what are your must haves

i weasn't planning on buying anything yet i was just curious to what people felt were their must have items

My must have items have decreased over the years. As I have gained more experience and more pockets in my scrubs, My items have been cut in half. I carry trauma shears, pen, sharpie (for marking IV's and labeling dressings), dollar store calculator (small, cheap and effective), ER/Trauma Checkmate book (reference guide the fits in pocket) and a stethoscope. Other stuff is only used in school and forgotten upon graduation.

Lots of high-lighters :). . . I'm the highliter queen, LOL. I got a good stethoscope (Littmann) and that was very helpful.

Depending on your budget, a palm pilot can be useful. Mine has Tabers, lots of nursing info and I downloaded a TON of NCLEX questions on it so I can study wherever I am. You can get programs with pharm, etc. too. Good for care plans on the run :).

Must haves that I always have on me: stethoscope, sharpie, scissors, pens, gum, alcohol swabs, hair tie, chap stick. However, the most huge, important must have is a WATCH!!!! The days that I forget my watch are horrible because I am such a time management freak. It is almost impossible for me to get through a shift without a watch. If I forget anything else I can just borrow it from work, but a watch is a personal thing. Now I have a special compartment in my purse to keep my watch and I always put it there when I take it off so that I have it with me at work.

I forgot--lip balm. My lips get so dry without it that I'm miserable. I also leave cash and a bottle of water in my locker for emergencies :).

A good LPN review book

After 34 years of ICU/ER nursing, the most important must-have is a great pair of shoes!

thanks ya all i have been a CNA for almost 9 yrs and am seeing that the must haves for cna and lpn/rn seems to be about the same

as a cna i always had to have stethascope,bp cuff, name badge holder,watch, hair scrunchies, small pad of paper for notes and reminders(pda will probably replace that),alcohol swabs in pockets for stethascope and bp cuff, my nursing clogs

Must-have for school - a study routine. Not much fun to shop for but pays off in the long run. Just like your brain knows to sleep when you go to bed, it will know to learn if you consistently study in the same place or in the same pattern.

Another must-have - a calendar that works for you (Daytimer, PDA, wall calendar, Microsoft Outlook).

A recorder for class. A very neat feature of newer laptops are the recorder feature. While you type notes, the recorder meshes the audio with whereever you are, so you can look and listen again later.

If your school recommends a cheap stethoscope (under about $30) forget it. If you are planning to be a professional you need professional tools. I agree - go with the Littman.

Good luck in school.

my littman stethoscope, alcohol swabs. My watch...can't forget the watch or my day feels ruined. Several black and red pens. A drug book or my PDA with "Epocrates" for drug information so I don't have to search the floor for a drug book to look up a drug I'm not familiar with. A high protein snack to keep nearby helps in case I don't have time to eat a meal....and my bottle of water.

My ICU has a well stocked supply cart, so I don't carry as much in my pockets as when I worked in the float pool. Some of these floors have one supply closet, and I stuff my pocket with alcohol swabs, syringes, tape and gauze.

Scrubs with pockets are essential.