What are the item(s) you need most for nursing school?

[rn2be2006]

I have been going through all these posts to find what items are the best things to have for nursing school. The posts are all scattered so I thought I would start a post that will contain all the info for the new incoming students.

I would like to know what I should spend my money on when it comes to study guides, NCLEX review books, NET review books, best nursing shoes (without a logo), stethescope, misc nursing items you have to have, etc. Any new students/senior students/graduate nurses have any info they can share? What were the items you couldn't live without???

Thanks for your input!

[Snow1278, RN]

things i could not live without!!! i am in my second year of nursing and i have found these items a high priority:

1. a stethescope

2. a pen light

3. a clipboard that opens so i can put my papers in it for clinicals and they don't get lost on the floor

4. scissors

5. a highliter

6. the disk med surg made incred. easy this disk has made study time so much easier for me when it comes to exams.

hope this helps someone!!!

[august_snow]

i can never seem to have enough pens & highlighters! i swear i go through a package of each every other week!

i also use flash cards like they are going out of style. i have cheap, cardboard recipie boxes that i label for each class or topic (i.e. med abbrv, procedures..etc) and keep them in there. i review them often!

also, my school issues one uniform. so another set is a great idea.

good stethoscope is a must have.

[sonja77]

i didn't read through the whole thread but my 3-in-1 printer/scanner/copier has been a life saver, especially since starting clinicals. there's always something with my care plans that i have to copy.

[SinfulCNA27]

oh for the love of god will somebody help me!!!???:rotfl: new lpn student here, started clinicals last week. the drug book they gave us with all our supplies isnt worth diddly squat! it's a mosbey's i think...can someone recommend a better one? thanks so much!!:)

sinn

[Peachy720]

An acceptance letter!!!

:rotfl:

Woogy

:rotfl: :bowingpur

Thanks, Woogy!! I needed that today!! :chuckle

[Snow1278, RN]

oh for the love of god will somebody help me!!!???:rotfl: new lpn student here, started clinicals last week. the drug book they gave us with all our supplies isnt worth diddly squat! it's a mosbey's i think...can someone recommend a better one? thanks so much!!:)

sinn

i have a davis drug guide and i love it. i have never seen mosby's drug guide so i don't know if it is similar to davis or not. before you buy davis though skim through it maybe look up a drug or two that you know you will be using a lot like morphine so you get an idea of whether or not it is in the format you like. i hope this helps!!! good luck:)

[rogramjet]

Davis, I still use mine all the time, in fact I need a more up to date one.

[sonja77]

we also use davis's drug guide for nurses (9th edition).

[NJNursing, ASN, RN]

Now that I'm going to graduate in May, the things I just can't do without:

Stethescope/Steth Sock (great to wash and get hospital germs off)

Unlimited supply of pens

Davis Drug Guide/Mosby's Drug Cards/Pocket Drug Book

Pen light

Scissors

Tabers Encyclopedia (great for care plans!)

The Doenges Care Plan Book (6th Ed.)

My Med-Surg Book

Three Ring Binders/Hole Punch/Page protectors

Highlighters (endless supply)

Micro Recorder (and an endless supply of mini-cassettes)

Unlimited supply of alcohol prep pads

For Nursing I and II, I used a lot of note cards and loved the Clipboard that opens to store stuff inside. But in Nursing III, I seldomly use either of them. I hope this helps somebody/anybody. :)

[purply_hazy]

things i can't survive nursing school without:

1. littmann stethoscope

2. my PDA

3. Mosby's nursing PDQ

4. my small handy kit that contains scissors, clamps, cotton balls, penlight

5. those tri colored pens

6. Davis drug guide

7. Lippincott Manual of Nursing Practice

8. my tickler

9. my guts and determination

[Fun2, BSN, RN]

things i can't survive nursing school without:

1. littmann stethoscope

2. my PDA

3. Mosby's nursing PDQ

4. my small handy kit that contains scissors, clamps, cotton balls, penlight

5. those tri colored pens

6. Davis drug guide

7. Lippincott Manual of Nursing Practice

8. my tickler

9. my guts and determination

Tickler???????

[wannabemw]

Another question about support hose, are you talking about just ones you buy at walmart, etc? Or are these "special" hose?

The Walmart type have worked for me! I have worn them since day one & am yet to have my legs ache (this says a lot! And I paid a mere $8.00) I also have a decent pair of shoes (my friend SWEARS by her $175 pair of Birkenstocks...my $40.00 slip-on Cherokee Rockers are suiting me just fine... I plan to replace them 2-3x a year (or PRN). I discovered as a hairdresser that shoes need to be replaced every 3-4m (when putting in 40hrs a wk) no matter how comfy they are... at least that has been the case w/me. Anyone else?

I haven't read far enough ahead, but did anyone mention that PDQ Facts now has a PDA download for $24.95? There are dozens of PDA programs now... have opted to get the flash cards to give me extra memory & my PDA runs a lot faster too. The cards r getting so inexpensive now....

Also, after having a misshap w/my PDA get the accidental insurance! It's worth it's weight in gold!

Anyone have a PDA program they can't live w/o? I want to get my $$ worth. I need one that has documentation & nurs diagnosis. I am finding it difficult to write my SOAP notes in a timely manner! (We have to turn them in at the end of each 8h clinical).

~MJ