Alternative to tote bags?

[futuremale-rn]

I am starting nursing school in Spring and am required to purchase a tote bag from my school which has every item i will need for clinicals from the start of school to the closing. I will purchase the bag, but was wandering do you guys carry your nursing equipment in another bag? I just feel that "tote" bags are really feminine and I don't know if male nurses usual use them or another type of bag. Nothing serious, just wandering. Thanks

[RKpianoman, APRN]

I just use a backpack; it holds all I need, and it's comfortable for the long walks to and from the parking lot.

[twins4paiges]

Not a guy, but there are two guys in my clinical group. They (actually we all) have rolling briefcases or backpacks and attach our tote bag on top, rolling them both together. None of us actually tote them separately.

Congrats on getting into Nursing School!

[labvalues]

Invest in a good, study backpack. When I come to campus to work on homework/study I usually use a reusable grocery bag which is much stronger than the clinical bag we were supplied with. Just don't use a rolly-backpack, I can never take anyone seriously who uses one... that's just me.

[RKpianoman, APRN]

Just don't use a rolly-backpack, I can never take anyone seriously who uses one... that's just me.

They look absolutely ridiculous; but if you find that you are straining with a normal bag or if your back is getting "tired", investing in a rolling backpack could save your back from some serious wear and tear. Sure, you won't pick up too many chicks that way...but you won't have much time for that in nursing school anyway!

[Bruce_Wayne, ASN, RN]

If I have to carry a bag for whatever reason I just use a reusable shopping bag.

As far as worrying about a tote bag looking feminine, I think that's kind of a silly thing to worry about. There's nothing masculine or feminine about a tote bag.

People often judge themselves much more harshly than they judge other people. If you saw a guy carrying a tote bag would you even give it a thought or a second look? I know I wouldn't, and I'm sure most people would not. So along that line of reasoning you could carry almost anything and few people would notice and less people would care. So just use what ever is most convenient.

[volcomcna]

I also use the reusable grocery bag... Nothing wrong with that..

[Scythinian]

If a "tote" bag is the recommended thing then a good canvas messenger bag won't do you wrong. I've got one myself and I couldn't tear it up if I tried. Mine is an older one from fossil that ran me about $50 and I've had it about 5 years now.

A good old fashioned backpack does the job just fine too. Just make sure it has enough pockets without being too many and you lose stuff lol.

[pdxMHT]

Personally I use a messenger bag which accomodates my laptop and a few books. I would wait to find out what they expect you to bring to class before I would make an investment. In my class we're divided into groups so everyone in the group brings a certain book to class so you don't need to tote the 10 or so books to class every day.

[ImKosher]

lol...get a military grade combat pack. Gurantee no one will think it's feminine. Plus, think about all the space and little pockets you'll have at your disposal. I like Oakley packs.