursing notes, wound notes, physician orders, communication notes, etc.

My visit bag, which has supplies for a regular visit, including nurses notes, wound notes, physician orders, and communication notes in the back pocket in file folders; middle pocket has the EZ view bags that hold my dressing supplies, venipuncture supplies, and small things that would otherwise get lost in the bottom of the bag; the front large pocket with equipment for vital signs, hand sanitizer, penlight, etc.; the front "executive pocket" has business cards, blood pressure cards, extra pens and pencils, highliters and probably a few other things I can't think of at the moment.

When we go for groceries, we take my husbands car. It has nothing in the trunk. :lol

[caliotter3]

There are many threads on this topic in the home health forum. In addition to the usual, I always make certain I have a complete uniform with shoes in a plastic bag in the trunk. Never know when that might come in handy.

[KateRN1]

Oh, yeah. What Caliotter said. I also have a set of scrubs, along with a change of underwear, socks, and Crocs. Haven't ever had to use them, but there they are, just in case. Also a spray bottle of fabric refresher--too many patients smoke and I can't stand to smell it on me. And Lysol wipes for cleaning. Oh goodness, maybe I should just go take a picture.