Nursing School Must Haves??

[Servingshots]

I am potentially starting Nursing school Fall2010 (God willing) and was wondering what are essentials that you all have that you would reccomend to others?? Things for organization, or whatever...Thanks!! :)

[DolceVita, ADN, BSN, RN]

I would worry about a program that doesn't think you should have the current version of a book. As for technology? I can't say enough about the ipod touch. I had my drug boo, lab book and Taber's on it. Also, everywhere I had clinical had WiFi so I never had to fight for a computer for internet access. Later I put RN Notes on it which was handy too.

The ipod touch was permitted on our clinical sites because they did not have cameras.

[BacktotheBeach, ADN, BSN, RN]

I saw alot of posters say they use a PDA with skyscape on it which sounds like a really good idea. What kind of PDA device are you using for it? How do you like it and how much did it cost you? Ive been researching PDA's and the choices are so vast and the cost range so wide, I am kind of lost as to which one is best to choose. So which one have you been using? Make/model?

I really recommend the ipod touch. I got an older version on Ebay because it does not have a camera like the newer ones do. Saved me some $$ too! I use a 3rd generation Ipod Touch that I got for about $100, refurbished. I always mention it to my clinical instructors, making sure they know it is not a phone or a camera.

There are tremendous apps and entire books that you can load on it and have it right in your pocket at clinicals. I like Nursing Central. It gives you Taber's dictionary, Davis Drug Guide, Disease and Disorders. Another option is Skyscape which has most of the same things. These 2 run around $100 I think. There are also tons of free apps, even a drug guide, Micromedex.

If you are more interested, go over to the mobile computing forum and you will find tons of info.

[sugarmagnoliaRN]

I'm looking for already hole-punched index cards... where can I find them? I have looked an Amazon but the description looks a little strange, plus the item is like 99 cents plus several dollars for shipping. So I'm thinking something might be fishy there.

[*4!#6]

A laptop with internet, especially if you live off-campus. I survived without one when I lived on campus, however now I would never make it. In nursing school things change at the drop of a hand (hourly emails sometimes!!) and those late-night clinical assignments would have never worked if I had to stay in the library to do them.

[punkydoodlesRN, BSN, RN]

Two major things I couldn't live without - My laptop and my skyscape.

I've never used index cards, just wasn't a method that worked for me.

Oh, comfy shoes and a cute sweater for freezing cold lecture halls :)