Nursing bag for hospice RN?

Specialties Hospice

Published

I have been a hospice RN for about 3 months now, and am working on improving a few things. One of the main things I want to improve is the way I carry all of my paperwork and equipment. Working out in the field is completely new to me. As of now, I have an oversized tote with two separate sides, one for paperwork and one for my stethoscope, BP cuff, pulse oximeter, thermometer, etc. As my caseload grows, it's becoming a hassle to carry this bag around all the time. I know I also need something with three compartments to be compliant with state requirements. Ideally, I also want it to be something that looks nice, as we wear business casual as our work attire.

The other day I saw an RN with another hospice who had a bag that seemed perfect, and I should have asked where she got it but I was busy. It was a rolling caddy, with at least a couple of side zipper pockets on the outside. When you unzipped the main compartment, the flap could be attached to the telescoping bars behind it to hold it open as you work. The flap also had multiple clear zipper pockets for pens, paper clips, etc. The main compartment seemed very spacious, allowing at least two if not three compartments.

Any suggestions on a bag similar to this? I haven't had much luck so far searching online. Or does anyone have any suggestions for a different bag?

Thanks in advance :)

check out these great bags at tom bihn (disclaimer: no financial relationship to disclose). they're pricey but the one i got six years ago still looks brand new since it wears like iron. my daughter had a couple of them in various sizes-- backpack, laptop carrier, travel bag... love 'em.

tom bihn bags - laptop bags, laptop backpacks, laptop cases

That Hopkins bag is really nice and the price is right. Just start looking around at luggage and back packs and I am sure you will find something satisfactory.What is more important is that you enjoy your job and find it fufilling..

What about the ultimate nursing bag I think it's sold at nursing gear stores. Its a nursing mates product.

I have used Hopkins bags with good success- they are designed with the home nurse in mind. We are supposed to keep our bags in a garbage bag while in the home. That creeps me out too. I always wondered if anyone did any actual studies to see if the bags were a source of infection or not. As long as the items are kept separated inside the bag- clean, dirty, etc. and your hands are kept clean during care I have my doubts about the bag making a difference. But who knows? I never believed that bacteria could live outside of a host as long as they have found that they can either. Tough little buggers. We need UV lights to decontaminate between houses.

I've been using the Nursemates Ultimate Nursing Bag. Love it. It does not have an area for dirty but we do not remove dirty items from the home. We do have biohazard bags.

Specializes in Hospice, ER.

I appreciate all of the responses so far! Keep em coming! I feel like I am finally getting closer to having a bag that makes things a little easier :) This is personal research as well as research for the company I am employed with, as they are hoping to find nursing bags that they can provide for us if we can all agree on a type of bag. So far I'm leaning towards suggesting the Hopkins bag since it seems to be so practical and it is not too expensive either.

Specializes in Hospice / Ambulatory Clinic.

I would also look in the scrapbooking section of a craft store for rolling totes. I have one I used for design school and the main part of the bag was divideable with moveable dividers and it had a paper section at the front with plenty of room for pens and pockets on the side. Michaels and Joanns always have 40% off coupons so you can get one for a reasonable price

I also have a Zuca bag which was great for nursing school textbooks and carrying iceskates but probably not so good for actual nursing.

Check also some of the makeup bag sites they have these really neat soft rolling train cases with little slide out drawers.

Specializes in PICU, NICU, L&D, Public Health, Hospice.

Your agency should provide you with a bag so that you can meet the regulations for them. You should carry a blue pad or similar to set your bag on when you enter the home. My agency provides wheeled bags for field staff who cannot carry a bag without risking injury. Your bag should be emptied and cleaned once a month.

Specializes in Hospice / Ambulatory Clinic.
Your agency should provide you with a bag so that you can meet the regulations for them. You should carry a blue pad or similar to set your bag on when you enter the home. My agency provides wheeled bags for field staff who cannot carry a bag without risking injury. Your bag should be emptied and cleaned once a month.

I'm going ask this question in all seriousness. Is this the kind of things workplaces did before the economy went sour because I can't imagine my previous and current employers doing anything more than giving me a free pen and for the record I have yet to receive any free pens.

Specializes in Hospice, ER.

I finally found the exact bag I was looking for! It was at Michael's in the scrapbooking section, so thank you TothepointeLVN for mentioning the craft stores :)

Tewdles, we are a fairly new company and we have been looking for a couple of months at bags that the company could purchase for the nurses. I was actually only the second nurse they hired! So at the time, I just bought my big two-sided plus some pockets tote bag. Now that we are growing and have several other nurses on staff, they are looking to get us all bags if we can find one we all agree on. Thanks everyone for the input :)

Specializes in L&D, Hospice.
I'm going ask this question in all seriousness. Is this the kind of things workplaces did before the economy went sour because I can't imagine my previous and current employers doing anything more than giving me a free pen and for the record I have yet to receive any free pens.

too funny... FYI some banks still give out free pens!!

and never mind the free bag! my company ordered bags for the field staff: they are way too small, tip over when you set them down and NEVER hold my stuff; they knew the bags were not user friendly! now that we hired more staff they ordered more of the same stupid bags.... free is not necessarily good;

i use a leather bag; looks like a camera bag or a large mens toiletry bag with 2 larger and several smaller compartments, zippers and all - even a place to put my glasses in; the side "cell phone" pockets is great for pens or scissors and hemostats! and my papers and laptop i carry separately and do not always take into every home, depending on need;

but i like a lot of the bag suggestions on here and am going to look for a "perfect" one :)

Yeah, my place provides a bag that meets CMS specs but I hate it. So I don't use it.

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