What do you bring home with you?

bellehill, RN · Apr 30, 2004

Alcohol swabs, tape, touniquets, hemostats, bandage scissors. I washed a heparin vial in the laundry.

camay1221_RN · Apr 30, 2004

Since the tag was deactivated to cut the band, and we did not re-engage the prongs until the tag was sterilized and a new strip was on, the alarm would not go off as long as the prongs were not activated with the new band. Good grief, I confused myself!!! This did not happen with our old system, because they would go off regardless of whether they were activated or not. The new system sucked!!

Renee...can I ask you this? How did the security tag get off the floor without setting off an alarm? Or wasn't it one of those?

Energizer Bunny · Apr 30, 2004

Ah okay...I think that made sense to me! LOLOLOL!!!

Burnt Out, ASN, RN · Apr 30, 2004

I usually bring home alcohol wipes, bandaids, rolls of tape, blunt needles, needles (still in wrapper), syringes...I've brought home Lasix IV (after giving one stat dose), saline flush. I brought home Neurontin one time-a patient was NPO and I forgot to return it that day...I did the next day though. :imbar

I also bring home the little connectors to extend the O2 tubing too. My hubby says "What are these things??"... :chuckle

gwenith, BSN, RN · Apr 30, 2004

Alcohol wipes OP pens (mind you they take mine so it is a fair swap), suture material (OK I was setting up for a CVC line didn't know what the doc wanted) amps of various stuff from N/S to lignocaine not a lot considering the years I have been a nurse.

nurturing_angel · Apr 30, 2004

Let's not forget all the pens from the many different drug companies!!
I have also found I, inadvertently, brought home one of the security tags from a newborn I had discharged during my shift. Then, there were the cord clamp removers, a tube of Lansinoh, always kept one in my pocket for the BF mom who didn't have one. A tube or two of vasoline, here and there. Then the usuals, some of you have already mentioned, alcohol, IV caps, etc.
Yep, I am an accidental klepto, also!!:chuckle

I managed to bring a security tag from a newborn discharge home with me once and was horrified to find it in my pocket and know the system had failed. However, upon returning it, it did alarm as it should have. I never took that system for granted again and I watched my babies a lot closer. :uhoh21:

LydiaGreen · Apr 30, 2004

Actually, I purposely bring stuff home with me. No, it's not what it sounds like! LOL! I always make sure that I have lots of powder-free gloves in my pockets because the powdered gloves make me break out in a rash (stores tries to keep a few boxes in the storeroom for me but no matter where I hide them, they seem to get used up by everyone else). I also make sure that I always have at least one NS flush, one 3 cc syringe, one 21-gauge needle, and a small stack of alchohol swabs. When I get home, I empty my pockets on my night stand and when I get dressed for my next shift, I just put it all back in their usual pocket and I am prepared before I even get to the floor. And, this way, I avoid the little piles of supplies throughout the house.

glopop11 · Apr 30, 2004

gloves, gloves, gloves, a whole dresser full of gloves.....lol

Stitchie · Apr 30, 2004

Yep, I have a glove compartment full of vinyl and latex gloves too! :rotfl:

I also have tons of pens -- they're everywhere!

OCCHCanada · Apr 30, 2004

bandage scissors, tiny curved iris scissors, TAPE, swabs and the O2 connectors.

I've also brought home a watch that wasn't mine - returned the next day.

unknown99, BSN, RN · Apr 30, 2004

OMG.... those little alcohol swabs, always. I have brought home tape, 4x4's, and the pulse ox.

nialloh, RN · Apr 30, 2004

I always have a bottle of nitro with me. I bring them back when I get to 5.