What do I need for nursing school?

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I just got my acceptance letter into the ADN program at my school and am curious as to what all I will need? I know the school does the whole nursing packet that you buy at the beginning of the semester, but what else would you suggest? Things like backpacks, notebooks, etc. What helped you the most?

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A laptop, lots of copy paper (printer and ink!), don't forget sleep =p. I know sleep is the first thing to go, but try and get enough to be able to function without large amount of caffeine! Good luck and enjoy the program.

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A simple calculator. A small one you can even keep tucked in your pocket for clinicals. You will need it.

Utilize whatever office supplies are available in your school library. You pay a fee for these thing, anyway. Use their paper to make copies... you will use ridiculous amounts of paper... and staples and paperclips and do a lot of hole-punching to put stuff in your binders.

Get a good pocket-sized reference guide like RNotes. It was an invaluable tool for me.

I also got a pocket-size drug guide because, even though you will have a nice big drug guide for more in-depth research of your drugs, having a little pocket-sized one will be handy in clinical.

I don't indulge in fancy technology... I don't have drug guides and lab manuals and other stuff downloaded to my phone like a lot of people do, but that is an option too. Maybe even better than what I do, so look into doing that.

Your school will tell you what texts are required, but be open to buying any extra books that may present the material in a more understandable way. I never bought a book I didn't use.

Buy a GOOD stethoscope. Don't bother with a cheap one. I tried that and I thought I was either deaf or too stupid to hear what I was supposed to. Turns out it was my cheap scope. Make the investment. There is a big difference in a $15 scope and an $80 scope!

That's just a few I can think of for right now.

Cheers and good luck!!

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Specializes in ER, progressive care.

I second a printer and lots of ink! Our school allowed us to print documents in the lab, but then they eventually decided we weren't allowed to anymore.

If you're a notecard person, buy them in bulk! I also love to highlight (and I tend to color-code based on that) so I bought a lot of those. Also, buy binders and folders, but wait and see how your notes will be. Some classes gave us a "book" with all of our notes in them. Other classes made us print out the notes online and then place them in a binder.

If your school allows it and if you think it will benefit you, buy a recorder. They're pretty cheap. But make sure you get permission, first. Some instructors don't care if you record them while others do. One of our instructors threatened to take legal action and sue us if she caught us recording her lectures! :eek: She had some incidents in the past...

At my school, we weren't required to carry our books to class every day. Occasionally they wanted us to bring them to lab or something, but they suggested teaming up with other students if we had to bring multiple books - that way one student isn't stuck with bringing 50+lbs of books and having to carry them around.

I also suggest the RNotes pocket guide!

And please buy a GOOD stethoscope - don't buy one of those cheap $20 ones. I suggest buying a Littmann....the Classic II S.E. is great for students. Some students opted for the cheaper Littmann Lightweight but I personally didn't like it.

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Specializes in gyn.

During lecture note-taking, I'm a pen snob. My handwriting is better when I use gel pens, anyway. Love me some Pilot G-2 0.5 or 0.7, or the uniball vision 0.6. Once you buy the pens you'll only need to purchase more refills (read= cheaper)! I do use a cheapie ballpoint pens when I add notes from reading the chapter so I can differentiate what notes the instructor gave versus what I thought was important from the book.

Non-smearing highlighters, several folders are always a good idea!

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I bought this really nice rolling backpack for school and only used it for the first quarter due to all the supplies we received from fundamentals lab. I discovered that I really did not need it after that as I never brought my books to class; instead I brought powerpoints, paper, and a folder.

But the things I could not function without include finger cushions to fight hand fatigue from note taking, white out, highlighters, and sticky colored tabs.

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Specializes in Infusion.

Our instructors had notes or power point slides that we would print up before the class. I went through about 1500 sheets of paper and about $200 worth of HP ink this first year. I kept all my notes for each 10 week term in a 2-1/2" binder but I liked the idea of a classmate who kept a smaller binder and only 2 weeks worth of notes (we were tested every 2 weeks on that material). Whatever you take notes with, pen or pencil, have lots on hand. I bought a penlight for doing assessments on the eyes but I also bought a very small 120 lumen flashlight for catheter insertions in the hospital (another person will need to hold it while you do the insertion part). I bought a nice lab coat - we use ours during skills demos and when getting patient prep info at the hospital. A nice well fitting lab coat may give you a little more confidence and make your instructors believe that you know what you're doing.

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Specializes in Med Surg - Renal.
I just got my acceptance letter into the ADN program at my school and am curious as to what all I will need?

A helmet.

Good luck.

(PS: When you need something they will let you know. Unless they don't. Then they will yell at you for not having it.)

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Specializes in Emergency Dept. Trauma. Pediatrics.

A brain, flexibility, patience, and a lot of common sense! Congratulations!

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Thank you all for the advice. It is much appreciated!

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A calendar that's a decent size to keep you organized. I bought a blank one that was actually a desk pad. I wrote the dates of upcomming assignments, tests and my clinical schedule on it so I could plan my studying accordingly. I found it a huge help. (I also ditto what others have said.)

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Specializes in Psych & Gero psych.

Rolling Backpack. Lots of index cards, Highlighters, and ink and paper for copier. and of course pens. I'd stock up before school starts at walmart.

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