Stuff for clinicals

[Dawn Vylet]

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.

[ShortStackRN]

Aside from the stethescope you are going to probably need a pen light and some bandage scissors. I also found it handy to buy a little pocket guide (I have the Saunder RN Notes and Labs)...I also bought a care plan book to help me with that. GOOD LUCK!

[jeninthedesert, BSN, RN]

I take a tote bag with my Merck Manual, medication guide, stethoscope, pen light, scissors, papers, and a pen. The Merck Manual is just easy reading when I want to look up my patient's condition during any downtime.

[locolorenzo22, BSN, RN]

I always had a clinical bag with sissors, hand sanitizer, stethoscope(littman-had it for 3 years VERY reliable), drug book, med surg book, 5 bucks in singles, spare clinical database forms, careplan forms, pens, highlighters, sharpies, and a notebook.

good luck!

[9livesRN, BSN, RN]

Our school also requested the RN notes!

perdon my ignorance but... what is a watch with a second hand?

[lemonaidangel]

It's one where you can see the seconds tick by.

tick. tick. tick.

it allows accurate timing when you are trying to count respiration and pulses.

[mcknis]

It's one where you can see the seconds tick by.

tick. tick. tick.

it allows accurate timing when you are trying to count respiration and pulses.

Precisely! Some people use digital watches, but it really is easier to see using a watch that ticks the seconds by.

[sbostonRN]

It really does vary widely by school. We were told that some things were required, and some things i learned along the way.

-school uniform of course (mine does not have cargo pockets )

-white Dansko clogs with a back. So comfy I bought another pair in black to wear to work!

-watch with a sweep second hand (it doesn't make the click at each second). Much easier for counting when you're not counting the 'clicks'.

-I bought support hose but never wear them. Make sure to get a pair of knee high white trouser socks. Socks that bunch around your ankles are unsightly (plus I had a tough clinical instructor).

-regular plain old clipboard (I used post-it tabs to separate things)

-multi-colored clicky pen (red/green/blue/black)

-bandage/trauma scissors

-clicky black Sharpie (EVERYONE borrowed this from me. Genius.)

-Littmann SE II Stethoscope. Get a nametag too.

-Penlight with pupil gauge

-change for the vending machine

-car key on a very small keyring (I kept this off my big huge keyring because we didn't have lockers and had to cart everything in our pockets or risk it being stolen from our jacket pockets in the lockerroom)

-PDA. Our school had us buy the Palm TX which I highly recommend. I have the drug guide, nursing diagnosis books, a medical dictionary, and tons of other resources. I use it constantly, and even use it for teaching my patients when I'm at clinical.

Good Luck and don't buy too much before the first weekend. You want to be prepared but you don't want to waste all your money doing what doesn't work for you!

[9livesRN, BSN, RN]

i got a little bottle of vick's vapor rub, in case of extra stinky stuff

got a bottle of ibuprofen gel fast release!

2 little bottles of 6 hour energy, just in case i get a bit tired!

[kpnurse16]

In addition to everything others have I have a mini 2009 drug book (which I carry with me as a nurse on the floor) LOVE IT. Fits perfectly in my cargo pocket. I will also use a openable clipboard. This houses my pens, penlight, highlighters, sticky notes, mints, calculator, tissues, scissors, white out (personal use only) and clinical papers!

[truern]

Wow, some of you took a LOT to clinicals! We were told to only bring what we could carry on our person because there was NO place to store your things at the clinical sites. I learned really quick what I actually needed and dumped the rest!

A four color pen that I made a two color pen: black and red.

My stethoscope....Littman Cardiology III because I'm kinda hard of hearing (shhhhh) Never, ever left my neck!!

Money for lunch/break

Bandage scissors that would fit my pocket

A small plastic clipboard with storage and a built-in calculator

That's IT! Anything else was generally available on the unit.

[mcknis]

i usually use the internet at work for a drug reference. We also have access to MicroMedex for iv drug compatibility.

[chuckz, BSN, RN]

i got a little bottle of vick's vapor rub, in case of extra stinky stuff

An absolute must.