What bag/attire/organization???

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Just wondering if any of you want to share what you wear to pt homes.... Scrubs?Casual clothing? Do you have a bag that you carry and love, or do you take the same bag in every home. I see some nice home health nurse bags on the Hopkins Medical Supplies sight. And how do you organize your car.... Any tips or tricks? Thanks in advance for your replies.

Wonderful responses! I did start HH officially last week. I have been training on oasis and such. A lot of other readings and videos. Tomorrow I will follow a nurse into the field for the first time. First off my agency, which is part of the major hospital in my town, gave me EVERYTHING, seriously, bag, BP cuff, stethoscope, digital camera for wounds, pulse ox, cell phone, laptop, car.......and all pt supplies. The bags are from Hopkins medical supplies. It is the clear view one. So far seems like it fits a lot (was pre filled with tons of supplies). The nurses alternate from casual cloths to scrubs, probably depending on who they will see that day. Now,I feel ok about the supplies and attire thank goodness, But wow the documentation is starting to worry me a bit. Hopefully I fall into a routine and do well without stressing and getting burned out too fast.

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Thirty-one bags work great. The ones with pockets on the outside.

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I use a diaper bag that came with an additional smaller bag that I use for my IV/blood draw supplies. I love it. And I wear scrubs unless I'm seeing one or two pts...that's only on a day that I volunteer and can pick and choose what pts to see.

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Specializes in Med/Surge, Psych, LTC, Home Health.

We are required to wear Royal Blue scrubs. I would never wear any of my good clothes into some of my houses. :no:

We are assigned bags, Royal Blue bags to match our scrubs. Some houses I do NOT carry my bag into, just a little satchel with my vital sign equipment, my clipboard, and whatever else I need. Case in point; I have a family whose apartment teams with roaches, in spite of spraying. I have to take this lady's PT/INR every week. Yesterday I got in my car after seeing her... and lo and behold there was a roach crawling around in the little case that holds my PT/INR meter.

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Specializes in Med/Surge, Psych, LTC, Home Health.

Oh yeah, sometimes when I'm on call I'll just wear whatever; a pair of jeans and a shirt. I usually throw my lab jacket on over top of my clothes, though.

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Specializes in LTC/SNF.

Yesterday I got in my car after seeing her... and lo and behold there was a roach crawling around in the little case that holds my PT/INR meter.

Ick! As a soon-to-be new home health nurse, the thought of taking home little hitchhikers like roaches, bed bugs, scabies and lice thoroughly creeps me out!

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I use a tool box. It is hard plastic. I can sit in on a service without a barrier. I keep my VS equipment in it and disinfectant wipes. I carry a plastic clipboard and my papers in a plastic folder. All can be wiped with a disinfectant wipe. I wears scrubs to represent that I am a nurse and because I don't like to wear my street clothes into a home. I keep other items in my van and take only what I need into the home.

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Great ideas!! Thank you for this post

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