"Must have's" for school and clinical

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Specializes in SICU, MICU, CVICU.

Hi,

Any past or present SRNA's out there willing to share their best "must have's", "fav's", and "can't live without's" for didactic and clinical?

Examples:

Best digital recorder?

Clipboards?

Pen's?

Shoes?

Programs?

References?

Video's?

Chocolate?

Or anything else you may have that has helped with class or clinical.

Thanks in advance!

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Specializes in OR, ICU, CRNA.

I never go without blue pens...i use them to underline in my textbooks and printed powerpoints. For those who have been chronic highlighter pen freaks, try the blue pen--it makes things stand out without becoming "white noise" also great for dissecting test questions...underline the key terms so you don't take the bait on trick questions. Also start to identify stuff that requires no microwave etc. to eat--bring along alot of snacks to survive on test days.

B

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  1. Large capacity bladder
  2. Humble Demeanor
  3. Supportive Family
  4. The Drive to succeed, even when discouraged every day.
  5. A black pen, along with another one for when you lose the first.
  6. Someone else's pen, because you've now lost both of yours.
  7. No clipboard, because you'll look stupid holding on to one.
  8. A small bag, big enough for your stethoscope, some personal supplies, and something to study during a long case.
  9. A PDA, to organize your schedule and put clinical guides, drug references, and a medical dictionary application on.
  10. A small handbook, like MGH or Ezekial, because most of you won't bother to learn to use the PDA.
  11. Cheap pair of clear lens glasses, to protect yourself from messy irrigation spatter.
  12. Coffee. Coffee mints. Coffee pills. Coffee inhaler.
  13. A couple alarm clocks, because sometimes you just don't want to get up. (The half-asleep mind can be very manipulative).
  14. Books: Baby Miller (Stoetling) and Morgan/Mikhail, for first 2-3 semesters.
  15. Another Morgan/Mikhail for 2nd year, because hopefully you've worn out the first copy you owned.
  16. Barash, for the last 3 semesters because it won't make any sense until then.
  17. An account on half.com, to sell all the books that you will never use.
  18. A self-sense of humor...because no one else thinks you should have one.
  19. A reliable car (self-explanatory)
  20. A laptop with wireless card, printer, and lotssss of paper.
  21. Time. Sleep. Patience.
  22. And finally....2.5 years of your life (but this is only half the time you've already spent pursuing admission into a NA program.

Good luck, and congratulations!

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Nice question vikingirl, keep the answers coming srna's, hope i get to use them

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Yes! great question vikingirl! I want to know what computers people got for school. I need one (a lap top) and didn't know if anyone had a personal pref...:nurse:

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My Garmin GPS. I can't live without it. Having to find these hospitals at 5 in the morning in town I don't know. If you are moving away from your hometown a GPS is a must have.

Crystal

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Specializes in OR, ICU, CRNA.

Only about 5% of my class uses laptops at school. Most of them have the HP tablet PC that allows you to write on the screen. Some use them at home for the portability. My wife is a 3rd year law student ad she has a Lenovo thinkpad that has been abused pretty bad and still works great. The PDA phone I see everyone getting on the SRNA budget is the Palm Centro--I know there are way better phones out there but for $99 and easily souped up with a 4GB card, lots of legacy software, etc. it is a decent option for poor grad students. I will try to think of more...

B

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Specializes in Critical Care.

Wow...this is great info!

We should probably have a post just to discuss what SRNA life is like

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Specializes in SRNA class of 2010.

A bible or other similar book :)

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Specializes in SRNA class of 2010.

Oh yea, a good printer and LOTS of ink.

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Specializes in SRNA class of 2010.

I wouldn't waste the money on a PDA. Just get an iPhone.

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Specializes in CCU, CVR.

I am almost finished with my didactics. One of the best tools that has helped me through these classes a digital recorder plug-in for my Ipod. After you record it, you can sync it to I-tunes and it will import it. I have all of my lectures since I started school saved on my Ipod.

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