Anything helpful to buy for CNA position?

[Bumashes]

Hey, I just got hired for a CNA position for surgical. Hoping to get some great experience during nursing school. Anyway, I know the usual stuff I'll need for the job, shoes, scrubs. But is there anything else that is handy to have with you as a CNA? Like a notebook, pens, etc. This is my very first real job in a healthcare setting, so I want to be completely prepared. I just thought that maybe there might be something that CNAs who've been there already might always be sure to bring with them. By finding out now, I won't have to go without due to my lack of practical experience. Thanks so much!

[3boysejj]

I have found a small notebook to keep in my pocket very helpful. I use it to write down the jobs for the shift as I was training, words I want to look up to get a head start on nursing education, tests/ lab work what they are -procedures to get ready for it., normal BP, glucose levels etc.

The hospital I am in has all the tools I need but once you get there you may find something you will need to bring.

gloves in pocket are great idea

We only use black pens to chart so that is all I carry after the day I picked up blue and used that. Learning expereince : )

Be open to anything and honest about what you know and have experience with. I have learned so much in my 6 months on med/surg it is a great experience.

I work with great nurses who are very helpful and don't mind my asking ??? they have offered to help in any way during my nursing education. A recent grad in my program came in with a bag full of A & P books and notecards for me the other day.

Good luck!

[maledi]

Compression stockings!!!! I always wear them. They seem to make a difference in how tired my legs feel at the end of the day, I bring my own stethoscopes because the ones on the floor hurt my ears and I'd rather not share unless I have to.

[Bumashes, MSN, APRN, NP]

I think the lumbar supports previously mentioned are just called back braces. My husband has one for his work and loves it. I never thought I'd get so many responses. I'm also very glad of the "gloves in the pocket" suggestion. I would have never thought of that, but it seems like a super idea!

[Antikigirl, ASN, RN]

I would also make sure you have a spare scrubs and shoes at either the location or your car! It can get messy sometimes and nice to always have a spare.

Also, at the assisted living facility that I worked for...they didn't provide anything for us that we may need for acute pain or suprise mense (for the ladies of course). And us nurses had none in our nursing office (which was a closet!). So keep that in mind. I always have a spare feminine product and pain reliever (for me ibuprofen) handy in my car.

And a funky or fun multicolored pen...so it isn't stolen. The nurses and CNA's I worked with...we would tape or glue things to our pens (or buy fun ones) so that we knew whos pen was whos. It just never failed if you lost yours the 'shipment' of pens was a week away and you had none! I personally don't like having it around the neck like some, I kept hitting folks with it when I leaned over them..LOL!

And my personal favorite and one that gets asked "where did you get that!" the most...a timepiece that I can pin to my outfit (I wear an apron, another awesome tool, so it is pinned there), that has the second hand and some sort of cover to protect it from hitting a bed and breaking the glass face (once I hit one and it broke tiny glass shards all over the bed, thank goodness the pt wasn't there). I have one that is a lady bug and you open the metal wings to expose the clockface! It is also upside down so when I look at it...I can read it! Patients and staff alike love that thing! And I got it from like Target for $9.99! I use it all day long!

[Bumashes, MSN, APRN, NP]

I know the watch you're talking about. My mom got me one, but mine's just plain silver, nothin fancy. Good suggestion about the spare scrubs/shoes, though. Thanks.