What do I need for nursing school?

**CalicoKitty, BSN, MSN, RN** · Nov 30, 2018

I bought a laser printer. My school gave us handouts of the powerpoints. I like writing all over them for notes. Multi-colored pens, and some highlighters. Shoes that are comfortable for the whole day (find out the uniform requirements, likely all-white or something). I like the WhiteCoat Clipboard (I use the medical one because it had more information that seemed relevant than the nursing one).

Studying will probably vary. I sometimes recorded my lectures. I always studied the powerpoints (with my rainbow notes) before tests.

Learning how to take NCLEX style questions is important. EXCEPT, Select ALL that apply, First Thing.... BEST option (when none are the best, but one is 'better' than all the other less good options).

applewhitern, BSN, RN · Nov 30, 2018

Surely your nursing school will give you a list of things you need, mine did.

EDNURSE20, BSN · Nov 30, 2018

Personally I don't think you need much. Lots of people get overwhelmed and just buy everything. I remember buying all the required text books and then never using them.

As long as you've got pen and paper you'll be fine. Hold off buying more till you've started school. You will quickly find out what's important to buy. Ie certain text books, shoes ect.

Davey Do · Nov 30, 2018

certain text books, shoes ect.

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RNperdiem, RN · Nov 30, 2018

Reliable transportation. A good alarm clock; clinicals start early and you have to be there on time. Healthy ways to manage stress. A place to study free from constant interruption. The rest will come on a list of things you need to buy.

skihan · Nov 30, 2018

Yup I can confirm that you want to leave buying textbooks to the last minute.

You will need a stethoscope, blood pressure cuff, and a cheap watch for the clinicals. Not sure how early your school would start that.

I would say that you can search up some nursing videos on YouTube to get some general idea on the topics. It is easier than reading books; and you can cover a lot of materials in a short time.

Luchador, CNA, EMT-B · Nov 30, 2018

Before you buy stuff you should go to the orientation. I bought uniforms and an expensive stethoscope before school. Then I went to orientation and they had huge boxes of old scrubs with the school patch they were selling for $5 a set and they had partnered with a company on stethoscope deals. Doh!

MiladyMalarkey, ASN, BSN · Nov 30, 2018

Everyone is giving you good tips. I think one of the important things someone else mentioned is finding a healthy way to manage stress. You may be the best student, but it'll get stressful at times. Remember to put time aside to do something that de-stresses you & you enjoy. Going to the gym, doing hikes, reading, etc. find something that helps you burn off some steam in a good way and enjoy those free moments. Good luck.

Chrispy11, ASN, RN · Dec 1, 2018

A good stethoscope. A penlight. Pencils and highlighters. Index cards.

Look at the study guide. Read the required reading. Make sure you know everything on the study guide. Answer tons of questions on your topics. I went to a nursing site that had a ton of free questions.

Oh and just fair warning. You won't have a life till you graduate. Well maybe till you finish orientation on your first job.

Best of luck to you.

northmississippi · Dec 1, 2018

Get you a voice recorder or two so you can listen to your lecture on the way to and from school, and while studying your powerpoints. Get you a good printer with toner instead of color, because when its sunday night and you need to print out something at 1am you won't get a message that says "can't print, printer out of yellow ink". A good backpack, umbrella, snacks. One thing I'm glad I had during fundamentals was a davis drug book, and a medical terminology book that I could turn to while I was studying so that I could better understand a drug or word. If you work, dont work over two days a week. Put partying on hold for the next two years. I'd get a good recliner from lazboy to study in also, studying for nursing takes a lot longer than studying for psychology or english. I would get your own 02 sat monitor and a pocket thermometer so that you can get vital signs without have to wait for a machine.

One other thing, for clinical,, get you one of those little spiral bound notecard books called LaB Notes, and MED surg Notes... they will help big time when filling out your paperwork at the clinical.