Nursing Equipment Kit from school- worth it?

[FashionablyL8, CNA, LPN]

Hi Everyone,

Sorry to start another topic but I couldn't find info on this in a search. My school offers nursing equipment kits for $140. They have the basic nursing supplies, most of which I probably know nothing about, but don't include a stethoscope, which I don't need anyway. I already splurged on a Littman Cardio IV- it was previously initialled so it was a good deal. Obviously I'm trying to save $$ and I'm wondering if I would be better off buying my own stuff. I imagine most schools require the same kit. I've found kits for half that price that included a stethoscope, although not a Littman lol.

So, do you all think it's worth it to buy it from the school or would I be better off getting my own? If so, anyone have a basic list of must-haves so I know what must be included? I could also buy everything individually...

Thanks so much for any advice.

[gere7404, BSN, RN]

Couldn't say if its worth it since you don't know what's in it.

i think my program required us to have a stethoscope, pen light and bandage scissors as part of our required equipment list. I've heard of other schools having students purchase BP cuffs, too, but we had them in the lab or used the ones on the units we were on for clinical.

off topic a bit, cardio iv is a great stethoscope, but it's almost too good for untrained ears. you hear everything, And it can be disorienting to pick up specific sounds.

[Rionoir, ADN, RN]

That sounds like a lot of money if it doesn't contain a stethoscope. I also generally prefer to choose my own equipment rather than get some pre-assembled kit.

[Piper98, ASN, BSN, RN]

We had to have the kit for my program, as it contained all of the supplies necessary for nursing lab. Is your kit for a class, or just an optional add-on? Ours contained everything necessary for all of our skills check-offs.

[FashionablyL8, CNA, LPN]

Thanks for your replies, everyone.

Geri7404, I agree- the school should have a list of what their kit includes. The kit I saw online even had BF cuffs. I bought my own for my CNA program but it's so old now that the bulb has cracked lol. Time for a new one. I'm going to email the school for more info on the stuff we need. And yes, I read that about the Cardio IV- after I bought it of course! I wanted one so badly since they looked so nice online with all the great features. I hope I do well with it- I'm going to bring it to work and practice listening on my residents, who have a vast array of problems. And if I buy a kit online, I'll have a basic stethoscope to use.

Rionoir, I think I might prefer to pick out my own things too. It could be less expensive to get a kit, but how do I know what the quality is like? Cheap nursing equipment just doesn't sound like a great idea. The only problem with me is that I really don't know anything about what I'm buying, so I'm not sure my choices would be the best.

Jenn98, as I understood it, the school kit was optional, but I need to make sure. I'm sure we won't be in lab for at least a few days, but I want to be prepared. I'm going to contact them and ask for specifics- is it optional and what's included.

[MotoMonkey, BSN, RN]

I would recommend contacting the school and asking what items are required. If it is just things like a pen light, scissors, BP cuff, ect. Then I would recommend at lease looking into how much it would all cost to buy it individually and go from there. If, however, it contains required items for lab and skills check off I would say you should just buy the kit.

When you know what is in the kit let us know, I am sure that people will have suggestions on where to find the various items if you have questions.

[Piper98, ASN, BSN, RN]

At my school, they stopped listing what was in the kit bc people were taking supplies from the hospital or clinic where they worked, lol!

My kit had things I wouldn’t have been able to find anywhere else, or would have been $$$ to obtain (especially if I needed just one of something), such as fake insulin vials, ampules, and sterile supplies.

[MotoMonkey, BSN, RN]

Its crazy to me that you had to buy all that stuff. When I was in school I worked in the simulation department doing set up and inventory control. For each simulation or lab we would simply put out all the needed supplies for each station. The cost was, im sure, rolled into our tuition.

[Piper98, ASN, BSN, RN]

35 minutes ago, MotoMonkey said:

Its crazy to me that you had to buy all that stuff. When I was in school I worked in the simulation department doing set up and inventory control. For each simulation or lab we would simply put out all the needed supplies for each station. The cost was, im sure, rolled into our tuition.

And had to carry it all around!!!?

[Rionoir, ADN, RN]

Jenn could be right - it could be skill lab supplies. They will probably give you some supplies, but you don't always get to practice with new (in the package) equipment before your checkoff or before having to perform the skill in clinicals (we got one free set of new IV tubing which I promptly wasted lol). If that's the case I'd probably buy it because some of that is hard to find especially if you don't want to buy 100 of each item.

But yea definitely find out what the heck it includes first

[rnhopeful82, ASN, RN]

The kit for my school (which was not mandatory) had a bp cuff, stethoscope, and a penlight maybe? The stethoscope ear pieces fell off of everyone's that bought the kit and the velcro for the bp cuff was atrocious. Everything would be better bought separately. If it's a kit like that, I'd advise against it based off of what I saw. Our sim labs and such always had what we needed (also obviously rolled into our tuition lol).

[FashionablyL8, CNA, LPN]

Hey Everyone,

Sorry for not replying sooner! Been trying to get everything bought and ready for school like the notebooks, binders, tabs, flash drive- it's been so long since I've been in school and some of this stuff didn't exist when I was.

I'm going to email my program director and ask her what is in the kit and if it's mandatory. You all have voiced my exact concerns about whether the quality will require the price of the school kit, and whether it contains specific items needed for lab that I just won't get in another kit and will end up having to buy in bulk. Although, Rionoir, you mentioning how you wasted your IV tubing set did make me think of all the stuff I'm likely to waste- perhaps buying 100 of each wouldn't be a bad idea!

Anyway, I'll let you all know what my director says. Meanwhile this is what the $63 kit that I find online has in it. It comes in a black case that looks like an insulated lunch box. I wonder if the quality is good, that is if I can buy my own kit.