Do you use this?

NICU_Nightingale, BSN, RN · Jul 10, 2014

Hi!

I graduate from nursing school with my BSN in December (155 days and just applied for graduation today SO EXCITED!). CONGRATS on getting accepted, I remember how excited I was for nursing school too and I am always excited to start a new semester (so it doesn't fade completely just be positive!). As for the medipack thing... I don't carry all the stuff that it's showing. I have my stethoscope around my neck with my tape hooked on the ear piece. I keep my car keys and purse locked in the nurses lounge. I carry one set of trauma scissors- I mean you can get really fancy here and carry a million but I really REALLY don't think it's necessary... A calculator SURE especially if they don't allow you to carry your phone (not for texting obviously but for the pharm apps and diagnosis apps you'll acquire). Band aides and antibiotic ointment? Nahh not only does the hospital have that the ointment is a infection issue. Carrying that and using it on multiple patients is gross. Anyway, I honestly wouldn't waste your money on that. Buy the NCLEX app or use it towards getting a good stethoscope but the pack is too much in my opinion :)

I wish you the best in school it's the best years (and stressful yeah..) but have fun with it!! :)

NICU_Nightingale, BSN, RN · Jul 10, 2014

... And a pen light (duh). But all together that leave lots of room for pocket size book guides and for a little notebook to write notes. However Target has these awesome notepad/clipboard things I really recommend over a little notebook :)

rob4546, ADN, BSN, MSN · Jul 10, 2014

I might suggest attending one clinical before you buy anything. You might find you may not need anything special.

For my program this is what I had with me at clinicals:

1 Pair Trama Scissors

1 Pair Hemostats

1 Black Sharpie

1 Black Dry erase marker

3 Fine Line Black Pens

Stethoscope

Pen Light

Small notebook that fir in my scrub pocket

When I got to the facility I filled one of the little pockets with alcohol pads and IV flushes. The med room always had multiple reference books and many calculators. Where I am working now one of the PACU nurses has a pack similar to this full of stuff but I never see her using any of it.

figure out what you need before you buy. Money saved is money earned.

rob4546, ADN, BSN, MSN · Jul 10, 2014

Oh, I forgot. I also bring a clipboard that holds papers inside for my patient's MAR's and my documentation.

smf0903 · Jul 10, 2014

I will be the voice of dissention LOL. I think the medpacks idea is A-W-E-S-O-M-E!! I found a post about the medpacks about a month ago, and I will be ordering one before fall semester. Maybe it'll turn out to be a bust, I don't know. What I do know is I carry stuff in every single stinkin' pocket of my scrub top and my scrub pants, and by about hour 2 I am constantly pulling up my pants. We learned last semester to be prepared (not that we didn't already know that LOL, but we had a couple of incidents that made us rethink what we did not carry on our person)...I usually have lots of stuff, I don't like going in and out of a patient's room for this, that, and the other. Maybe I carry too much stuff and at some point will cut down the load, but I highly doubt it. I think this would be an awesome way to keep all that stuff organized and at the ready.

I'll report back after I use it and let you know if it's worth the money

smf0903 · Jul 10, 2014

Hi!
Band aides and antibiotic ointment? Nahh not only does the hospital have that the ointment is a infection issue. Carrying that and using it on multiple patients is gross.

Does your hospital have tubes of ointment?? We can't even carry ointment around. It's single-dosed and has to be signed out of pyxis like any other med. Yeah, gross if your hospital uses tubes :wideyed: (I know it's antibiotic ointment but still...bleh)

cracklingkraken, ASN, RN · Jul 10, 2014

Thanks for all the input. I think I'll hold off then until I actually have a round of clinicals and see what we're allowed to carry.

@smf: YES, I am afraid that my pants will be falling down as well! I was hoping to carry a few pocket guides, but, for some reason, every time I carry things in my pockets, pants find their way off my hips... Hopefully, my pants won't be falling off on the first day of clinicals. Things can get real embarrassing real fast.

classicdame, MSN, EdD · Jul 10, 2014

a lot of facilities will not allow you to use anything you bring in for patient care, including hemostats and scissors. So concentrate on calculator, pens, pen light and stethoscope. My hospital does not allow covers for stethoscopes due to infection control. Put more focus on your lunch box!

cracklingkraken, ASN, RN · Jul 10, 2014

What do you mean a cover for the stethoscope? Is it a protective casing? I hadn't even considered that... I don't even know what that is haha. Oh yes, I will definitely be supplying lots of food in my lunch box. I get really hungry often, so small snacks at intervals will probably serve me better.

pmabraham, BSN, RN · Jul 10, 2014

Good day cracklingkraken:

Are there other names for the item other than medpack? I.e. if you were to search for this item on Amazon.com, an online uniform company, etc. what other terms would you use for it?

Thank you.

cracklingkraken, ASN, RN · Jul 10, 2014

Good day cracklingkraken:
Are there other names for the item other than medpack? I.e. if you were to search for this item on Amazon.com, an online uniform company, etc. what other terms would you use for it?
Thank you.

You can look it up as "nurse organizer", I believe.