Backpack for nursing school?

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Do you use a rolling backpack?

Specializes in Trauma.

If your back is too weak to carry a textbook and a notebook in a backpack how on Earth are you going to help reposition a 250# pt?

The main point I was trying to make is students don't need to bring everything they own that is nursing school related to class everyday. It does not take but a couple of classes to determine what you will need for that class.

I just ordered one. If it gets in people's way, I apologize, but my back if worth more than you getting down the hallway a few seconds faster.
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Specializes in Addictions/Mental Health, Telemetry.

I graduated from nursing school 14 yrs ago. I had a rolling bag, although I was in the minority and could not have cared less what anyone thought! I was saving my back!

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If your back is too weak to carry a textbook and a notebook in a backpack how on Earth are you going to help reposition a 250# pt?

The main point I was trying to make is students don't need to bring everything they own that is nursing school related to class everyday. It does not take but a couple of classes to determine what you will need for that class.

I'd have no problem if it was just one notebook and one textbook. A few days I have multiple classes, which means multiple books. I also do not have a car, which means I have to walk quite a distance from the bus stop to my school. If its light one day, I can put it on my back. They magically have shoulder straps!

If anyone in my classes has a problem with that, they're more than welcome to carry my bag to the bus stop for me! :)

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What you carry also depends on what your school schedule is like. I'm in an accelerated nursing program where we're in class Monday-Friday from 8-3pm, and it's block scheduling. For Med-Surg we basically had about 2 big textbooks we refer to and the school gives us a laptop that all of us bring everyday. Hence, I have to carry everything (not to mention lunch/snacks, water bottle, other textbooks/references, etc) so the rolling backpack works.

Also, my school is small (no hallways filled with people, my nursing class is approximately 54 people) so not really a tripping hazard. I guess it depends on what your schedule situation is. If you pull the rolling backpack, more power to you!! :up:

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I have two Vera Bradley totes that I may switch back and forth from- depending on what all I have to carry. I have the Get Carried Away tote that is super humongous and is currently holding [u']all[/u] of my fall semester textbooks plus shoes plus stethoscope plus everything else. :up: However, if I need to go lighter and only carry a few things, I have the Vera tote which still is a decent size, but less "humongous." Luckily my main lectures are on the same day, so I wouldn't have to carry a human every day of the week.

I'll be relying heavily on Vera this year as well ;)

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Specializes in Oncology.

I bought all ebooks for NP school and just brought my iPad to class. I also had a note taking app and a flash card app. Rarely brought more then a large purse that fit my iPad, a stylus, some pens and pencils, and a snack to class.

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I sell thirty-one which is bags and totes and purses and I carried a bag called organizing utility tote. It had five pockets outside and fit my book and binder perfectly. I even got it to match my school colors and we offer personalization so mine said nursing stuff. Let me know if you want me to post a pic. It was durable and cute.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Long Term Care.

I'm fairly fit and have a fairly good back I guess. I carry an Adidas backpack with gel shoulder straps to put some ease to the shoulders and I am just fine.

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I have a nice pink Jansport... it's been great for me.

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I have a Jansport backpack with wheels and I really like it. I don't care for e-books and often have multiple classes in one day so I need to carry several textbooks/notebooks/snacks/essentials etc. I'm not willing to sacrifice a healthy back this early in my nursing career! It's just kind of a pain sometimes because it's hard to carry it up the stairs with the little handle. Many of us in my program use these and they never get in the way in the hallways/classrooms.

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So the way my program does their lessons, our books will be for at home reading only, so I have a cute tote that can hold a book or two if necessary, but it's mainly to hold my clinical gear. I'm glad because I HATE :no: rolling book bags! They're backsavers, yes. And if I had to use one, of course, I would... begrudginly:sniff: Seriously, those things are embarrassing:bag: It's like-- Good Luck not disturbing EVERYONE you walk pass with that godawful sound! Good luck traveling on uneven ground! Good luck getting that thing up the steps! Good luck WHEN the handle breaks!

I think it's more than evident that I hate those things, right? LOL :D

But seriously, if you must carry your books, having a fussy rolling backpack is the lesser of two evils for sure.

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I saw that somebody on all nurses would take apart their nursing books, 3 hole punch what the lecture was covering, and put just that part of book in their binder for class or carry around to read. No need to carry whole book. But not a good idea if you want to resale your books, obviously.

Too bad all the books are not online yet!

I had to have a rolling pack for school. our program was through two different colleges (sometimes with different classes on the same day!) You will figure out what works for you over time. Have fun!

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