Starting school in the fall, give me your shoe/equipment/etc. recommendations!

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Specializes in Critical Care.

I am starting nursing school this fall!!!! I am so excited to officially be a nursing student :)

I decided that instead of freaking out about making sure I know my A&P backwards and forwards, for today I'm going to focus on the kind of fun topic of what type of supplies I should get.

So, let's hear your recommendations for really, anything that you can't believe you ever lived without as a nursing student. What is your organization system like? What brand of shoes really work for you when you're on your feet for long periods of time? Did you buy a printer/scanner that you really liked? Tell me anything that you think I would need or that ended up being very helpful for you (pens, reference guides, pocket guides, apps, etc., nothing is too trivial :p )

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Planner.. When you get your syllabuses write down everything that's due when it's due and get ahead! Stay on top! I used to come on All nurses weekly but I got behind in my classes, and am barely catching up. I was one of those "Not me!" people. Oh no. It happened. Get your assignments done early every time even if it means sacrificing your free time or something because you'll be so thankful later!

Don't buy too much now. Wait to see what will be the most helpful once you start the classes. My needs turned out differently from what I anticipated and I got some good books and items, but not exactly helpful for my specific needs for my classes.

But I guess a safe bet would be to buy a recorder, multi colored pens (if you're a visual learner), index cards (lots and lots), hole puncher, mini stapler, key chain, a few different folders to keep stuff before you figure out how you want to organize the hundreds of handouts you'll be getting and using, and steth. Most people have the littmann. I don't like MDF. I got an RA Bock cardiology steth for a cheaper price than a Littmann classic II and I think it's excellent. It comes with a peds and has a lifetime warranty unlike the 10 year littmann.

Oh and even though I said wait to buy stuff like supplementary books, I would get an nclex book. I have Saunders (bought used for $25), Incredibly easy (got an older ed for $5), and Illustrated Guide. My fav for studying along with my classes is the illustrated guide but Saunders gets better reviews.

Best wishes!

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Specializes in Critical Care.

But I guess a safe bet would be to buy a recorder, multi colored pens (if you're a visual learner), index cards (lots and lots), hole puncher, mini stapler, key chain, a few different folders to keep stuff before you figure out how you want to organize the hundreds of handouts you'll be getting and using, and steth. Most people have the littmann. I don't like MDF. I got an RA Bock cardiology steth for a cheaper price than a Littmann classic II and I think it's excellent. It comes with a peds and has a lifetime warranty unlike the 10 year littmann.

Best wishes!

Thanks for the RA Bock recommendation, I'm reading reviews now and it seems like a lot of other people share your opinion on it being pretty much as good as a Littmann. Way cheaper, too which is a huge bonus for me!

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Specializes in ICU.

I love my Littman cardiology stethoscope. I think it's great for beginners because you can hear so clearly with it. I like my Danskos but I also have weak ankles so they give out in them. But my legs and back feel good after a 12 hour shift. I recently tried Algerias for my hospital shifts but I don't like how wide the top of the shoe is. It makes my feet look huge!!! And I have super tiny feet.

I've recently switched to wonder wink scrubs. Very comfy. In school and on the job. Get a couple of penlights and planners. I have several. One for personal life, one for lecture, one for clinical. Get a good nursing dx book. Those are invaluable and will save you tons of time on careplans if you have a good one.

Most of all, relax. Fall will be here soon enough and your world will be turned upside down. Enjoy life now and have some fun!

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Agree with all the PP's, but I would also add to consider a laser printer (if you are looking at one). I got one because I was going through so much ink, and its saved me a lot. I have tons of power points to print every week, so its a huge help. Some people just view the power points on their computers, but I need to be able to hold them and sort through them to learn. So if you are like I am, it would help a lot.

Also, breath spray. Nothing worse than being in clinical and worrying about your breath when close to patients.

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I second the 3-hole punch! It comes in so handy for binder purposes. :) They make simple ones that can go right onto the rings of a binder, thats what I have.

I'd also say a binder per class. I organize each one with the topical objectives for each class and separate depending on what's on each exam.

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buy a book of NCLEX style questions and use that for studying. I think that the hardest part of testing in med surg is taking what you've learned in lecture and applying it to an NCLEX style question.

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