Stuff for clinicals

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I will be starting clinicals in January. I know that I will need to order a stethoscope. Does anyone have any recommendations? What else might I need/be helpful for clinicals? Thanks in advance.

Specializes in Dialysis.

pocket hand sanitizer!

you'll inevitably be changing a dressing and remove your gloves then need a quick hand cleansing and your instructor will say, "You can't just leave the bedside to go wash your hands!" Where is your hand sanitizer??"

bandage scissors:

for cutting through old dressings, tape, wraps.

alcohol pads:

to clean your icky scossors!

coins for a drink machine if you get a break

small notepads

and PLEASE! show up with a darn black pen! 8 months into clinicals and my classmates were still bringing in purple, blue, etc. and I HATED sharing my pens...be prepared!!

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.
I will be starting clinicals in January. I know that I will need to order a stethoscope. Does anyone have any recommendations? What else might I need/be helpful for clinicals? Thanks in advance.

Penlight

BP cuff

Drug book

Disease book like Harrisons

scissors

watch

pen

paper: some nurses actually have good tricks you might want to write down

snack in your pocket if your in a bind

eat a good breakfeast before clinicals, you need it

good luck

pat

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Specializes in OB.
Me too!! Are you in the night program or the day? I am in the night program and have my clinicals at Cape hospital on saturdays! That is funny, I had this feeling you might be at the same school! Where are you doing clinicals?

I'm in the day program. I started in Fall B. I have clinicals at Healthpark on Fridays. My schedule lists my instructors as Rosemary Lewis, Anne Harner, and Gail Sachs. Have you had Sachs before? What do you need for clinicals? I'm trying to get some what organized before class starts.

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here's what i bring with me:

- stethoscope

- bp cuff

- black clicky pens (i always bring 2 in case one stops working)

- clipboard that lifts up and has storage inside (walmart had them for a very good price)

- pocket notebook for writing down any vitals, tips from rn, etc.

- a few alcohol pads

- roll of medical tape (this is around the yoke of my stethoscope)

- bandage scissors

- breath mints

- my lunch (b/c hospital cafeteria food can really add up)

in my bag i bring my gait belt, assessment book, lab values book, and of course this next semester, my drug guide.

a note on the stethoscope... i wouldn't recommend getting an expensive scope for school... the odds of it walking away are pretty high... i got this one from allheart.com... http://allheart.com/ahdst0400blk.html it's roughly $20 and i can hear just as well with it than my littman classic ii s.e.

just a thought.. :)

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All above are good suggestions. Mine? Go to Walgreens and get a pill splitter, a really good one with a blade. I found I often had to split pills and could NEVER find one at the hospital (My CI carried one with her). Now I have my own!

M

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Specializes in SNU/SNF/MedSurg, SPCU Ortho/Neuro/Spine.

thanks for the pill splitter tip! i shall get one!

ah and the vicks for under your nose just in case!

ahhh and one energy drink in case you start getting zzZZzzZZ

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Specializes in Cardiac/Tele/CVICU.

pocket hand sanitizer!

you'll inevitably be changing a dressing and remove your gloves then need a quick hand cleansing and your instructor will say, "You can't just leave the bedside to go wash your hands!" Where is your hand sanitizer??"

--------

I wonder what nurses used to do back in the days before HS?

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pen light(foleys,pupils) pens tons of pens for charting, clipboard, notepad,sissors

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Specializes in Med Surg, ER, OR.

Crack! Just kidding, but get a good scope (not too expensive), cheap scissors (i like trauma shears), BP cuff, hemastats, black pens and red pens, drug book for reference and maybe a care plan pocket book for a reference, highlighter if you like them, hand sanitizer for your backpack or pocket if the facility doesn't have, gait belts are handy too. You'll end up stealing 2x2s and ETOH wipes from the med cart. Might even go home with med cups in your pockets ;) Don't go overboard. You'll find what you'll need, and then probably get rid of everything else.

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Specializes in Acute Care Psych, DNP Student.

I keep an extra set of scrubs in my car in case something ruins my uniform. It hasn't happened yet, but it seems like a good idea. Otherwise, I travel very light in clinical.

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I will be starting clinicals in January. I know that I will need to order a stethoscope. Does anyone have any recommendations? What else might I need/be helpful for clinicals? Thanks in advance.

I have a Littman Classic II S.E. and I LOVE it. I can hear so well with it, even better than those Ultrascopes which are supposed to be better than Littmans. I wouldn't settle for anything "below" a Littman and anything "below" the Classic II S.E.. It has an acoustical rating of 7 and it is a little pricey - $84 I believe in medical supply stores (and while most of them offer student discounts on stuff, they usually don't on Littmans) - but I got mine for ~$74 WITH tax + S&H at http://www.reddingmedical.com. They have really fast shipping too!

Other things that would really be useful:

  • RN Notes. It's a little spiral-bound flip-book that is "HIPAA-friendly" and is a really nice reference to have on you especially during clinical. My school required us to buy it, but regardess if your's does or does not I would still pick one up.
  • hemostat. you never know when you're going to need to clamp things.
  • bandage scissors
  • lots of black clicky pens (don't need to worry about caps)
  • a small notebook that is small enough to fit in your pocket - trust me, it helps! a nurse or instructor may tell you something that you want to write down.

  • alcohol wipes!!!! I carry a lot of these in my pocket - they will be available on the floor but it's always nice to have them on you
  • watch with a second hand
  • breath mints
  • good pair of shoes with good support! I like NurseMates.
  • storage clipboard - it's a clipboard that opens up so you can put stuff inside - I keep my papers in there. Mine also has a calculator on the clip part which really helps when doing drug calculations :) I got mine at Walmart for ~$10.

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I'm in the day program. I started in Fall B. I have clinicals at Healthpark on Fridays. My schedule lists my instructors as Rosemary Lewis, Anne Harner, and Gail Sachs. Have you had Sachs before? What do you need for clinicals? I'm trying to get some what organized before class starts.

I have not had those teachers before but from what I understand they will let us know what we need before we start so I would not worry too much. We dont start clinicals till a few weeks into January so you guys probably wont either that will give you time to find out what you need. Good luck!

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