New Student - What do I need?

CalNevaMimi, LPN, LVN · Jul 2, 2009

Hmm...black pens & a couple of Sharpies, a penlight that actually works, Mr. Clean Magic Eraser cleaners for your sparkly white shoes (amazing), headache medicine, eyedrops, change for the vending machines, and a Littmann stethescope. :twocents:

LoveMyBugs, BSN, CNA, RN · Jul 2, 2009

flash cards, there are ones that come on a ring. Whenever you find yourself looking up a drug, make a drug card for it! At in my program we had to have hand written drug cards for any drug that we were going to be giving

AKSkier · Jul 2, 2009

Your school should have a list of what you need. Definitely some comfortable shoes for when you start clinicals! A stethoscope, watch with second hand. You need time more than anything. Have to prepare for clinicals, write care plans etc. I know people do great in nursing school with families and jobs, but it is hard.

The rest should be on a list somewhere from your nursing school. They will want you to get some sort of uniform, scrubs, but different colors depending on where yu go. Looks like you are in Texas. Where are you gong to start nursing school if you don't mind saying?

Good luck!

katieighty · Jul 2, 2009

just study A LOT and memorize your meds...just took my NCLEX today...lots o med questions!

newstudenttx · Jul 2, 2009

Thank you all so much for the replies. I will be starting Baptist in San Antonio. I have finished all of the prereqs so this will be the actual nursing classes that I will be starting.

harleyridingirl · Jul 2, 2009

I have used many, MANY index cards this last year and a half to make flash cards. There's so much you have to memorize and I carry them with me at all times and go over them whenever I have a minute. It has helped me be one of 7 in our class that has not failed a class which started out with 30 people.

Also, I got a retractable clip and I hook my scissors onto my pants waist under my scrub top. I can pull out my scissors, use them and then it reals them back in and leaves me a little more room in my pocket. Your pockets will be packed with stuff and make sure to put your name on everything. I also always carry a small notepad in my pocket in clinicals because I write down everything I do for my patients and the time so at the end of the day when you are doing your paperwork, it's all right there.

I personally tried taping the lectures but I found I couldn't listen to them again because you hear everyone's comments and the people talking in the back row. Many of my friends have answered certain test questions correctly because they heard something on the lecture tape that stuck in their head that they didn't note during lecture so you'll just have to decide.

Good Luck! You won't have a life until you graduate. :)

merrywhiterose · Jul 2, 2009

A backpack on wheels

lots of yellow highlighters

NCLEX disk(s)

Ink pens (the click kind)

index cards to make into flash cards

clipboard that has storage in it

cheap calculator (I keep $1. ones from Wal-Mart)

white COMFORTABLE tennis shoes and sox

a good alarm clock w/battery back-up

a book case for all your books

SENSUALBLISSINFL, BSN, RN · Jul 2, 2009

Is your question only supplies related? Do you know the courses you will be taking? If you can brush up on your math if you are that great in it, do so, you have plenty of time. There are sites in drop rip rate and such here online. If you can get someone to brush up in how to take pulse, blood pressure and such it would be great as I am sure one of the first classes will be assesstment.

Good luck.

PS... I bought a watch online, a Hummer LOL, that has military time and I love it. The band can get wet and all, plus is has a compass, not sure what use is that, but it looks cool. Paid like $15 on auction.

CountyRat · Jul 2, 2009

Buy the best stethoscope and the best shoes that you can find. You will be depending on them for the rest of your carreer. Well, not the shoes, you will have to replace those, but; oh, nevermind. Make sure the stethoscope ear-pieces fit well in your ears (they should point forward in your ears, not back) and block outside noises well. When you push the diaphram with your finger, you should feel a mildly uncomfortable sensation of pressure in your ears. If you do not, the ear pieces are not sealing properly in your ear cannals. (PS: if the clerk will not allow you to try out the stethockope, or does not have different size ear pieces for you to try out, smile politely, thank them for their time, and go somewhere that does.) Once you have established the best fit and seal in your ears, consider durability. This thing will be in your pocket, around your neck, falling on the floor, banging against bed reails, being yanked on by demented patients, and who knows what else for the rest of your working life, so get a good one.

Don't break the bank on a watch. These days, even $10 watches are more than accurate enough for anyone. What you SHOULD look for is a watch that is easy to read in dim light, INCLUDING THE SECOND HAND. That second hand is going to become a close, personnal friend of yours, and light in some parts of hospitals can be lousy, so give yourself a break and get a watch with a large face, large hands, and colors that are easy to see. Get one with hands and a dial, not a digital display.

Do you have any choices in uniforms, or does your school mandate what you wear? If you do have a choice, look for pockets. Big pockets, and lots of them. Get a uniform with more pockets than you think that you are going to need, BIG ONES! Then, buy a lab coat with even more pockets for the many things you do not yet know that you will need. I am really serious about this. I bet you that, after you get into clinical, you will wish you had even more pockets than you do. And please, do not whine about how they make your hips look! If you wanted to wear glamerous clothing, you should have picked another carreer. Wanna know what will really make you look frumpy? Being exhaused because of all of the trips that you have to make back to the nurses station and supply room to get stuff that you should have been carrying with you!

Get reference books that exceed the requirements of your school. Study the books you are assigned, then look for additional information in good medical, biophysiological, pharmaceutical, and nursing text books. (A good library works, and saves money. These text books cost a fortune.) Learn as much hard science as you can. I do not expect you to understand now, but I promise you, the more science you learn the better the nurse you will be. It will also make it easier for you to keep up with the rapid pace of change in nursing if you understand the science behind the practice.

Last thing: acquire a cheerful, easy-going attitude about people. You will be seeing them at their very worst. Learn to accept people as you find them, and to laugh at yourself at least three times every day (more prn).

Very best wishes to you!

newstudenttx · Jul 3, 2009

I have the textbook list, but they also want a medical dictionary and a drug reference book. Do you have any suggestions for those?

AKSkier · Jul 3, 2009

Yes, I would definitely get the Nursing 09 drug book. I would NOT get the Davis drug book. I don't agree with everything Davis says, and I know a few other nurses who also agree. One thing, it would say to hold dig or beta blockers for heart rate of 50 or less. Well, all of the nursing school always tell you to hold for 60 or less. Whenever I hear a student tell me something that doesn't sound right, it seems they looked it up in Davis. Just my opinion.

sirod · Jul 5, 2009

Yes, you need ALL the equipment, but what you really need is a good plan on how you are going to be ORGANIZED using any and all the equipment. Organization is key to good nursing!

Let me know if you want info on how I do it.....