New job...daily essentials?

Nurses New Nurse

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I have been out of nursing school since 2010 and have been hired on at a local hospital as an LPN. I will be working full time dayshift in a long term respiratory care center. I was just wondering what everyone finds essential to get through the day? I know the usual...watch, pen light, etc...but what else do you all find you need on a daily basis as new nurses? Reference sheets? Drug guides? Also, any advice to someone just starting out? I'm so excited but definitely a nervous wreck! :)

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Specializes in Burn, Pediatric ICU.

If you work on a respiratory floor, I recommend a good stethoscope! I work in a mainly respiratory ICU and that is my most treasured piece of equipment!... that and Sharpie Pens Fine point! A good pen makes a big difference. Also, eat a good breakfast. You gotta bring your A-game!

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Academics.

I have:

--a custom brain sheet that mimics the order of our computer charting

--stethoscope

--binder for SBARs, brain sheet, and MARs organized in a way to fits my needs

--penlight for neuro checks, which doubles as my flashlight to check on patients (I work nights)

--bandage scissors

--two pens, highlighter, sharpie, dry erase marker, mechanical pencil

When I get to work, I fill my numerous pockets with alcohol swabs, telemetry pads, saline syringes, and two types of tape.

Yes, I carry all I've listed around with me at all times, and I use everything listed every day.

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I have:

--a custom brain sheet that mimics the order of our computer charting

--stethoscope

--binder for SBARs, brain sheet, and MARs organized in a way to fits my needs

--penlight for neuro checks, which doubles as my flashlight to check on patients (I work nights)

--bandage scissors

--two pens, highlighter, sharpie, dry erase marker, mechanical pencil

When I get to work, I fill my numerous pockets with alcohol swabs, telemetry pads, saline syringes, and two types of tape.

Yes, I carry all I've listed around with me at all times, and I use everything listed every day.

Oh man, this sounds like my list too.

I do not work in acute care yet but this is what I lugged around me during my preceptorship and I have no intention of paring it down lol

How do you carry it all? I am considering a fanny pack because these all of these things poke me when I put them in my pockets, especially when I squat down.

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I have been out of nursing school since 2010 and have been hired on at a local hospital as an LPN. I will be working full time dayshift in a long term respiratory care center. I was just wondering what everyone finds essential to get through the day? I know the usual...watch, pen light, etc...but what else do you all find you need on a daily basis as new nurses? Reference sheets? Drug guides? Also, any advice to someone just starting out? I'm so excited but definitely a nervous wreck! :)

I like Davis a lot. Davis Drug Guide and their series of pocket reference books. Here is one for med-surg http://www.amazon.com/MedSurg-Notes-Nurses-Clinical-Pocket/dp/0803618689

Lotion is also essential. My hands get dry and cracked from handwashing. Painfully raw hands makes everything worse. Hospital lotions do not cut it and it took me a while to find a lotion that does not leave my hands greasy. I like Gold Bond hand sanitizer lotion lately. Definitely have a few small tubes with you because they will get up and walk away.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Rehab.

I use hemostats clipped to the side of my scrub top to hold two rolls of tape - paper and plastic. In my pockets I have: highlighter, Sharpie, two or three pens, bandage scissors, flashlight, iPod touch with drug guides and references and alcohol wipes in my back pocket. I usually carry my stethoscope, pulse oximeter and binder with report sheet on my med cart.

I think you have to work the job for a week or so to decide what you need on the job. I almost went out and bought a bunch of stuff but turns out I wouldn't have needed it. I'm glad i didn't waste my money. Your unit should have the basics you need for now.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Academics.
How do you carry it all? I am considering a fanny pack because these all of these things poke me when I put them in my pockets, especially when I squat down.

Some of it goes in a nursing organizer fanny pack-type thing, except it lays nice and flat around my waist. Makes a potty break a little more complicated, but it works. ;)

For the saline flushes, I pick up a certain amount at the beginning of shift...the # of patients I have + 3, then I refill in the am before med pass. By the time I've done my initial shift assessments, I don't have a lot that are poking me as I sit to chart.

Wear scrub pants with those side pockets that are halfway down your thigh. Much better for saline flushes.

ETA: I also have one of those small, cheap calculators. I haven't had to use it much, but one day, I was glad I had it without having to run to the computer to bring up the calc on there.

44 mcg IV, but given 200 mcg vial to reconstitute with 5 ml saline. Not a difficult calculation, but I wouldn't have been confident without a calc. Gave 1.1 ml after reconstituting, btw.

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Specializes in Orthopedic, LTC, STR, Med-Surg, Tele.
I have been out of nursing school since 2010 and have been hired on at a local hospital as an LPN. I will be working full time dayshift in a long term respiratory care center. I was just wondering what everyone finds essential to get through the day? I know the usual...watch, pen light, etc...but what else do you all find you need on a daily basis as new nurses? Reference sheets? Drug guides? Also, any advice to someone just starting out? I'm so excited but definitely a nervous wreck! :)

I always carry a stethoscope, hemostats, scissors, and a pen in my pockets. I stuff my COW (computer on wheels) with caps for the ends of IV lines, claves, saline flushes, 2x2s, tape, and IV start stuff. And always, always a zillion alcohol swabs :nurse:

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Specializes in Med Surg.

Great advice here. Something else that helps me is to put things in the same pocket every time, that way I can just reach and go and not think about it. Cell phone (for calculator) in left side pocket; hemostats, scissors, and brain sheets in right. Flashlight, pens, tape, alcohol swabs in left shirt pocket. More pens, highlighter, flushes, needles, etc, in right shirt pocket. I don't carry flushes and that sort of thing around with me--we're a small unit and I can easily go back and get one if needed. But, if I know I'm going to need them (like for a central line blood draw), I always bring more than I need to the room.

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Specializes in Pediatric Hem/Onc.

In my scrub top pockets, I keep my 4 color pen (I color code my brain sheet), chapstick, and brain in the left. Right pocket is lifesavers (am diabetic, so just in case,) cell (med and flashlight apps!) and any lab slips I need right away. All my pants have a cargo pocket so I stick spare flushes and worklists in that.

I've discovered if my scrub top doesn't have easily accessible front pockets, my whole system falls apart...which sucks because I have a couple of really cute scrub tops with bad pockets lol

Oh, and my stethoscope! I can barely make out heartbeats with the disposable ones we use in my hospital.

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What is a brain sheet?

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What is a brain sheet?

I'd like to know this as well.

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