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???
I noticed a lot of folks listing classic clinical items - I thought I'd list those little extras that you will fall back on.
A very loud annoying alarm clock - you are going to be very tired a lot of the time!
Coffee pot with timer - lots of supplies for coffee pot with timer - travel cup for the commute.
Internet. Great for finding help.
Bandaids - just in case feet blister!
Easy fast foods at home - frozen dinners, fresh fruit/veggies ready to grab.
Cleaning supplies - cause I could always clean to avoid studying!
Ipod - to tune out noises when you are studying in weird places.
Quick hair do plan - ponytail or short fast cut or whatever.
Card to pay at the pump - cause when you are already late for clinicals you don't have time to go inside and wait in line to pay.
A great friend or husband (mine was actually the same person) who is able to pitch in when the deck is stacked against you (at some point you will be positive it is) and to jump and down with you when you nail something hard 100%. This should be somebody not in school so they don't need anything in return for now - it will hard for you to be there for anybody.
Cell phone to call your relatives, to remind your grandmother you are still living even though you've not had time to visit.
Comfortable bed and bedroom - should be set up just for sleep. You will be glad for the rest.
Candy and gum - always helped me concentrate on tests - I don't know why!
Good luck - I can say from experience - we need more of you to get through school - there's a shortage on my end!
I received a Littmann Classic II stethescope (black, 28 inch) as a gift, but already have one. A stethescope is a must have for any nurse, student or otherwise. If you are interested in a great deal let me know!
I invested in a great littman stethoscope and it has made my life a lot easier. Also a pair of those nurse mate stockings, I have ones called "feels terrific" or something like that. They really save your feet and ankles at the end of a long day on your feet! www.uniformcity.com has them at a good price.
what would be better support knee highs or support socks?
I am supposed to get a kelly clamp, what exactly is a kelly clamp??
I don't know if I should get support hose, support knee highs, or support socks. Does anyone have suggestions? I am 25 and already starting to show vericose veins.
Hey. I'm new to this site.. I just recently got accepted into nursing school. I haven't seen all of the posts, but I have been told to find a really good bottle of lotion that will keep your hands moisturized because washing your hands so often will dry them out.
For hand lotion might I suggest carrying anything that's not alcohol based with you in your pocket - small tube of course - and then here's my big suggestion.
Your hands will still get dried out - so every night at bedtime I suggest you use working hands - available at workinghandscream.com. I have used it awhile with great results. I will warn you it doesn't work with alcohol based hand cleaners - thus the suggestion you carry some other brand in your pocket. In fact, carry something "aromatherapic" in your pocket - you'll need the pick me up, but the working hands will heal your hands the rest of the time!
i'm a new member here and i found this post/thread so helpful. i'll be starting with my bsn next week as a 2nd course and i can't wait to get a head start on supplies. actually, i will be buying only the class stuff first as i want to be sure what other things do i really need. at the moment, all i have are my scrubs (school prescribed), rubber shoes (not sure whether it looks okay haha), and my class schedule. i know i have lots to do before the semester starts. i will be checking on allnurses.com quite frequently as i know a solid support system from the family and others in the profession is important. wish me luck!
For hand lotion might I suggest carrying anything that's not alcohol based with you in your pocket - small tube of course - and then here's my big suggestion.
Your hands will still get dried out - so every night at bedtime I suggest you use working hands - available at workinghandscream.com. I have used it awhile with great results. I will warn you it doesn't work with alcohol based hand cleaners - thus the suggestion you carry some other brand in your pocket. In fact, carry something "aromatherapic" in your pocket - you'll need the pick me up, but the working hands will heal your hands the rest of the time!
For lotions I would check with the hospital since some lotions can actually breakdown the conditions of gloves. So check with the facility that you are doing clinicals with. I would love to have soft hands but would not love soft hands plus an infection or potential barrier invader.
“The CDC has advocated the use of oil-based lotions; while they are great for the skin, they are wonderful things at night or at lunch, not on a work shift. They will definitely work toward breaking down materials like NRL. A lot of lotions that are water-based or don’t have a significant oil component are fine. If oil is the 12th ingredient in the product’s ingredient list, it’s probably no big deal; but lotions like Vaseline or Keri have high percentages of oil. Part of it is how much do you use, how much do you let seep into the skin before you don your gloves – all those are variables that are difficult to control. People will call me and say, show me the information; they see the CDC guidelines that approve oil-based lotions, and they’re confused. Nitrile gloves, by the way, are resistant to the oil.”
Truscott offers a few best practices to those trying to figure it all out. “There has been emphasis on the need for hospitals to supply their HCWs with the right kinds of lotion and hand-hygiene products so that HCWs don’t have to figure out whether they are compatible or not with gloves, and the HCWs should have these products in small, user-friendly sizes so they can keep it in their pockets or nearby. The thing to remember is not to refill them, because of the potential for contamination.”
kellyskitties
51 Posts
I noticed a lot of folks listing classic clinical items - I thought I'd list those little extras that you will fall back on.
A very loud annoying alarm clock - you are going to be very tired a lot of the time!
Coffee pot with timer - lots of supplies for coffee pot with timer - travel cup for the commute.
Internet. Great for finding help.
Bandaids - just in case feet blister!
Easy fast foods at home - frozen dinners, fresh fruit/veggies ready to grab.
Cleaning supplies - cause I could always clean to avoid studying!
Ipod - to tune out noises when you are studying in weird places.
Quick hair do plan - ponytail or short fast cut or whatever.
Card to pay at the pump - cause when you are already late for clinicals you don't have time to go inside and wait in line to pay.
A great friend or husband (mine was actually the same person) who is able to pitch in when the deck is stacked against you (at some point you will be positive it is) and to jump and down with you when you nail something hard 100%. This should be somebody not in school so they don't need anything in return for now - it will hard for you to be there for anybody.
Cell phone to call your relatives, to remind your grandmother you are still living even though you've not had time to visit.
Comfortable bed and bedroom - should be set up just for sleep. You will be glad for the rest.
Candy and gum - always helped me concentrate on tests - I don't know why!
Good luck - I can say from experience - we need more of you to get through school - there's a shortage on my end!