What should I get??

Cherish · Sep 21, 2007

:balloons:Congrats:balloons:. That's great. Maybe you could consider just buying binders, black pens, lined paper, and high lighters, oh and by an extra printer cartridge, you only need 2 since you can get refills at Walgreens for less than $12 dollars. Also, check out the sticky thread that has a list of items that are commonly used in NS. It's at the top of this forum.

sum07 · Sep 21, 2007

I'm kind of in the same situation where money is tight. So I have to spend my money wisely. Aside from all the required stuff for the program (tuition, textbooks, uniform, stethescope, penlight, nametag), I only bought dividers. But then again I have a lot of school stuff at home - pens, binders, paper, stapler, 3-hole punch, etc.

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Sep 21, 2007

See the What are the item(s) you need most for nursing school? sticky thread on this forum (https://allnurses.com/forums/f50/what-item-s-you-need-most-nursing-school-111796.html)

beachbum3 · Sep 21, 2007

First semester I had all kinds of supplies.... and didn't use half of them. For the rest of the time (I'm in 3rd semester) I have used a big binder for my main nursing class with dividers that have pockets. I divide the content up by test. I put the syllabus and other general info and schedules in the front, loose leaf notebook paper in the back and use the pockets of the binder itself for stuffing things until I can get holes punched. For clinical I have a regular folder. For Seminar & Pharm I use a smaller binder with the same system. Other than that I'd say have on hand pens and pencils, (I always do my careplans and database in pencil so I can make changes the instructor asks for.) A 3 hole punch and I use the little post it page markers for my textbooks to note which chapters we are currently working on.

MB37 · Sep 21, 2007

I tried the Walgreen's printer refill thing twice, and they didn't work for me either time. The clerk shrugged and said that happens a lot. I go through a black cartridge at least once a month, so if you can buy any in bulk, do. Get a big box or two of paper as well - but first check at your school and see if you can print for free. We could last semester, but our wonderful new governor just cut the budget for higher education again, so now we can't print on campus at all - there's no system set up to pay for it, and installing one will cost money. Other supplies depend on your school and your learning style. I use tons of highlighters, 3/5 subject notebooks (one for each class), binders (again, one for each class), black pens, Bic pencils that I only use for scantron exams, sharpies, stapler, staples, 3-hole punch, and 4x6 notecards for pharm. Read that thread that was recommended above, and take notes. Then look through the list and figure out what you think you'll actually use. If you're going to bring your laptop to class, you won't really need a lot of notebooks. If your school sells CD versions of textbooks and you think those might work for you (they don't for me), then you don't need highlighters. If you don't plan to bring your books to class, and won't typically have big holes in your schedule when you plan on studying, you don't need a rolling backpack. Also, don't invest in scrubs or anything unless your school has told you exactly what type they require. When is your orientation? They should tell you there what your school in particular requires, and otherwise just stock up on basic school supplies.

Kiringat · Sep 21, 2007

Get a good, functional, comfy pair of shoes. Seriously.

3sodapop · Sep 21, 2007

If you have a book list with ISBN numbers, you can check amazon or other discount book sellers and find some great deals on USED books now, instead of waiting and having to buy brand new books in the fall. Congrats & Good Luck!

TakeTwoAspirin, MSN, RN, APRN · Sep 21, 2007

Be very careful about what used books you buy. They may not turn out to be the bargain you think they are. In my school, many of the classes require you to use the on-line applications that come with the (new) books. You know, those access codes that you have to scratch off? Anyway, if you have a used book and these codes are either missing or have been used previously you will have to and purchase assess to these applications and it can be VERY expensive. You could end up spending as much money to purchase the book and application separately as you would have if you just purchased the book new!

Best thing to do is ask the school which of the texts require you to have the additional features and then only buy used bookes for the classes that do not.