I have a co-worker who will be starting a BSN program this summer and as a farewell gift we will be getting her something that will be useful for her during nursing school. We thought about a stethoscope ... or a gift certificate to get books ... is there anything that nursing students definately should have. And in terms of stethoscopes - what is the best one to get for a nursing student?Any help/suggestions would be much appreciated:)
skislalom 115 Posts Mar 8, 2006 Well, Littman is my personal fave as far as stethescopes (and almost my entire class has Littman) Littman Classic II(about $65-70), some opted for the cardiology III (about $150). Blood pressure cuff is another idea, you can get good deals on them-not NECESSARY for nursing school, but you gotta practice practice practice. Gift cert for the book store...great idea. Gift cert for a digital voice recorder, great idea, gift cert for SHOES, good idea. What else, a good watch (with second hand, Timex indiglo works great for night clinicals), office supplies...post its, post it tabs for marking books, highlighters, paper, a spiral bound calendar to keep track of EVERYTHING, how about a STARBUCKS gift card - even better...something other than nursing supply related, so she can remember to still be herself and not just a student, you really can lose yourself in nursing school.Good luck to your friend!~ski
MissJoRN, RN 414 Posts Mar 8, 2006 I don't think I'd buy the stethoscope. Just look back on how many threads about stethoscopes have been on these boards and you'll see people can be really choosy about what they want. For as much of an investment as they can be... used daily, costly, last for years... she should pick her own.:biggringi I might make a gift basket with some supplies (I just read the PP suggestions and saw some great ideas) My initial thoughts were bandage scissors, hemostats, and pen lights... three indispensible but easy to misplace items... I always buy 2-3 at a time for my lose-find-lose again cycles. Gift cert for books, index cards, pocket sized tablet, clip board, calculator, tylenol (LOL), pens, gift card to eat out maybe a little nursing figurine if that's her thing (like if you know she likes bears, etc) a nurse theme coffee mug (better yet travel mug with lid for clinical AMs!) What about throwing a few of these things in a nursing tote bag instead of gift basket... some students don't like lugging their whole school bag to clinicals, I always had a seperate clinical bag and school bag.She'll have fun with any of that stuff! I do recommend a few "nursey" things since she's probably very excited!
moonischasingme1 532 Posts Specializes in ICU. Mar 8, 2006 I don't think I'd buy the stethoscope. Just look back on how many threads about stethoscopes have been on these boards and you'll see people can be really choosy about what they want. For as much of an investment as they can be... used daily, costly, last for years... she should pick her own.:biggringi I might make a gift basket with some supplies (I just read the PP suggestions and saw some great ideas) My initial thoughts were bandage scissors, hemostats, and pen lights... three indispensible but easy to misplace items... I always buy 2-3 at a time for my lose-find-lose again cycles. Gift cert for books, index cards, pocket sized tablet, clip board, calculator, tylenol (LOL), pens, gift card to eat out maybe a little nursing figurine if that's her thing (like if you know she likes bears, etc) a nurse theme coffee mug (better yet travel mug with lid for clinical AMs!) What about throwing a few of these things in a nursing tote bag instead of gift basket... some students don't like lugging their whole school bag to clinicals, I always had a seperate clinical bag and school bag.She'll have fun with any of that stuff! I do recommend a few "nursey" things since she's probably very excited!aaawww, I would love if someone did all that for me!!
BoonersmomRN 1,132 Posts Mar 8, 2006 A rolling backpack is a MUST for me.Other than that- relaxation supplies( ha ha)No really- things I lose like candy- bandage scissors, hemostats, penlights, black ballpoint ink pens, highlighters, watches, little notebooks, Purell( I always carry my own as well), bandage tape, wow the list goes on.
FLAgal14 79 Posts Mar 8, 2006 Thanks everyone so much for all of your ideas! I hadn't thought of most of them - they sound great and I think she would really love all those different supplies that a nursing student will need.
skislalom 115 Posts Mar 8, 2006 Thanks everyone so much for all of your ideas! I hadn't thought of most of them - they sound great and I think she would really love all those different supplies that a nursing student will need.I just thought of something else I don't know how her syllabus is, but ours are about 500-600 pages long and we end up splitting it into about 4 binders. In case you haven't looked lately, GOOD binders are spendy...I've got (I think) one 3" or 4" binder, three 2" binders. I split it into theory, (only 2 tests worth of syllabus at a time in it), clinical, skills lab. I re-use the 2" binders each term, but the big one I have to buy a new one each term. Good ideas on the bandage scissors (buy two they go missing), penlights (again, more than one...they too go missing), a nurses clipboard with a calculator and misc labs, normals for vitals, dosage calcs etc is good (spendy but good) or you can get one that closes to hold all her papers. I like the idea of a gift basket...add a good reusable water bottle to it, we never drink enough water and always too much coffee or soda.I'll keep thinking, I know there is more As far as the rolling backpack, I found that a laptop bag works better for me, the other ones I've tried tip over-I also use a separate one for clinicals (not rolling)~T
mom2michael, MSN, RN, NP 1,168 Posts Specializes in Rural Health. Mar 9, 2006 How about a gift certificate to Barnes and Noble. I've probably spent enough money there to have a store built in my honor since starting nursing school. They just have such awesome reference manuals and NCLEX review books......Oh....here is what I wished I would've gotten. A cleaning service while I was in school. I don't want a daily maid or anything, just someone to come in and wipe the grime off stuff every couple of weeks or so. Lets see, I also would've loved to have gotten a GC to a spa or something similar - or like 10 free massages...ohhhhhh....that would've been so nice.
Achoo!, LPN 1,749 Posts Specializes in Urgent Care. Mar 9, 2006 You could always get a gift card for a show store since she'll need all white shoes :)
