New nurse. What do I need?

[ChiMan360]

Hey folks,

I just passed my NCLEX and have a job lined

up for February. I'll be working on surgical and orthopedic units at a nearby teaching hospital. Besides a stethoscope, scissors, tape, and pen, what gear should a med-surg nurse have available? Also, with holidays approaching, what nursing related gift do you wish someone would get for you?

thanks!

[kbrn2002, ADN, RN]

I always have alcohol pads, dead enders for the ivs, saline syringes, penlight, scissors, chapstick, sharpie marker, dry erase marker, highlighter, pulse ox, stethoscope, All of these in my pockets. Then my coffee and bottled water by the nurses station because I wont have time to run back to the locker room between assessments and I wont remember to drink! My hospital has us use binders with dividers which works because I have all patient info to carry with me when I go to a patients room if a doctor calls me in the middle of an assessment I dont need to walk all the way back to the nurses station.

Holy smokes! You must have some big pockets, no way would I carry all that around with me. Then again I work in a SNF and don't need all that equipment frequently enough to carry it on me. All I really need is a pen, sharpie, lip balm and scissors. I don't even carry my stethoscope, just leave it on the med card or in my bag in the nursing office until I need it.

OP, you will find that what you use most frequently and really should carry on you will depend greatly upon the floor you are working. Look at your co-workers to see what they pull out of a pocket at need, ask your preceptor what equipment is vital to have on you at all times and then adjust what you keep on you to fit the needs of your unit.

[AceOfHearts<3]

. Quote from freckles23

I always have alcohol pads, dead enders for the ivs, saline syringes, penlight, scissors, chapstick, sharpiemarker, dryerasemarker, highlighter, pulseox, stethoscope, Alloftheseinmypockets.

The JC frowns on this.

What do they expect nurses to use to flush an IV site to check for patency or to insure all the IVP med gets in and isn't left in the line?

[Wuzzie]

What do they expect nurses to use to flush an IV site to check for patency or to insure all the IVP med gets in and isn't left in the line?

They expect you to get it from the med room on an as-needed basis. They require all meds be in a secure location and they don't consider pockets secure. I didn't make the rule.

[ottersloveoysters]

For holiday gifts, a gift certificate to a place where you can buy scrubs and shoes would be appreciated.

[JadedCPN, BSN, RN]

For holiday gifts, a gift certificate to a place where you can buy scrubs and shoes would be appreciated.

Assuming your new workplace doesn't require a specific uniform, I second this recommendation for holiday gifts. Truthfully many supplies mentioned are things that can often be obtained at the facility itself.

[CoffeeQ1PRN]

Mini sharpies! I keep one on my ID to time/date/sign any dressing change/tubing/IVPB/open saline bottle/whatever. Having it right there is a great way to never forget to label something!

[cleback]

Cookies... to buy your coworkers' affection.

Just kidding... kind of.

[whatwasithinking75]

Pen light, note pad, and invest in some compression socks!

Hmmm what nursing related gift would I want; Good shoes for me it's dansko work wonders. I asked for a fit bit this year. It's not nurse related but I'm curious to see how many steps and calories I'll burn while working :)

[shell1983]

Stethoscope, extra pens ( I keep some in my locker, they always get lost/someone picks it up), hand lotion, OTC meds like Tylenol in locker. We have workstations on wheels in which all of our supplies like flushes, alcohol swabs, IV tubing, caps etc. are kept. I work on a general medicine floor and my preceptor made me a notecard of the pager numbers of the interns and residents which helped a lot.

[shell1983]

Congratulations on passing the NCLEX too!

[ChiMan360]

Thank you! It feels pretty great!

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

Keep an extra set of scrubs, socks, and underwear in your work locker or in the trunk of your car. Even an old pair of shoes, if you can. You'll thank me for this advice when someone throws up on you, your dialysis machine springs a leak, or your period comes a week too early.