New Nursing Student Wishlist

clip board, calculator, scissors, hemastat, good drug guide

Massage, Housecleaner, <-------these were the biggest help to me in school. My mom paid someone to clean my house a few times...it was awesome. And...a massage before finals...really helps!

PDA...drug guide program on PDA

Congratz! --to a new lifestyle.

A Digital Recorder--one you can download your lectures to the computer I assume you have.
A flash drive to keep your notes, assignments, & lectures safe forever.
A Book Bag on wheels as well as a tote for those not so "heavy" classes (I actually used 3 bags in the beginning, it saves time on switching books around & keeps things organized--somewhat)
A planner--to keep track of those important exam dates.
Sticky notes (my many bookmarks)
Stapler
Hole punch
Lots of Binders & Spirals
Black Pens & Pencils
Highlighters
Index cards
A penlight & a tape measure (w/metric)
We needed the steth but BP cuff was optional
I have a PDA, but found it took too much time to figure out everything--DUH. Time is something you will NOT have enough of.

Get yourself organized. You will need your own space. If you don't have a desk, I suggest getting one--or two...lol. Oh yes, Bookshelves! Get out all of your old science books (Micro, Path & A/P). You will be using them & adding to them eventually, believe me.

I won't get into the reference books but when & if you buy them, use cheapesttextbooks.com to find them & buy the OLD editions. They are just as resourceful as the new ones. (I love it when I get a book for $.75!!) The nursing process does not change, only the technology does.
Congratz again! You better have a heck of a party this year because all is on hold for 2 yrs now. Good luck, study hard & stay focused & stay positive. I'm excited for you! :hatparty:

Now I know what I want for Christmas! You give that mom of yours a big hug!

Don't forget a nice COMFORTABLE pair of nursing shoes!

Yea, nursing school with a 2 year old and newborn twins...not easy. She was a huge help.

Do you think it's okay to have an edition that is one behind the current one listed for class? My friend that just graduated gave me a few texts and one of them is the HUGE nursing fundamentals book (I think Taylor's?). It's edition 5 and I am supposed to have edition 6. She told me she used it with no problem (I had heard there was an even newer edition than 6 but maybe not). I would hate to go blow almost $200 on a newer one if it will get me by.

Maybe she will hand off a copy of her notes too!
I had to have Iggy--another HUGE book (thank goodness they make 2 volumes now). I also had the previous ed & used it for a few wks--it is exactly the same as the new ed, except there is a new unit (2 whopping new chapters) added related to Emergency & Mass Casualty (probably because of 9-11 & the threat of terrorism--which we've yet to address in lecture). But for example, when the instructor would say to go to the Table on p867, I'd be flipping & flipping. I decided it was more of a pain in the behind so ordered the current ed online.

(Why don't they put these new chapters at the END of the book!?) $$$$

I would try to get a copy of the current text required & compare & then decide for yourself. It was just too darn fast-paced for me to have to be flipping around. Good luck to you!

I agree with the other poster who mentioned a bookshelf. It seems like such a boring gift to the giver, but you need all your books to be in one place, and it feels and looks so much better to have them all arranged on a shelf. Mine are all over the kitchen and in my bedroom, and my husband is ready to throw me out the window, I think. He won't though, because I am so close to finishing NS, and he's like to see a little return on the$e pa$t two year$!!

You will need lots of 1.5 - 2 inch binders, one for every semester. Plus that paper puncher to keep all your papers in the binder! To put them on the shelf! See where I'm heading here??? Sometimes you will need to reference your 1st year stuff during your second year, and it will be so nice just to pluck out a certain binder from your new bookshelf!!

Congratulations on getting into the nursing program! You now hold a very coveted spot!!