What do you carry with you/bring to work as a psych nurse?

[carterr]

What do you bring with you to work, and what do you carry with you at all times? I'm interested to see what other psych nurses in particular bring, as obviously it requires different things than other specialties. I'm pretty sure there's no other post like this in the psych category, but please link me if there is!

[elkpark]

My trusty Chapstick (never without it! :)), and the unit keys. That's pretty much it. I bring my purse and maybe a meal.

[vintagemother, BSN, CNA, LVN, RN]

Large sheet of paper, pen for my brain sheet I keep on me at all times.

I keep everything else in a bag stored in the nurses station.

[Hygiene Queen]

Stethoscope, cuff, pulse-ox (kept on my COW)

Bandage scissors, penlight, highlighter and pen in my pockets

Gum, coffee and water

Some days I come in and I have all the dang finger-sticks, alcohol pads (and other supplies) shoved into my bag that I've accidentally brought home in my pockets and finally remember to bring back.

[elkpark]

Stethoscope, cuff, pulse-ox (kept on my COW)

Bandage scissors, penlight, highlighter and pen in my pockets

Gum, coffee and water

Some days I come in and I have all the dang finger-sticks, alcohol pads (and other supplies) shoved into my bag that I've accidentally brought home in my pockets and finally remember to bring back.

That reminds me -- I forgot pens. Do you really carry all that stuff on you in a psych setting? I've gone weeks at a time without needing an alcohol pad or scissors ...

[Whispera, MSN, RN]

bring with me to work, and keep at the nursing staion: food, or money to buy it, clipboard for my daily census report sheet and all those little information tidbits that I'd have to look up otherwise, a red pen, a black pen, and a highlighter

take out on the unit, as needed: stethoscope, cuff, pulse-ox (not mine--the unit has them), bandage scissors, alcohol pads and other supplies, a pen, and a little piece of paper to write vitals on when I take them (I often write on my hand, however--can't lose it!), a sense of humor, patience, caring, and an open mind

[Hygiene Queen]

That reminds me -- I forgot pens. Do you really carry all that stuff on you in a psych setting? I've gone weeks at a time without needing an alcohol pad or scissors ...

Yes, I do.

I'm on a geri-psych unit and we get enough dressing changes, IV's and whatnot that carrying scissors and alcohol wipes is justified.

I bring my own stethoscope and cuff because of all our old folks being on so many cardiac meds or because I sometimes have to listen to some lungs. We have steths at work, but they are cheap and I hear best through mine. I don't trust the BP machines on certain pts.

Seems like there is always someone needing a neuro-check, so I keep my penlight.

Good luck finding the pulse-ox when you need it, sooo... I have my own.

I just like to have what I need :)

[MrChicagoRN, RN]

ID, Pen, paper, keys, gloves.

everything else can be grabbed as needed.

[Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN]

What I have on my person:

2 pens: I'm very particular about what the ones that use. I have one black and one red one on me.

Rubber gloves: I learned to ALWAYS have a pair in my pocket at all times

Brain sheet: depends on where I'm working--I don't always need to have one

A little cash: for grabbing something when I wander past the vending machine

ID and keys: no brainer there

Eye drops: darn contact lenses like to dry out on me

Lipstick or lip balm: a little vanity never hurt anyone

I keep a steth, penlight, DSM-5 pocket book, loads more pens, and notepads in my work bag.

[sharpeimom]

2 pens

small pocket-sized notebook

change and a $5.00 bill

gloves

contact lens wetting drops

mints or cinnamon candies

The rest of my stuff was kept in my locker.

[vintagemother, BSN, CNA, LVN, RN]

I bring the following: real food, an energy drink, stethoscope, a spiral bound notebook for notes on policies/procedures, extra pens, pads, tampons, Chapstick, light colored lipstick, non perishable snacks, written company policies,

[lucni01]

Unit keys, pen, Le petit compendium (quick reference drug guide), a homemade laminate sheet with major psychiatric crisis (ie. EPS, seritonin syndrome), ID, and gloves. Don't forget the coffee!