Surviving the first job

I'd wait and see what the other unit nurses have.

When I was on the floor I had a 1.5 or 2 inch notebook with dividers. Between each divider was one of those zippered pencil holders. Each section was for each pt and I'd pull meds from the Pyxis and put in their designated zippered pencil bags.

If that makes sense.

I also made up my own report and assessment sheet so I could organize each pts info and as I charted each bit I'd highlight so I knew it was done. My sheet has tele number, history, allergies, and an area for my assessment by body system.

Again several other nurses had similar things so that's how I wound up with the system I had. Wait and see what they all have and take what you like and make it your own!

I use a pencil case to store supplies that I need on hand, such as scissors, alcohol pads, etc.

I have a clipboard that has a storage compartment. I used this more as a new grad. I was able to store things for quick references.

Finally, I have a good report sheet. However, our unit just started using a hand-off tool for each patient to make report more efficient. I use the hand-off tool as my report sheet since it is very comprehensive.

I have a clipboard w/ storage in it where I keep a few frequently referred to reference materials. I will also keep pt. report sheets in there from the previous shift (s) if I am working a few days in a row with the same patients. I shred them on the last day of the stretch.

I have frequently called telephone numbers (i.e., pharmacy, lab, radiology, dietary) and the codes for kitchen/supply room/med room/dirty utility room of my unit and the units I float to written down and taped to the inside of the clipboard compartment facing out so that I can lift up my papers and reference them quickly and easily when needed.

I keep about 10 safety pins in my clipboard's pen storage area for that dangling JP drain or the loosely secured NG tube b/c I never seem to be able to find a safety pin when I really need one.

Clipped to my clipboard are my report sheets and my personal flow sheet that I created to help me keep track of when I have meds to pass, I's & O's, and documentation to be done. It is broken down by hour.

In my right scrub top pocket: black pen, red pen and a handful of alcohol prep pads (now chorhexidine, I guess)

In my left pocket: highlighter, dry erase marker, black Sharpie, bandage scissors, hemostat and pen light. My scrub tops have those little loops it the pocket that snap closed. I keep my scissors, hemostat and pen light hooked to that loop so they don't get lost in the bottom of my pocket.

My stethoscope around my neck w/ a few of those tiny rolls of 3M tape (like you use for I.V.s)

My work phone in the leg pocket of my scrubs.

I have a small pencil case for extra pens (black and red), highlighters, dry erase markers and sharpies. I keep a bottle of white out in there for my own use...of course not for the pt. charts. I also have a set of calipers in there. I store all the stuff I keep in my pockets in there when it is not in my pockets. I also have a pad of post-it notes and a few hair clips.

I stash my pencil case in the big drawer of the "C.O.W." I am using for the shift.

In my locker I have a three ring notebook where I keep interesting articles, policy and procedure type stuff and other reference items. That way, I can still get to them but they don't bog me down.

Hope this helps. It's what has been working for me for a long time now. I work Med/Surg BTW.