Items for cinical experience

Nursing Students General Students

Published

Specializes in Med-Surg, Psych.

I've been accepted into a BSN program and will start this September. I assume the school will provide me with an extensive list of items I need to purchase (stethoscope, uniform, shoes, etc.) I'd like to start buying a few things now so I don't get hit with one huge bill.

I know uniforms are very specific to schools, but can I buy my stethoscope and shoes now? Do schools usually require a certain type of stethoscope or shoes? I tried to call, but I was told there will be an orientation in the summer... But I just cannot wait!!!!:p

:roll Can you tell I'm a little excited?

Michelle

Up Vote Up Vote ×

You should be excited.....Congratulations! :) It is hard to wait but the schools require so many specific items you may be wasting your $$$$ buying stuff ahead of time. Pretty much everything in our program was specified with the exception of our Stethoscope. Get yourself a rolling backpack (you can thank me later for the good advice :chuckle ). Read some Echo Heron books, stock up on some really fun school supplies, and enjoy yourself now while you have the time! :rotfl: I am sure you will get lots of good tips from everyone else - this board is the best for the real info!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

:balloons: congrats!! one of the best purchases i made was a palm pilot - the palm zire 71. i got a drug guide, lab guide, ms word (for care plan changes!), medical dictionary, and several other softwares that help out through the clinical experience.

many instructors want therapeutic levels of drugs on the spot or how to admin meds in different situations. the med field is abbreviation happy so it's great to have a pocket reference to figure out what the orders are! who wants to carry a book around or refer to a care plan? about $300 for the palm & software but worth every penny when on the floor!

also, invest in two or three care plan books. i'm sure your school will suggest this as well. yet at 1:30am working on an intensive care plan, it's good to have more than one book to make sure you didn't miss anything.

also... my last invaluable object is my closable clip board! when on the floor, it's difficult to walk around with 20 sheets of paper. clip board for writing and i can tuck them away when i'm assessing a patient. don't go without one!

i wish you the best of luck!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Waterproof watch with a second hand ... awesome if it also tells military time. Try "JASCO" online. Other than that, I'd wait to see what your school requires.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med-Surg, Psych.

I was actually just looking at the PALM Zire 71 (it's on sale at Best Buy.) I wasn't sure if it would be good for clinicals. Can you tell me what software you have on yours? Thanks!

Keep the ideas coming....:)

I'm making my list!

Michelle

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Academy has military time watches w/ date for $9, nurse mates is a good shoe, but I have all white nikes w/ extra comfort padding (It saved my life-all the walking) from The Shoe Dep't. I got a prestige medical steth. for $30 and instead of upgrading, kept it I liked it so much. Don't break yourself trying to buy namebrand, best of the best, items--you can always upgrade later..starting out it's not that big of deal. Buy a good foot massager (sore feet), ice pack (for puffy eyes)...LOL. Congrats and have a good luck to ya!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I would say that most schools like you to have WHITE shoes. At ours it does not matter if they are white generic tennies you bought at Payless, or if they are nursing shoes. Heck, some of the students don't even wear white shoes anymore and no one notices!! If I was you, though, I would go with shoes that have a back. I think most programs do not allow open back nursing shoes.

It shouldn't matter what kind of stethescope you get, just get one you like. Make sure you have plenty of pens, a sharpie, alcohol pads, bandaids in your pockets.

And Good Luck & Congratulations!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Urgent Care.

question about the palm pilots... do you really use them alot during the 1st year, or is that more of a 2nd year item? I'd rather buy one right before I need it since they upgrade so fast. Thanks! :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in orthopaedics, perioperative.
question about the palm pilots... do you really use them alot during the 1st year, or is that more of a 2nd year item? I'd rather buy one right before I need it since they upgrade so fast. Thanks! :)

Unless you like to try to stuff a huge nursing drug guide book into your pants pocket (and they hurt in there!) a palm is a great investment!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Float Pool, ICU/CCU, Med/Surg, Onc, Tele.

I'd like to recommend Pepid. I've been using it for about a year now it ROCKS. It's got drug guides, conversions, calculator, and more useful nursing info than you're likely to ever use. Check 'em out at http://www.pepid.com - you do have to buy it, but it has been SO worth it. Word to the wise: it is incompatible with epocrates (which is free, and great for what it is, but doesn't have all the awesome stuff that Pepid has), so you have to completely remove epocrates to use Pepid. If you don't like Pepid after the free trial, you can uninstall it and reinstall epocrates if you like.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med-Surg, Psych.

Hi NurseWeasel,

Would you mind sharing what PDA you have? The software looks incredible!

Thank,

Michelle

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in L&D.

also... my last invaluable object is my closable clip board! when on the floor, it's difficult to walk around with 20 sheets of paper. clip board for writing and i can tuck them away when i'm assessing a patient. don't go without one!

i wish you the best of luck!!

this is a good idea! where did you get yours?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment