First Clinicals; what to bring?!

[adnstudent44]

Hi, I tried searching other threads to see if this question has been asked before because I feel like it probably was, but I couldn't find anything. So I decided to ask it myself:

What are the key things a nursing student shouldn't go to Clinical without? (aside from his/her stethoscope?) I will be going to a long-term care facility affiliated with the local hospital.

So far I am bringing my stethoscope, my check-off sheet, a pulse-ox I just bought off amazon (recommended to me by a second year student), a pocket drug guide, extra scrubs to leave in my car just in case, my watch, ID, and..something to write with? Is there anything I am forgetting that should be obvious, or something that you wished you had thought to bring your first clinical days?

Thanks for the feed back!!! I appreciate any helpful suggestions because our professors haven't really given us a clue.

Oh yea! I almost forgot! I found these really hand cards that can attach underneath my ID badge that have quick facts to know, like normal lab values and things like that to reference while I'm on my feet. (found it on amazon.)

[Dranger]

Lol I am a critical care nurse and I don't even bring half that crap to work. Pulse ox and hemostats in LTC? Really? Bring a pen light, stethoscope and a pen/notebook. You don't need anything else...

[greeneth]

......Bring a pen light, stethoscope and a pen/notebook. You don't need anything else...

And a clinical companion wouldn't hurt

[MusicEMT]

Leave space in your pocket for gloves, Lots of gloves.. you will be going through them like a pack of gummy bears!

Our school provided us with our own boxes of gloves our professor would bring to the facility, the facility didnt want us using their gloves (which is fine because I hate their Vinyl cheapo gloves!)

and some hand sanitizer wouldnt hurt either and a little small pocket notebook to jot quick notes for vitals and stuff

[THELIVINGWORST, ASN, RN]

Leave space in your pocket for gloves Lots of gloves.. you will be going through them like a pack of gummy bears! Our school provided us with our own boxes of gloves our professor would bring to the facility, the facility didnt want us using their gloves (which is fine because I hate their Vinyl cheapo gloves!) and some hand sanitizer wouldnt hurt either and a little small pocket notebook to jot quick notes for vitals and stuff[/quote']

In my experience, I have never provided my own gloves. One reason is infection control.

[MusicEMT]

In my experience, I have never provided my own gloves. One reason is infection control.

I didn't mean the student bringing his/her own gloves, our school provides us a sperate batch of gloves separate from the gloves that are used in the facility due to money issues of the facility... but the point I was try to make is to have a bunch of spare gloves in a pouch or in the pocket so you dont have to keep running around looking for gloves!

[WoundedBird]

A sharpie to date your dressing changes right on the tape

[applesxoranges, BSN, RN]

I loved the quick fact cards. I used them in my ER job as a paramedic. Very helpful for the range of vital signs for peds because I hate peds. Extra scrubs is overkill to be honest. All hospitals I know will provide you with hospital scrubs if something goes wrong. Unless the school tells you to bring one, I wouldn't. Although they would be helpful if you forgot your school scrub top one day or something.

Check off sheets are okay. I never used one. I think I was supposed to keep one.

Do not bring your own pulse-ox. Personally, using a non-hospital BP cuff bothers me. It is the hospitals responsibility to provide working equipment and some BP cuffs are like 5 bucks off of Amazon. What if that pulse ox was inaccurate and you used the spo2 or the HR off of it and the treatment changed based on that? Personally, go with what the hospital provides. I know some instructors instruct students to use a manual BP cuff but still, I don't like that idea.

Pocket drug guide is great, but find out if the school uses lexicomp. Then find out if the lexicomp has "mobile access" with a code in order to access it on a mobile device. Then get permission to use an ipod touch if possible for your drug guide. Download lexicomp for your ipod touch and use that instead. My instructors were cool with this.

I recommend a pocket organizer/protector. I have pens explode in my pockets all the time! My school required bandage scissors (usually I used my trauma sheers because I had a dozen of those), penlight, and forceps. One time my forceps saved the day when my instructor accidentally cut a pilot balloon while shaving the patient. First time in 40+ years.

One thing that I recommend buying is a stethoscope watch. This is one I have: Watch Slip Thru Stethoscope in Hot Pink Cancer Awareness from Cherokee Uniforms - Medical scrubs, nursing uniforms and footwear on both my stethoscope and my backup. I have heard horror stories of people being dismissed from clinicals for being accused of not using a watch to take vital signs. So now you won't forget it unless you forget your stethoscope. I have it in black and white.

To be honest, usually first day is spent in a classroom going over the requirements and getting signed onto the computer to familiarize yourself with computer charting.

I don't know what an IV line plug is. I've never used one as a student, paramedic, or nurse. If it is to stop a patient from bleeding everywhere when you switch out a squad line to an IV lock, you just apply some pressure. If it is a cap to put on the end of an IV line, the site should have IV caps somewhere.

Tape is not something you'd need. I would locate a roll at the clinical site and use that one for a day. All clinical sites should have tape. Just remember to return it.

What I brought to my clinicals (most were in the hospital so this is kind of an average clinical). My stethoscope/watch combo, pens, pocket protector, bandage scissors/trauma shears depending on what I could find quickly, penlight when I remember, and forceps when I could find them. I used my phone for my drug book (with permission and it was off during clinical)

[adnstudent44]

Thanks! Our prof has expressed to us numerous times we can't and shouldn't use our phones even if its for drugs. She said even though that's what she does, she does want to give any nurse on site an excuse to complain about her students "always on their phones." A second year told me that the pulse-ox has really helped him and that he got one that he used as an emt, but I'm going to ask just in case now. The scrubs idea was from my professor because we are not allowed to wear the hospital scrubs, we have to wear our school issued scrubs, so if there is an accident having an extra pair in the car would be helpful. The watch stethoscope looks great! I am going to order one!

[kayleen4246]

I don't know if someone else mentioned this but a small pocket calculator is nice for doing med calcs. Usually there are some available at the nurses station or on the computers but those can be hard to come by. I also usually have a black permanent marker, bandage scissors (not just for dressing changes- sometimes they help with opening things or whatever else you might use scissors for), a small flip notepad, pens (2 black ones because I will inevitable lose one), chap stick and a granola bar