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

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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!

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!

Don't buy the tuning fork, reflex hammer, etc. However buy a good littman stethescope cuz you'll use this a lot. oh get a good nclex book, medical dictionary. oh and my white scrubs and white tennis shoes that i only got to wear like 5 times, were destroyed in an accidental fire....i saw the whole thing happen..it was horrible...i lit the match....and poof! I miss those scrubs....

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:) Ok, Marie, I'll put it back up here and if you can convince the powers that be to give us a sticky, I'm move it to that thread. :p

Here are some of the supplies that I've found helpful:

a.A 3 ring-binder

b.loose leaf notebook paper

c.one of those 3 hole punches that you can put in the 3 ring binder

d.3 folders specifically for clinicals- one to keep your assessment sheets, extra blank careplans, any notes that help you in clinicals, extra paper to write on. One that holds your completed careplan, med cards, and textbook pictures to hand into your instructor, and one to put all the graded med cards and textbook pictures in.

e. index cards-3x5 and 5x8 and index card boxes for each size

f. black pens

g.no. 2 pencils and sharpener

h.a backpack (some people like the ones you have a handle and wheels. Those books can get heavy!)

i. stapler, small

j. lots of highlighters

k. calculator

That's all I can think of for now! :)

it's a matter of opinion but when i start thinking about whether i want scoliosis or a backpack with wheels....i choose scoliosis everytime. but really you seem very organized and i wish i was more like that but with scoliosis.

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Specializes in Telemetry/Med Surg.
Hey I have wide feet and went with Nurse Mates that look like runners. Hope that helps

New Balance is an excellent shoe and comes in wide sizes

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Specializes in SICU, ER, MEDICAL.

this is a great thread

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Specializes in Nursing Assistant/ Army Medic, LVN.
Something I find very useful in clinical is a coil pocket guide made for RN's or LPN's. In it are assessments to guide u, meds, section for stuff u might come across in emerg, geri, OB/peds patients, lab values, basics like normal vitals, pain scales, BMI chart, commen abreviations, med calcs, there is also a place to keep up to 5 patients info and just use a ball point pen to write and an alcohol swab to wipe it off. U can also keep phone numbers and codes for your hospital and it comes with a monthly planner that u can fill in each month. If you are interested it is by Ehren Myeres either under LPN Notes (NUrse's Clinical Pocket Guide) or under RN notes. Also try and get a watch that u can pin to your uniform, otherwise your constantly taking it off to wash your hands. Hope that helps.

Pin the watch to my uniform??........Sounds like a pretty good idea. I recently bought a watch for my CNA course (pre-req here) and decided to opt for a fabric band as opposed to metal to avoid noise, but never considered this "pinning" option.........I did wonder about the hand washing thing, though............Anyone else doing this??

That little notebook jobber sounds pretty good, too..........I think I'll be looking into purchasing one of these for sure.

Awesome thread!!

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good fitting shoes that comply with school policy.

uniforms congruent with school policy. if you get cold easily get a lab coat or sweater you can where in clinical. i got a lab coat because you have pockets for more things.

water resistant watch - i still use the dial type. it is simpler for me than fumbling with buttons on a digital.

calculator (not fancy)

black pens - (i have switched to gel because it is less tiring on my hand. i prefer the click style for obvious reasons)

red ball point (if you will be learning to take off any orders)

black marker (if you will be learning to set up charts)

highlighters - colors of choice

drug book - small enough it will not be a burden to carry to clinical.

medical dictionary

stethoscope (a reasonably priced one will do until you can afford better) dual tubing gives better acoustics, i am told. my cheap stethoscope i started school with still works. maybe i should sell on ebay. lol

bandage scissors

hemostat

reflex hammer ( i had to have for assessment class but have not used since.)

nclex books - i would not bother with until near the end of your program.

spiral pocket size notebook -this is to write things down in clinical for reference later. you are learning so much this could be very helpful. i wish someone had suggested to me years ago.

backpack (my preference is the one with wheels because you only have one spine your entire life.)

whatever is required on your school supply list.

whatever supplies you need to organize yourself to be the most successful.

formal papers should be typed so access to computer with printer or typewriter is important.

a pda certainly would be nice but if you are counting pennies i don't think it is necessary.

good luck! we look forward to having you!

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!

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A great stethoscope that best fits you. Just becaue Everyone in your class has a certain brand doesnt mean its a good fit for you.

A great lab partner. Its easier going over skill check off etc with someone who takes everything seriously. My lab partner has helped me alot.

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Just an addendum on the stethoscopes -- I think cheap steths are great, but if you can, check to see if you can get the cushy ear rubber cover thingamajics. I think the Littmanns come with it -- without it, some stethos hurt your ear so much, you can forget about trying to listen to anything else. At least try the stethos on to see if they're a good fit to your ears, and are lightweight.

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Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.

http://www.ataglance.com/store/shop/viewProduct.cfm?productid=513

This has been my favorite student planner, this is the FIRST thing i get before school starts. It has a plastic cover, 3 ring punchout to fit in a binder, 12 month calendars with large day spaces, plus weekly calendars with plenty of room to write down assignments.

And also has a section in the back for phone numbers and addresses, so you can keep your classmates' numbers together with your assignments.

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for me, it's tape! i hate it when i reached out to my pocket and i can't find a piece of tape :angryfire . there will be something that needs to be taped, either the foley bag, or the iv lines, anything! oh yea...and also scrubs that have lots of pockets, it will make your clinical easy as you can store lots of stuff so that you don't have to run in and out the room! :p

as for books? i am using the new hesi nclex rn review, it's the best nursing book that you can find because it highlights the major things that we need to know for the nclex or hesi.

the taber medical dictionary was a great help for me when i was taking pathophysiology.

the davis drug guide was also a big help for me in pharmacology.

i can't think of anything else, everybody has basically said everything :uhoh21:

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Specializes in Lactation Ed, Pp, MS, Hospice, Agency.

Thanks for the Magazine suggestions! I looked on Amazon & they carry them, so it is on my list of things 2 get b4 school!

~MJ

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I had to have a lab coat for clinicals but it had to be a certain length so you might ask someone in the program. I used those post it flags to flag meds in the med book that i took to clinicals. Make sure you buy more than one set of clinical scrubs because you can get gross and you will have so much paperwork you don't want to be up everynight doing laundry. highlighters. I had a hour drive to school so i bought a tape recorder and I would go home and read over my notes for the day and i would listen to the tape over and over again on my way to and from school. It helped drill in those "this is important" comments. I didn't record lectures because the sound is never good and it was irritating having students run to the front changing their cassettes, etc.

melissa

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