How Much Junk do you Keep?

Nurses General Nursing

Published

A question for non-hoarders please :)

I've been sorting through stuff and reevaluating my relationship to things this year. I've gotten rid of a lot of stuff. Right now I'm going through a lot of old nursing training handouts, powerpoints and stuff from the last decade, some old stuff from school, other training I've had or continuing education. Some of it is obviously recycling, some is still good information.

I think I'm going to slowly read through the stuff that I've forgotten as a refresher for the next month or so, then probably ditch most of it. Perhaps certain information will point me towards things I absolutely should know and am rusty with now.

So it made me wonder about how much stuff other people keep.

-What do you keep?

-How do you keep yourselves current on information you don't use very often in your practice?

-Do you even bother?

-Are there other areas of nursing you're interested with and don't practice, but maybe like to keep more current?

Specializes in Med/Surge, Psych, LTC, Home Health.

I'm another person who keeps NOTHING. My work usually has plenty

of manuals, drug books, etc. to refer back to.

I've found that if I do keep stuff, I don't even end up referring back

to it. Things like power point presentations, etc, that I intend to

keep and refer back to, but just end up in the bottom of my

locker, never to be touched again.

I keep my stethoscope, that's it.

And I'll keep CEU's certificates, but only if I am afraid that

they will not easily be found online.

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Specializes in Med/Surge, Psych, LTC, Home Health.
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Hey watch it, I happen to like Eddie Money. :laugh:

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That is awesome!! We went from 2300 sq ft 4/2.5 home to a 2000 sq ft home, but the second one had a less open layout and didn't feel like 2000 sq ft. We gained a family member (our daughter) and downsized to a 1785 sq ft townhouse that has a wonderful layout for our family. I got rid of four 6-foot bookshelves in the process (donated a ton of books) and a lot of clothes and shoes, but I still need to downsize more! I have a lot of Danskos that are lightly worn, so I am going to check out the local consignment places for those.

Hmm - consignment. Could be a way to earn a few dollars. Thanks for the idea.

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Specializes in UR/PA, Hematology/Oncology, Med Surg, Psych.

This is a current topic for me as I've been clearing out old clutter. The only nursing paper I keep is a reference I have on insulin. It has the onset, peak, etc. on all the different types of insulin and I've found myself referring to it several times over the years (I keep it updated). Its been handy-dandy. Everything else including my nursing books have been trashed. BTW, I have found so many little treasures I had forgotten I had while decluttering.

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Specializes in ED, Cardiac-step down, tele, med surg.

I still have my anatomy and physio book, my pharmacology book and critical care book, ACLS and PALS manuals. I may have TNCC manual too. I'm not a total hoarder, but I'm sure I have things that I don't need. I would want to donate them or something. I don't want to just throw them in the garbage.

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.
Hmm - consignment. Could be a way to earn a few dollars. Thanks for the idea.

Yep! I usually just donate things, but Danskos are a rather pricey habit. Lol. I am also changing jobs from a hospital where nurses wear royal blue to a hospital with navy blue, so I am going to see about consignment for some of my scrubs, too. There is also a local scrub shop that buys used scrubs for resale, they pay $2 per top or bottom. Not great, but it's something!

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Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).
I'll keep CEU's certificates, but only if I am afraid that

they will not easily be found online.

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

I keep nothing - I'm the anti-hoarder.

The only papers I kept were my clinical logs from my post-MSN certs as I might need them if I pursue a DNP

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Specializes in Cardiology, School Nursing, General.

I only kept my big binder with ALL of my work from school that I created and cared for a whole year for my overall grade. It was my life for that school year and I am going to keep it... in storage.

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

I have next week off, and I am inspired to get rid of more STUFF!!! :) I have a bunch of Army uniforms that no one seems to want among my active duty peeps, so I will see if the local surplus place will take them. I have less than 120 days remaining in the Individual Ready Reserve (IRR), and it's not likely they'd call me back with the recent heart failure and all that jazz. Yet I am somehow superstitious about getting rid of those uniforms!! lol. I also have old files and paperwork (like 10-15 years old) that needs shredding. I will probably take it to a shredding service rather than doing it myself. Has anyone ever done that?

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Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.

I got rid of everything that didn't fit on our sailboat and sailed it away. That means the only books I kept were diesel maintenence and navigation charts.

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I will probably take it to a shredding service rather than doing it myself. Has anyone ever done that?

If it really is that much paperwork, then many of these shredding services can come to you in a large shredding truck. Call around to see if they offer such service.

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