What do you bring?

meanmaryjean, DNP, RN · Nov 20, 2016

I always brought my laptop, phone charger, snacks, coffee, back-up pens, and my own flashlight and extra batteries. Depending on the night I also brought journals to read, correspondence to take care of, bills to pay (taking all receipts and such HOME with me instead of leaving in clients' trash), a book to read, and my resistance bands for exercise. I watched a LOT of Netflix on my most recent case. A. Lot.

JustBeachyNurse, LPN · Nov 20, 2016

Not all homes have or share wifi access. Not all agencies permit nurses to bring lap tops that aren't work issued.

Some cases I bring bottled water, my stethoscope, pens,clipboard, soap, paper towels, hand sanitizer, and cleaning wipes in a clear bag. Plus my phone & battery back up. Some home systems are overtaxed by high tech and there is not a spare outlet to plug in a phone. Plus a flashlight.

smartnurse1982 · Nov 21, 2016

I used to bring my own thermometers,pulse oximeter sensors,feeding bags,and box of gloves but I am earning on Allnurses that bringing those items might invite a lawsuit.

For your own sanity,I would bring my own pain medication. Nothing like working 8 hours with no pain relief.

caliotter3 · Nov 21, 2016

There are many threads on AN that address this topic where you might get different ideas. I try not to forget, or get in too much of a hurry to bring, food for my time on the shift. You don't have to bring a gourmet three course meal, but you also don't want to go 12 hours with no sustenance after rushing to work without breakfast or dinner beforehand.

CabanaDay · Nov 25, 2016

I would add to bring the food/snacks and water/drinks in a cooler and use the disposable "blue ice" packs. In addition bring your own napkins/utensils. It makes a good impression that you are self-sufficient, there to work, and not some unwelcome house guest.

Almost every family will eventually tell you to make yourself at home. But let them offer after a few weeks of seeing you didn't automatically expect it.

AdobeRN · Nov 28, 2016

If I worked nights I would bring my laptop since I tended to have alot of down time. During the day....not so much down time. The only equipment I bring is my stethescope - grosses me out to use the common one for the patient. I have a little rubbermaid box I keep in my trunk with a small supply of gloves, a roll of paper towels & a roll of tp, & lysol wipes - just in case the house is out of those things. I do bring my own snacks, lunch & drinks for the day. I try to eat things that I don't need to refridgerate or heat up in the microwave - I feel really awkward to ask to use refridge and microwave unless I know the family well.

smartnurse1982 · Nov 30, 2016

I wonder why a family would have a problem with a nurse placing food in their fridge or using their microwave,even if it is the nurse's first shift?

My own agency explains these things to the families before they even start sending nurses.

Yes,it is someone's home but it is also our workplace.

Why would a family or agency have a problem with a nurse bringing a laptop? Would they rather see the nurse asleep?

JustBeachyNurse, LPN · Nov 30, 2016

I wonder why a family would have a problem with a nurse placing food in their fridge or using their microwave,even if it is the nurse's first shift? My own agencies tell families before they even start sending nurses.
Yes,it is someone's home but it is also our workplace.

Many families have cultural or dietary restriction. Three agencies and not one required families to offer refrigeration or kitchen access. We are told bring a lunch box, use cold packs or a thermos.

Facilities arent mandated to have refrigerators or microwaves for staff why should families? There are families that follow halal or kosher should they alter their lives and relax their cultural & religious beliefs?

Maybe because I work with diverse populations and some with strict cultural beliefs I have a different perspective.

Why would a family or agency have a problem with a nurse bringing a laptop? Would they rather see the nurse asleep?

if you are going to fall asleep get a different job or shift. No laptops allows in my agency. It's distracting. Some homes can't handle the power. Would you bring a laptop to work in the hospital or LTC so you don't fall asleep? Many families limit technology for a variety of reasons. I think it's rude for nurses to snoop wifi routers for the access passsword assuming a family has unlimited access...not everyone does and if they have the low income package they definitely don't have enough data to stream video. (this happened. A nurse brought a tablet. A sibling gave her the wifi password without checking with the parent. The nurse used the entire monthly allotment watching videos in a single shift. It was the beginning of the month. The agency paid the carrier for a month of services as the children needed the access for their texts and school work. Seemingly innocent request, not small consequences.)

I know people who are more likely to get distracted or fall asleep playing games or watching videos than if they read a journal article or checked diapers and repositioned q2h.

im sure there are nursing activities such as reading up on a new patient's unique history or diagnosis, checking unfamiliar drugs..

smartnurse1982 · Dec 1, 2016

Many families have cultural or dietary restriction. Three agencies and not one required families to offer refrigeration or kitchen access. We are told bring a lunch box, use cold packs or a thermos.
Facilities arent mandated to have refrigerators or microwaves for staff why should families? There are families that follow halal or kosher should they alter their lives and relax their cultural & religious beliefs?
Maybe because I work with diverse populations and some with strict cultural beliefs I have a different perspective.
if you are going to fall asleep get a different job or shift. No laptops allows in my agency. It's distracting. Some homes can't handle the power. Would you bring a laptop to work in the hospital or LTC so you don't fall asleep? Many families limit technology for a variety of reasons. I think it's rude for nurses to snoop wifi routers for the access passsword assuming a family has unlimited access...not everyone does and if they have the low income package they definitely don't have enough data to stream video. (this happened. A nurse brought a tablet. A sibling gave her the wifi password without checking with the parent. The nurse used the entire monthly allotment watching videos in a single shift. It was the beginning of the month. The agency paid the carrier for a month of services as the children needed the access for their texts and school work. Seemingly innocent request, not small consequences.)
I know people who are more likely to get distracted or fall asleep playing games or watching videos than if they read a journal article or checked diapers and repositioned q2h.
im sure there are nursing activities such as reading up on a new patient's unique history or diagnosis, checking unfamiliar drugs..

Wow,agencies are varied.

Why can't the families just tell the nurses their requests?

I worked with a Muslim family that requested that the nurses bring no pork in the home.

We just did not bring any pork products in the home;we also could use the fridge as long as there were no pork products in our lunch bags.

Most of the families I worked for wrote their passwords down for us nurses to use.

Most times I just use my phone for tethering.

JustBeachyNurse, LPN · Dec 1, 2016

Wow,agencies are varied.
Why can't the families just tell the nurses their requests?
I worked with a Muslim family that requested that the nurses bring no pork in the home.
We just did not bring any pork products in the home;we also could use the fridge as long as there were no pork products in our lunch bags.
Most of the families I worked for wrote their passwords down for us nurses to use.
Most times I just use my phone for tethering.

In over a hundred cases exactly three offered wifi passwords and one was only for my use. One monitored nurse access (he was an it professional). Others found nurses were spending more time online than caring for the children.