Backpack & Zuca or other rolling bag?

[Rnstudent2011]

hi,

just was wondering from those who have some clinical experience if you carry a seperate bag to clinicals than you do for lab/lecture?

i have had/have back problems in the past and am very careful now about how i lift things so i don't end up not able to do what i need to in order to be a nurse. in all we have 23 "books" (some are pocket guides) that are either required or recommended for class. so i am trying to figure out what the best way for me to transport what i need will be.

the zuca bags have the ability to sit on and remind me of a little locker from the way they open up. i think this would be really nice to sit and read before or in between class and not have to be on the floor. i also think the amount of books i could fit in would be awesome. they even have a double set of wheels (on top of each other) for going up steps/curbs. the problem i see with them is first they lack pockets and 2nd they are more than what i would like to carry to clinicals.

i really like the zuca back pack they make but it doesn't roll. it has enough pockets and space to hold books, laptop, and has storage and an organizer for things i would normally put in my purse and hopefully i wouldn't have to carry a purse then.

i plan on having a hmmm... female/emergency kit with things i may need (tampons, excederine, pepto, hair ties, etc) for clinicals and just wondered if one of the rolling messenger bags or the "ultimate nursing bag" from nurse mates might be better. i also found a high sierra bag that has what i would describe as a carry-on type suit case with a backpack that attaches to the front. here is a link for that one... http://www.hssc.com/product?number=at2505&lang=en

my goal is to maintain the privacy of my emergency kit, have enough storage, not have to deal with changing out what i need in my bag twice a week all while trying to protect my back.

i know there are a lot of things on here about bags but i am hoping to get some insite on #1) if i should buy 2 bags and if that would be more efficient. 2.) anyone with experience with the a.) zuca sport rolling bag and/or backpack http://zuca.com/shop/index.php b.) nurse mates ultimate nursing bag or ultimate nursing backpack http://www.nursemates.com/catalog-2011.aspx (page 22 and 23 show the bag and backpack) c.) a good rolling messenger style bag for clinicals d.) high sierra carry-on wheeled backpack with removalble day pack. http://www.hssc.com/product?number=at2505&lang=en

also i think i should mention that at orientation we were told that some of our clinical sites would be up to 2 hours from campus and between the clinical days we should expect at least 8 hours for homework (careplans, etc) i figure if i end up with out of town clinicals i will probably just stay at a hotel (hopefully with a fellow student to cut cost) and could use the high sierra bag as both a lugage bag with the day pack as my clinical backpack then switch it out to carry the heavy books during my lecture/lab days.

my head is just with all the different options and choices and i am not able to spend a lot of money trying multiple bags out to see what will work the best. i like the zuca w/backpack ($250ish) and the high sierra bag with day pack ($110ish) the most but i'm wondering if it just to much!

they openly said that rarely will powerpoints be given out to students and we will just have to use our books in class (mandatory) and take notes, so not carrying them isn't an option. hopefully i won't get to many out of town sites but if i do then i really want something that will be easy and save my back. also if it helps we have lab/lecture 2 days a week, clinicals or pa skills labs 2 days a week then can take supplement classes on the 5th day, have practice time, have other quizes, or required activities such as community service and cultural events we are required to do.

i know whats best varies from person to person but i just cannot decide what would be best for me and was hoping maybe someone else has a simialr type of schedule or long distance clinical sites that could help or maybe experience with these types of bags.

thanks for any help!!!!

[tag2007]

Hi bre! Well an update is certainly in order now that I have actually completed nursing school and I now know what worked and what didn't. So, here's the deal, I was very excited about the zuca before I got into school. I bought it, and used it for the first semester and loved it! But then, I started realizing that it honestly didnt fit as much as I wanted it to and was often carrying things in my hand that should have fit into the bag. The zuca is very sturdy, and had a box like shape, but that means you HAVE to fit everything into that box shape and there isn't alot of wiggle room to add a sweater or lunch if i had my books in it. Also, the coolness factor wore off after a few months and I eventually realized it wasn't as practical as I thought. There werent alot of compartments besides the really small ones in the front panel. So all the large stuff had to go in one main compartment ad unfortunately all my stuff didnt always fit. Soooooo long story short I ended up buying a regular old jansport wheeled backpack with three large main compartments and I could fit soooooo much more, wear it as a backpack when I wasn't carrying much and also be able to stretch and add lots of stuff without my stuff having to conform and fit in that perfect boxy shape of the zuca. I used the jansport for the rest of nursing school and realized how much more practical it was for nursing school use. That's just me though, ive seen people who loved the zuca for nursing school on this board but I ended up selling it on Craigslist. :) hope I helped some! As you can see I tend to ramble!

:)

[Havin' A Party!, ASN, RN]

Hey. guys. Didn't know what a Zuca was, but only heard everyone referring to it as a "bag."

Was kinda surprised to see it was actually a heavy-duty rolling cart! :)

Much to enormous for what I was planning. Now I know.

[tag2007]

I wouldn't say it's enormous really. If you look at the dimensions it's about the same size as your average backpack if not smaller. It was actually too small to hold all of my stuff. And yes it is sturdy but pretty light weight.

[Havin' A Party!, ASN, RN]

Many thanks, Tag!

[BRE5013]

Thank you so much for your response Tag2007! I have been swooning over them but now I will probably hold off and see what I'll need once I start. Your update was very helpful!