What can't I live without when I enter the Program?

I've heard Palm Pilots, etc....What thing can't you live without? What are some tips about notes/memorizing/etc? I don't know what to expect. I don't know any nurses or nursing students! AHH!

[wonderbee, BSN, RN]

I've heard Palm Pilots, etc....What thing can't you live without? What are some tips about notes/memorizing/etc? I don't know what to expect. I don't know any nurses or nursing students! AHH!

If you're a fast typist, I'd add a laptop to the list.

[abmsam]

I COULD NOT live without my Day Planner. I have the small two ring binder type that I can add and remove pages to/from. My days are always so different. Some days clinical, other days lab practice, lots of lectures at different times of the day. Not to mention Dr's appointments, dinner dates, etc. Be sure to get the kind that has a full page for each day. Some designate three or four days to one page, and for me, that's just not enough room for all of my stuff. I also love that it has a built in address book, because you'll need to keep phone #'s of your classmates and study buddies.

[Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN]

I had a day planner and a $40 digital recorder.

The Palm Pilot wasn't something i needed at all, to me it would have been more a burden to keep that thing from disappearing.

Home computer is a definate must, for those after-hours reference seaches.

[RedSox33RN]

I good day planner I could write in, my laptop with APA formatting software, and then I got my Palm, which not only I used extensively at clinicals, but all of my clinical classmates AND clinical instructor. I have only Tabers and Davis Drugs on it now, and a generic Nursing Dx manual, but all of those were worth their weight in gold. Plus I use(d) the voice recorder on it for A&P2 which I just finished, to tape lectures, d/l to my laptop, and burn CD's for listening on my long commute.

You'll figure out as you go what will suit your best needs. While I love my laptop, my school does not have wireless internet, so I never bring it to campus.

[leixlip]

A digital recorder for lectures and Saunders NCLEX book, would not have gotten through 2nd semester without em.

[MIA-RN1, RN]

I've heard Palm Pilots, etc....What thing can't you live without? What are some tips about notes/memorizing/etc? I don't know what to expect. I don't know any nurses or nursing students! AHH!

My calculator saved my life. Also I kept a weekly schedule where I blocked out times for work, times for school, and appointments and stuff. I put a copy of a blank schedule in the front of each week of my course outline and I could see at a glance when I had to work, when/where my classes were etc.

This semester I kept a pocket-calender with me at all times.

My diagnosis book had a small pocket-sized piece with the dx's written on it. Oh, and my clipboard was essential for keeping myself organized on the floor.

Notes and memorizing--make words out the stuff you have to know cold. We were taught a lot of them like PAIN and PERRLA.

Be aware tho, that memorizing only takes you so far. They really want to know application over straight facts. So while you have to know the normal values in a CBC, you also really have to know what to do with them

[hangnon]

People either love 'em or hate 'em but I'd say..............

A backpack with wheels

Trust me....you'll save your back from hauling around 65lbs worth of textbooks. :)

[Nurse2B2005]

People either love 'em or hate 'em but I'd say..............

A backpack with wheels

Trust me....you'll save your back from hauling around 65lbs worth of textbooks. :)

Amen to that!!!! The rolling backpack is a must have!

Also, a good NCLEX review book. I used it all throughout nursing school and would study questions that matched up with lecture content to help me on the tests in school.

Good luck to you!

[peds4now, RN]

This is some good advice here! PLEASE KEEP IT COMING! I would never think to have NCLEX Review book right away! And I'm so glad a PalmPilot is not absolutely necessary. I know they are wonderful, but I can't afford one now. I'd buy a good laptop first. Right now I just have to find where the heck the kids stuck my scientific calculator and get new batteries!

[janetrette]

1. backpack

2. ziplock - holds everything!!!

3. bottle water

4. saunders - A MUST HAVE!!! brings you through the entire semester and nlcex

5. computer/laptop

6. planner

7. memory notebook of nursing 1&2 = ANOTHER MUST HAVE!!!

8. index cards

- when making drug cards - SAVE ALLL!!! can reuse it every semester and to study for nclex

9. tape recorder/digital - tape is easier but digital has better quality

10. small notebook - to write down labs and you never have to look it up again because it's there!!!

[LeiaT]

I've also heard a clipboard that opens up to store things underneath...that sounds like a must have also.