Nurse fanny packs

[Sassybottom]

Hey,

Does anyone here wear some sort of pack around their waist to keep things organized?

I was thinking about either ordering:

http://shop.advanceweb.com/ProductInfo.aspx?productid=2825#MoreImages

or

http://nursepropack.easystorecreator.net/items/nurse-pack~large-/nurse-pack-detail.htm

Any experience with either of these packs? I would be purchasing off the internet sight unseen so I am a bit cautious.

Or, tell me about the organizers you use.

I am tired of stuffing my pockets and losing things left and right.

Thanks.

[Hoozdo, ADN]

I use one too and like it. I like the one in the first picture; the second one looks to large.

I can think of only 3 drawbacks to a nurse's tool belt.

1. Maybe 1 out of 50 times when I bend over something drops on the floor, like scissors or hemostats.

2. I accidently hit the bed buttons with my extended stomach when I am bedside doing something.

3. They are hard to clean

There are many more pros than cons to wearing one

- If you have a waistline, show it off

- You always have scissors

- You always have tape

- You always have pens

- You always have ANYTHING you really need

- You always know automatically where to reach when you need something

- You can keep other things in your pockets, like mints, report sheet, etc without having to keep tools in your pockets. You have zero risk of poking holes in your scrub pockets.

I think you would like one. I am constantly having to loan my scissors or give tape to somebody at work.

[ceecel.dee, MSN, RN]

Can't imagine wearing one...can't imagine how to sanitize the thing and imagine the cross-contamination issues. Not a fan.

[jjjoy, LPN]

Can't imagine wearing one...can't imagine how to sanitize the thing and imagine the cross-contamination issues. Not a fan.

If the "tool belt" is made of a sturdy material, it could probably be wiped down at the end of the day.

On a similar note, I wonder how many nurses wipe down everything they clear out of their pockets at the end of the day and throw back in again the next day (scissors, tape, hemostats, pens, etc). And how many nurses wear the same jacket over their uniform from the day before without washing it?

[clee1]

I keep an "EMT pouch" to hold scissors, stats, strip caliper, penlight, tape, etc. in one scrub top pocket. The other holds three Altoids tins containing alcohol preps, 2x2's, line-change and int site labels, etc. Palm Pilot (in a hard aluminum case) and pens in the breast pocket.

I wear cargo-pocket bottoms that have regular front pockets as well. In the regular pockets are cell phone, unit phone and keys. The cargo pockets are used for INT starting supplies, drip set and piggyback lines, syringes, needles, and flushes. My stethoscope hangs from my waistband on a hard plastic steth holder (allheart.com).

I carry an aluminum Sauder desk/clipboard that holds my paperwork, next meds, tape measure, dry erase marker, highlighter, etc. (REALLY handy!)

I rarely drop anything, rarely have to go out of a room for "routine" supplies, and the distribution of the above items doesn't really bulge out my scrubs.

On my unit, I'm known as "Mr. Prepared".

Fanny pack???? NO, thank you.

[johnwaynehair, BSN, RN]

Of all things, I bought a concealed handgun fanny pack, and took out the holster...lots of pockets and really roomy!

[bigsyis]

Do you remember the word "fomite" from Nursing School? Unless you laundered it every day, that carry all would be just that. Just load your lab jacket pockets up, and keep doing the laundry! Soon you will be able to find exactly what you are looking for when you put your hand in your pocket-just by the feel! Left hand pocket for one type of t hings, right hand pocket for the rest.

[ROSYJO11]

well here in Australia fanny doesnt mean what it does in USA, it means the female genitalia!

I remember some nursing friends of mine went on a cruise together and came back from America with these round bats like wooden small tennis rackets and they were called Fanny Smackers.

They were brought to work and we all laughed our butts off, I still giggle when I hear/see anything like it. Immature perhaps but funny nevertheless.

Now here we call those bags, bumbags lol

And if I am wearing trousers that dont have the nice deep pockets then I wear a black tourist one to work and it holds all my goodies. Easily makes it through the wash with my uniform.

Camera pouches make handy accessories as well.

Jo

[P_RN, ADN, RN]

In Australia the f- word isn't kindle looked upon. I used a white "hip pack" yes twisted over my right hip and kind of loose like a gun-slinger's belt. I also fell in love with a passport belt I had that I wore cross chest like. Everything I needed less often would go in a belt/pack. Othrewise my pen never left my hand and my scissors were in the pack.

[EmmaG, RN]

Hospital administrations are already touting their facilities as resorts. I sure as heck don't want to walk around looking like a tourist...

[Virgo_RN, BSN, RN]

I use a pocket organizer. I can place my pens, penlight, calipers, scissors, hemostats, alcohol wipes, etc. into the slots and have them neatly organized in my scrub top pocket. Only problem is, sometimes when I bend over it falls out.

[NurseDawgJess, BSN, RN]

I see nothing wrong with using a nurse "tool belt". I like the Nurse Pro Pack bags. I initially started out with their EMT pack because it was smaller and kept everything more contained because the flap velcros shut. Once I moved to the ER, I needed something larger and now I use their Nurse Pack which is roomier and it's easier to get to the supplies I need when I'm pressed for time. It's not really that noticable since I leave my scrub shirt untucked. It's a little heavy but I would be lost without it and I'm much more efficient having it. Sure, lots of supplies are in the patient rooms but it never fails when I need something, the stock has ran dry and I waste too much time hunting down what I need. Plus, I can't stand to have my pockets bulging out. That looks much nerdier than my tool belt in my opinion. Good luck with whatever you decide.

[GadgetRN71, ASN, RN]

I could use a fanny pack because the pockets on my warm up jackets are always the first thing to rip...I haven't bought one yet though..have to see what style will work best.