What should I carry in my pocket as an OR nurse intern?

[bnhanna9]

I just graduated from Nursing School as an RN and am beginning an internship as an OR RN. I was wondering what I should remember to have with me in my pockets at all times, i.e. tape, scissors, stethoscope, pen light? Any information would be greatly appreciated.

All of the advice on this website for OR nurses has been such a great help. Thanks everyone!

[goats'r'us, ASN, RN]

scissors, pen, small notebook, tape.

If you carry much more, it just gets in the way of you getting to your pen, tape, scissors or small notebook when you need them.

you might find over time that there are other things you need, but a pen, scissors, tape and a small notebook are a very sensible start

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

I carry scissors, 2 pens (they always seem to disappear when someone needs to write orders and doesn't have one), small notebook, extra surgicel (used it on cases that routinely don't, and needed it in a hurry). I don't bother with tape because there's always multiple rolls in the OR, in preop, at the anesthesia machine. Chances of you needing either stethoscope or pen light are slim to none. I also use a pocket organizer- makes it much easier to take out of scrub pockets at end of day and just slip it in the next set in the morning.

[Tiffany, RN, BSN]

I carry 2 pens, a sharpie, and scissors in my right pocket. In my left pocket, I carry my cell phone, chewing gum and chapstick:). Gotta have those necessities .

[NurseLumpia]

I have a pen, scissors, notebook, and voicera

[katOR]

Pens, Black handle trauma/bandage scissors, small notebook (always a lifesaver to be able to turn to my little notes on surgeon's preferences), a Y Connector for wound vac machines bc these always seem to be super hard to find and CMS takes a lifetime to get supplies to us, gum, jolly ranchers, cell phone, lotion. I also sometimes carry around Surgicel, 0, 2-0, and 3-0 silk ties (I work at a level one trauma center on the night shift and you wouldn't believe how nice it is to have those easily accessible), and my trauma pager.

[MereSanity]

I have a pen, scissors, tape (you can never find any in the rooms), a small sharpie, gum, and my ITouch (so I can look up drugs if I need to). I used to keep all my notes on the Docs prefs and how to set up a room for different cases on a PDA, but I don't need that as much any more.

[canesdukegirl, BSN, RN]

First of all, congratulations to you for putting forth an effort to be prepared-that alone shows that you are on your A game. I usually carry what everyone else in this thread carries: two pens (without a doubt, your surgeon will ask you for yours and then walk off with it), trauma shears, chapstick, gum, and my little notebook with all the docs preferences listed by procedure. It will also help you to type out on your computer (or you can just write really small) a list of most frequently called numbers, like PACU, IT support, X-ray, pharmacy, your supervisor, legal (for consent questions), and tape it to the back of your badge. This has been a lifesaver for me, and will serve you well until you get familiar with these numbers. Hope this helps some, and keep your head up. The first year is really tough, and you really don't get completely comfortable in the OR for about 2 years. There is so much to learn and digest. OH-another thing that I do to help myself is to take a couple of patient stickers and put them on my charting computer-someone is always asking you for one, and this saves you from having to hunt for the chart when Anesthesia has taken it somewhere when you were busy. You probably also have to chart the bovie serial number and pad number...at the beginning of the day, I take a sticky tab and write these numbers down and put it on my computer. Same with tourniquet machines. Good luck to you! It really does get easier.