New NP needing advice

[smparker1101, MSN, APRN]

Hi everyone!

I start seeing patients on my own on Tuesday and I have a question for all of you practicing NPs out there.
No one in my practice wears a lab coat. I work in neurology and need to bring a pen, stethoscope and reflex hammer in the room with me for each patient encounter. Before someone makes a fuss I CAVI wipe everything down in between patients. Anyway, my attending has one of those old doctors bags that he brings in the room with him and the other MD in the practice brings a large pouch/pencil case with her. 
Any suggestions on how I should bring all of my tools in the room with me? I don’t want to wear my lab coat and the pockets are ridiculously small anyway because it’s a “women’s” lab coat. 

[Guest1144461]

I use a belt clip stethoscope holder. Pen slips onto my pant hook or pocket. I use the stethoscope as a reflex hammer haha if I need to. My job doesn't have me checking reflexes very often.

[sleepwalker, MSN, NP]

I quit using a reflex hammer years ago...just use the edge of the stethoscope chest piece to check reflexes

[smparker1101, MSN, APRN]

I work in neurology with patients with neuro degenerative disease. I need a reflex hammer to check reflexes. 

[Corey Narry, MSN, RN, NP]

I only work in-patient and Neurology is one of the departments where I see providers still wear lab coats (most others wear sweater/jackets with embroidered logos for their specialty). You could potentially wear the sweater/jackets as some of them do look professional and have large pockets (some brands are actually expensive!). Some of the female Neurology residents walk around with a small version of a messenger bag that contains all their assessment tools. Fanny packs are an option but I personally think they aren't attractive.

[FullGlass, BSN, MSN, NP]

There are women's lab coats that have good-size pockets.  I use one of those when I need to wear a lab coat.

[Ms. Nikki, ASN, BSN, MSN, APRN]

On 3/31/2021 at 7:29 PM, smparker1101 said:

Hi everyone!

I start seeing patients on my own on Tuesday and I have a question for all of you practicing NPs out there.
No one in my practice wears a lab coat. I work in neurology and need to bring a pen, stethoscope and reflex hammer in the room with me for each patient encounter. Before someone makes a fuss I CAVI wipe everything down in between patients. Anyway, my attending has one of those old doctors bags that he brings in the room with him and the other MD in the practice brings a large pouch/pencil case with her. 
Any suggestions on how I should bring all of my tools in the room with me? I don’t want to wear my lab coat and the pockets are ridiculously small anyway because it’s a “women’s” lab coat. 

Purchase a lab coat you like (male or female) and wear it. I was new NP and was the only one on my unit wearing a lab coat (I'm a female but I bought a male coat). I did not care. I kept is clean and hung it my office when I got warm. But I ALWAYS put it on before every patient interaction. Less than 6 months into my job, the Director felt that wearing  lab coats looked much more professional and required all providers to wear them. Initially there was a little dissent, but now it is standard practice there. The facility even pays for embroidered names and title on the coats now. As a provider it's time to start thinking autonomously. Do what makes you comfortable, as long as it's not prohibited by your facility and/or your state nurse practice act. As NPs initially struggle to learn to be the type of leaders health care needs. But don't doubt yourself. We make changes that make everything better for our patients, our facility, and healthcare overall. I wish you well and Congrats on becoming a NP! 

[Rnis, BSN, DNP, APRN, NP]

How many exam rooms do you have ?  I just have a reflex hammer, tuning fork, etct... in each room