So what is a must have for NURSING SCHOOL?

Pokytrokyt · Oct 31, 2009

I know that they are going to tell us what we need to bring and have when we start, but I was just wondering other than :crying2:tissues and :yawn:coffee and patience, what were some of the things that was a nesscessity to survival as a nursing student. I have already started reading the Fundamentals of Nursing, as I was told that that class was a make it or break it class.

I'm also starting school in Spring 2010 (BSN program). My list of stuff includes scrubs, stethoscope, bandage scissors, small pocket notebook, bandage tape. A friend who is graduating from the same program this December told me to also go buy an NCLEX review package (Book + CD ROM) and use it as a study guide for all my classes.

Good luck! :typing

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN · Nov 1, 2009

Get a Saunders NCLEX review guide and start using it during day 1 to study--it is the best IMO and will become your bible. Or do it the cheap way: go to the library and check out 2 or 3 different NCLEX review books at a time, and just keep renewing them until they won't let you anymore. Then return them, go to a different branch, and check out some more. That worked for me.

In addition to the above clinical supplies, don't forget to get a penlight. And a clip for your ID badge. If you are wise, when you're not in class/clincal, always leave your ID badge in the car--then you'll never have to worry about forgetting it at home.

Get a good stethoscope. It doesn't have to be the most expensive, but you need more than a dinky Walgreens one or the cheapies most schools will offer. It does need to last through the program...and the better your steth, the better you will do at clinicals. Littmann offers some good ones in the 40-50 range. Or shop around for other brands.

Unless the program makes you get one, the PDA is nice but entirely optional: you CAN survive nursing school without it. Most of the time I never used mine--when I did, it was for the internet during a break.

Prentice Hall makes the best drug guides, plus you can cut and paste from their CD--great for when you're doing care plans and need to list the drug's side effects. Get this one if you can.

Get comfortable nursing shoes. Spend the money on a good pair if you have to--with all the time you'll be on your feet, they are more than worth it.

And since you're students, you'll probably be wearing white uniforms (and if you don't have to wear white, you are lucky). So go invest in some white or nude-colored undergarments. Trust me--other colors DO show through...and so does wearing nothing at all

mcirishdreams · Nov 1, 2009

Awesome:D!!!

Thank you so much for all the information. I have made my list! We thankfully have dark green scrubs to wear, THANK HEAVEN!! I have a ton of NCLEX guide books from nurses that I used to work with and actually studied some of them for nursing entrances exams, just in case.

We have some good uniform stores here around where I live and have found that amazon has a ton of items too. Im pretty excited, I know that that is going to wear off real fast as soon as the classes start but he we go!

I always also saw nursing students on our floor have a clipboard that had a flip top and you could stash a ton of papers inside, and I also always saw a handy dandy notebook always being written in. But thanks for letting me know the rest.

Thank you again, I really appreciate the advice.

:specs:

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN · Nov 1, 2009

I forgot about the clipboard. The compartment one was nice because I could store a small reference book in there as well as papers, pens, etc. It also had a calculator on it, and I taped lists of normal lab values and other important reference data to the front and back of it.

RadRNMSN · Nov 4, 2009

An NCLEX review book is a must. The other book that will not be on your book list that is extremely helpful is a test taking book. There is one that I like and I have used to teach nursing students called Test Success. It's important to learn the basic skills of test taking like opposites, ABCD, distractors, etc. and testing books specific to nursing do a great job at that. Don't concentrate on the questions so much as the technique for answering the question. Kaplan writes an NCLEX book that I believe is the very best and helped me to pass my nursing tests and NCLEX in 2005. Good luck

mcirishdreams · Nov 5, 2009

Thank you a bunch! I am just anxious to start and get the next two years over and done with so I can start working towards my masters and from there who knows.

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN · Nov 5, 2009

One other thing: if you're not an expert on APA format or don't want to become one, there is a Word program called CiteWrite. It can easily format your papers into APA, MLA, and a couple of other formats.

It's not necessary for surivial--there's plenty of sites on the web like The OWL at Purdue that can show you the basics of APA and other formatting for free, and you can always purchase the APA guide book. But this program has been priceless to me because it automates everything--I purchased it at the start of my second year in the ADN program and I'm still using it for the BSN program. I just start a new paper in APA format, and type away--it handles the margins, font, citation and reference formatting, etc. It runs about $30 or so. You can Google it to get the URL or drop me a PM and I'll send you the link

Kevin RN08 · Nov 17, 2009

I just graduated from TNCC and started in Williamsburg, here is my two cents worth.

It's a huge expense, but buy all of your books. They give you pretty good list of "what you need".

Don't buy scrubs, they have a vendor that they use so you won't have to overpay to get the TNCC logo on your tops and lab coat.

You have 2 months to unclutter your life and prepare them for this change that effect everyone around you.

I liked the clipboard with calculator and storage, it really came in handy for a breakfast bar, medsheets, and other small things.

Best of luck to you, I really enjoyed the Williamsburg program with our little class (10) although I think there are more this year with the new (real) campus.

mcirishdreams · Nov 18, 2009

Cool Thank you :up:

I just ordered the scrubs, got shoes, hemostats and scissors yesterday, I have to say im pretty excited and have started to study the fundamentals of nursing allready! I am kinda over microbiology at this time and ready to start, :specs: the real stuff.

This year yes they are accepting 30 students but still that is better than the 60 down in hampton. I have some friends that just graduated in may one for williamsburg and one from hampton and both said Williamsburg was better! SO im pretty excited to say the least.

Im going to like you said clear my life, my hubbie is deployed and comes back at christmas and family all comes then too. So i will have my support back which will be very nice. Thanks for the help i appreciate it so much

Kevin RN08 · Nov 18, 2009

One more thing, Fundamentals is THE HARDEST CLASS of the whole curriculum. Not due to content, but due to the critical thinking tests and this new schedule as a student, balancing life and school. Don't let it beat you down, ask questions and stay engaged. I'd also recommend doing the honors program, it may sound corny as a non-traditional student, but it gets you exposure to other areas of nursing by working X number of shifts in different settings (ICU, ER, OR) and may give you a leg up your job hunting competition.

If you've bought the Saunders NCLEX Review (or have access to one) read and memorize the test taking strategies before you start the content. If you are more of a "visual" learner I would suggest the review and memory books by Zerwekh. Studying and adopting test taking strategies is where I would concentrate now, then over the summer start working on lab values.

Once school starts don't forget AllNurses as a resource. Look at the student page, you will see others that have the same questions that you do. Personally, I looked for responses by DayToNight she has a wealth of knowledge and for me she was normally able to clarify points that maybe I was having trouble with.

All the best to you.

NursingStudent08 · Jan 16, 2010

This is a great and very resouceful thread!