List of supplies to buy for a new Nursing Student

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Specializes in Critical Care.

Hi everyone! I just got my nursing acceptance letter :yeah: :bowingpur and I'm so grateful to be finally moving on from being a little pre-nursing student. ;) So far I've bought my awesome Littman stethoscope and I'm going to be buying a manual blood pressure kit (my school wants us to have that) from allheart.com. It will have a cute print on the cuff & come with a matching case. I'm also going to be getting a nice penlight & bandage scissors. I'm wondering if any of you think there are any additional items I should add to the list. As far as general school supplies go, I've become a pro at picking out those b/c of my years as a pre-nursing student. But I'm sure there are some nursing school specific things I'm overlooking. Thanks for your thoughts in advance! :)

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I cant live without my clipboard!

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Figure out quickly what organization methods work best for you, if your program is anything like mine you are about to receive an avalanche of papers. I personally prefer a binder and three hole puncher.

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Specializes in CICU.

I love my little teeny notebooks (spirals) that fit in my pocket. Use them for clinicals and work. BLack click-pens and a yellow highlighter.

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Specializes in Urgent Care NP, Emergency Nursing, Camp Nursing.

-Self-sharpening bandage scissors (i.e. mini-Trauma Shears)

-Maxwell's Quick Medical Reference

-Your school's uniform scrubs, with requisite patches, name tags, etc.

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Specializes in Operating Room.

Our SNA sells these clipboards with all sorts of tables on them, mostly normal lab values, abbreviations, etc that really help with clinicals.

Organization is a huge thing for me. I use a big three-ring binder and have tabs for each class. I have another binder I use to store old test materials. I never throw anything away because you never know when you'll need it. A planner is a must, this is how I stay on top of everything.

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Specializes in MICU - CCRN, IR, Vascular Surgery.

iPod touch or similar thing for nursing apps. Just make sure to okay it with the school and clinical sites first!

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~blank and color coated flash cards

~rolling bag for the huge books you will be toting!

~planner

~comfy shoes (the new sketchers come highly recommended)

emergency pouch to carry the following:

~travel sized deoderant sticks - for the days you either forget or need to freshen up at clinical

~tylenol for the nursing induced headaches!!!!

~extra tampons for when you need it or when a friend needs it

~extra black pen

~#2 pencil

~hair tyes

~spare watch (even if it is a junker)

~breath mints and or gum

~lotion for when you hands are bleeding from dryness in clinical

~1 dollar in change, 5 single dollars

~phone number for: auto club & locksmith - bc stuff happens and if it does - you wont have time to be searching for that stuff

~picture of something that motivates you for when you have a bad test or bad day

~small bottle of hand sanitizer (just in case)

~phone numbers of fellow classmates in case you ever need something

~for those who are unsure of being able to handle smells - a small container of vicks to dab at the bottom of your nose before handling a c-diff clean up

other tips -

  • check out relaxing music on youtube, find one you can play for the rough days
  • flashcard exchange.com is awesome!
  • if there is a procedure or a function of something you do not understand try to look up videos on it - youtube is great source
  • if you have a huge review given to you for a test that you have to find answer for prior to studying, get a buddy who can do the bottom half and you do the top. this leaves more study time and a friend for the program4
  • stay out of any and all drama - it will find you - no matter where you hide or who you avoid, try to be unbiased and get out of the situation saying as little as possible
  • this one is huge:::::: if you have a myspace, facebook or blog make it private!!!! you will be surprised that some nursing directors check up on you!!!! never ever ever update your status regarding your patients - you can get kicked out of the program, even if you leave out names! be wary of the info you allow others to see about you on the internet, if you think it is inapproriate - then it is.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

Thanks for all the advice everyone! I looked up the nursing clipboards and they looked great, as did the clipboards that you can store things in. Does any one have a preference for bandage scissors? I'm torn between these two types:

http://www.allheart.com/855004-07.html

http://www.allheart.com/pm853.html

I like that the Nurse mate ones have a bigger hole for the 2-finger area - I think that would be more comfortable, but I have a feeling the listermate ones are higher quality.

Thanks for your thoughts! :)

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Specializes in Critical Care.

Also, does anyone know where I could find these pants? They look amazing but I get the impression they've been discontinued :( :(

http://www.scrubshopper.com/izzy-favorite-fit-pant.html?productid=278

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Specializes in Emergency, Pre-Op, PACU, OR.

I would get multiple penlights, mine have a tendency to stop working, so I always have two in my pocket. Uhm, no help on the shockingly pink scrubs, but I would hold off on those, most schools have uniform policy regarding the kind and color of scrubs you can wear. Also a note of caution on the deodorant, many places will not allow you to wear any kind of perfume or scented deodorant. I second the poster who suggested a watch, this is vital, and find one that either has a hand counting seconds or can show seconds (if digital), in case you do your vitals manually. Get some pens you can clip on that won't spill ink and ruin your uniform. Hand cream because your hands will dry out from gloves and washing. Sturdy, closed, comfy shoes, but check your school's requirements regarding type and color.

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Specializes in Critical Care.
I would get multiple penlights, mine have a tendency to stop working, so I always have two in my pocket. Uhm, no help on the shockingly pink scrubs, but I would hold off on those, most schools have uniform policy regarding the kind and color of scrubs you can wear. Also a note of caution on the deodorant, many places will not allow you to wear any kind of perfume or scented deodorant. I second the poster who suggested a watch, this is vital, and find one that either has a hand counting seconds or can show seconds (if digital), in case you do your vitals manually. Get some pens you can clip on that won't spill ink and ruin your uniform. Hand cream because your hands will dry out from gloves and washing. Sturdy, closed, comfy shoes, but check your school's requirements regarding type and color.

Thanks for your advice on the penlights. I'm not getting the scrubs in pink, cause my school requires royal blue, which is a color option for those pants. I just really like the look of the fit and style of the pants so I'm real sad I can't find the pants. :(

Does anyone have any thoughts on NurseMates shoes? I've heard their good, but I'd like to hear some other opinions. Did anyone have any thoughts on the bandage scissors? Thanks for the advice thus far! :)

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