clip board with or without calculator attached...which is better?

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Wondering from anyone who has had any clinicals if they recommended a clip board w/ or w/out the calc. attached. I was thinking I would pass on the attached and just use a pocket calc, since that is what I will most likely use in the field.

Any suggestions before I buy one?

Thanks-:twocents:

I think I would have gone with the one that has it attached...but I didn't see them...so I had the one without. But really, to have it all right there would be nice...just my opinion! The less stuff you have to carry around and jam in your pockets, the better. You may think one calculator may make a huge difference, but trust me, it does...LOL

I don't carry anything that does not fit in my pockets. I don't want to pick up and/or carry, transfer, or take home any cooties!!

Specializes in Psychiatry.

I think it is up to you what would be most convenient. I never carried a calculator around in NS (there were always some lying around at the nurse's station). Very rarely needed one.

good luck

diane

Specializes in oncology, med/surg (all kinds).

many moons ago when i was a nursing student i went and bought the clip board with calculator. it was a pain--the buttons are way too small. and no one can see the numbers when you want them to check your calculation. plus, when you are running around the unit, the clip board is just going to be a pain in the a**.

also, do you need to carry a clip board? we didn't but i liked having one. i even used one as a new grad for a while. they are a bit dorky and i got teased a little. i didn't care. eventually, you get to the point where the folded up piece of paper in your pocket is all you can keep track of. you will lose your mind when you can't function because you can't find your clip board, which has your "brain" on it. (your report, not the calculator) you will check all your patient's rooms....not get things done because you NEED that clip board then finally find it on top of the nourishment fridge because you put it there to get the scissors out to loan to your preceptor because she knows only nursing students have scissors on them. nursing students and dorky nurses like me.

NO CALCULATOR CLIP BOARD!!!!!!!! :down:

PS Good luck in school!!!!!! You will LOVE IT!!!!!!

In Lvl 1 clinicals I used a clipboard w/calc that held papers inside of it. I really liked it-I had my notes & could store (& protect) pt info in it instead of on it. However in Lvl 2 we were banned from clipboards b/c (actual quote from my instructor) "Only baby nurses carry clipboards"

Specializes in ORTHOPAEDICS-CERTIFIED SINCE 89.

Frankly, I bought a fluorescent pink walmart clipboard, fluorescent colored ball points and kept them in an Easter Basket on the overbed table I rolled around while making rounds. No body could say they mistakenly thought the stuff was theirs.

I actually only lost about 10 steths and maybe 3 or 4 dozen pens before I came up with that scheme. On the computers you just go to run and type calc.exe and there is a big old calculator that everybody and their brother can see. Oh and I still have my Littman since I refused to lend it to a doc unless he handed me his wallet. Worked quite well.

frankly, i bought a fluorescent pink walmart clipboard, fluorescent colored ball points and kept them in an easter basket on the overbed table i rolled around while making rounds. no body could say they mistakenly thought the stuff was theirs.

i actually only lost about 10 steths and maybe 3 or 4 dozen pens before i came up with that scheme. on the computers you just go to run and type calc.exe and there is a big old calculator that everybody and their brother can see. oh and i still have my littman since i refused to lend it to a doc unless he handed me his wallet. worked quite well.

good one, i may hve to remember that when i am in school starting this fall.

Specializes in Cardiac.

go ahead and get the one with the calculator and the one where you can open and store stuff in. Mine doesn't have the calculator and its horrible trying to do a basic calculation with out a calculator and your instructor is staring down on you during med pass.

But we can't even bring our clip boards into the rooms unless we don't set them down, and yea like that is gunna happen!

go for the storage and the calculator, or at least the storage so you can store a little calculator in it lol

I never used a calculator until I got into Peds and then I was really glad I had a calc on my clipboard when PRN meds were added at the last minute and I had to calculate the dose. If I had to rely on a pocket calc I wouldn't have had one because by then I wouldn't have been carrying one around. Always good to have a little calc around.

Specializes in General adult inpatient psychiatry.

I definitely got one that opened up for storage and had the calculator on top. It was useful to have right there with your paperwork to do I&O and stuff like that. :D The less stuff I have with me to lose, the better too.

Specializes in med surg home care PEDS.

Calculator, who can use a calculator, we have to do all math using formulas, and have to show complete formulas, even in clinical, oh I would love to use a calculator

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