Nursing Kits???

Nursing Students LPN/LVN Students

Published

I am in the process of shopping for a nursing kit because I begin my classes on the 4th of September. Needless to say...I am lost. Current and soon to be nursing students, what type did you purchase? Did you get an entire kit (spyhg, steth, pen light,pen, etc) or did you buy them separately? What brand did you purchase when it came to your stethoscope? I don't want to purchase something that is no good.

Thanks in advance :)

my mom is a retired vet tech. she had like 3 stethoscopes so i asked her for one. she gave me her littman cardiology III. i LOVE it. it's expensive but i can only hear well with littman's i use a pediatric size now and still love it. i've used the "cheap" ones when I worked in LTC and found the ones with double tubes (one for each ear) work better than the others. i definitely recommend littman though. the cardiology III is expensive but they offer other models as well. think of it as an investment for your future. also grab a watch!! those are the main things i used a lot. i used my pen light for first semester and never used my scissors.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I went a nursing store that had the list of things are class needed. I had to buy two sets of uniforms for clinicals, those wonderfully beautiful nursing shoes lol, a kit that included a penlight, bandage scissors, and a multicolored ink pen. My program required that I have a Littman steth which I heard are really good.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

If there is a local med supply store in your area, look at (and listen through) the stethoscopes and try each before you buy. What works well for one person isn't necessarily the best for another. It's important that you're able to hear subtle sounds, and this is the difference between good stethoscopes and mediocre ones. Your stethoscope should last years--if not decades. Find the ones you like best and buy the best (within reason) you can afford. Very high-end stethoscopes are overkill for someone who isn't a cardiologist, so be careful you're not buying something to be a status symbol. Several people I know are on their 3rd or 4th (cheap) stethoscope because they break (besides not being optimal for listening to heart sounds).

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Ultrascope makes a $40 stethoscope called the Maxiscope that comes in fun colors. I have a hot pink one and can hear fantastically with it- way better than with my littman.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in General Surgery.

I compiled all my supplies one by one. I am one of those that wear the hip pack and I love it. Our school's uniform requires us to wear a horridly ugly blue vest with lots of pockets but I found that carrying all of my supplies there felt like heavy pendulums around my neck at the end of the shift. I already have neck/shoulder problems and that was really aggravating it so that's why I decided in the hip pack. I got mine from EMT Pack, emt, emtpack, emergency medical technician; I purchased the EMT pack and I am very satisfied with it. Hahah that guy in the picture makes it look more like a codpiece but I shift it to my hip as opposed to the front like he's wearing. The Nurse pack ironically was a little too big for me. My father retired as a respiratory therapist and he handed me down his navy blue Littmann Cardiology III :redbeathe

My program made us buy a little pocket protector with a clear ruler for measuring wounds, a stainless steel hemostat and a pair of stainless steel shears. Our first year kits also had a sphygmomanometer but I never bring it to clinicals. I usually use the DinaMap or the wall sphyg. The ruler eventually cracked and the scissors got stuck on tape in addition to not cutting very thoroughly. I ended up buying a fluoride coated pair of trauma shears and I LOVE it. Here's the link: Amazon.com: Prestige Medical Fluoride Scissor, Black, 7 1/2 Inch: Health & Personal Care I think they may sell these at Life Uniforms as well. I have my own penlight from work as well as tape (there's a tape loop on the hip pack).

As for pens, I am REALLY OCD with my pens as I can confidently guess that I'm not alone in the nursing world on this one :) I have one of those quad color Bic pens w/ black, red, green and blue colors. I also have this pen as well because it's super cute: http://www.hawaiikawaii.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Domo-Kun-Pen-Kawaii-Stationary-Kawaii-Blog.jpg My absolute favorite kind of pen is the Dr. Grip Center of Gravity. I also carry a yellow highlighter and a mechanical pencil.

I'm also a CNA and I know some nurses on my floor will hoard pill cutters just so there's always one on the floor to use. Also, I have now decided to get an infection control rubber fob/lapel watch (I can use wall clock in isolation rooms). I grew sick and tired of constantly taking my watch on and off when washing my hands/past my wrists and wiping down my watch each time. Hope this helps!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER & ICU.

I purchased a Littman you work so hard to get in to Nursing School don't cut corner now :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Informatics, Orthopaedics.

I bought a Master Cardi Littman steth and I can definitely tell you to not waste your money, it's not much better than the cheaper ones...the big difference is the head on it and the cool colors. I expect I will have it for exactly 2.7 days in clinicals before it gets stolen.

The rest of the kit I got from Amazon...dirt cheap and since I have Prime already the shipping was free. They have some disposable pen lights with pupil gauges for a buck each, and a set of forceps for $3 as well. I highly recommend these breakaway lanyards. The bandage scissors were $3, and the organizer I got is pretty nice for pockets.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I have a master classic 2 Littman. I bought it used off of my friend who used it in med school. I've used both double tube and single tube and found the double tubes can rub against each other causing false tones. It's also obnoxiously loud at times.

They haven't said anything about requiring a sphyg. So until they do I won't.

We had to purchase a lab bag that came sealed. It has tools we need for practice like a pen light and some gloves and foleys but nothing for the basic vital taking.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency/Cath Lab.

A nursing kit? Ours was through the bookstore with all the supplies we needed for lab. The only other thing I had was a nice stetho given to me by my rents.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Geriatrics, retirement, home care..

I never purchased a kit - only a stethoscope and pen light. Get a light-weight stethoscope!

You should not need to buy your own sphyg though... There are usually plenty at school/clinical placements.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment