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

Nursing Students General Students

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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 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

THAT IS THE BEST IDEA I HAVE HEARD IN A LONG TIME!!!!!!!! YES I AM SHOUTING BECAUSE I'M DEAD SERIOUS!!!!!!!!

All this time I was wondering about the sound quality, but really wanted to record the lectures to help me in remembering everything. I hadn't really come up with a good solution, and then came you.......

I LOVE YOU!!! It's one of those, "Why didn't I think of that?" So simple, but yet OH so effective...And with your own voice you can read the notes and put emphasis on things that you need to.

This is just validation of why I love this site......:p Thanks for the SUPERB idea!:kiss

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THAT IS THE BEST IDEA I HAVE HEARD IN A LONG TIME!!!!!!!! YES I AM SHOUTING BECAUSE I'M DEAD SERIOUS!!!!!!!!

All this time I was wondering about the sound quality, but really wanted to record the lectures to help me in remembering everything. I hadn't really come up with a good solution, and then came you.......

I LOVE YOU!!! It's one of those, "Why didn't I think of that?" So simple, but yet OH so effective...And with your own voice you can read the notes and put emphasis on things that you need to.

This is just validation of why I love this site......:p Thanks for the SUPERB idea!:kiss

I agree. I wasn't certain about recording lectures, and I usually take pretty good notes. This might be just the ticket. Plus, you're reviewing your notes as you're recording them. Too bad I only have a 5-10 minute drive to school!

Thanks!

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Specializes in Lactation Ed, Pp, MS, Hospice, Agency.
THAT IS THE BEST IDEA I HAVE HEARD IN A LONG TIME!!!!!!!! YES I AM SHOUTING BECAUSE I'M DEAD SERIOUS!!!!!!!!

:kiss

This has GOT to be better then listening to the monotone professor! I have tried previously to record lectures & was only put to sleep. But now that I will have a 45m drive to school it is sounding better & better! My only prob: I have an LD r/t hearing defiency. Anyone else? I hear what is being said, but have a difficult time processing it! It really does suck. B/c I do take good notes & I have a notetaker. That plus a short attention span! Hopefully meds will help me more this time around (ADD meds). My grades did improve significantly after the addition last yr. I know, I am just stressing! Now that I think about it my learning specialist did suggest recording lectures & listening to the lectures while going to sleep. She said "it really does work & one way or another u will get the info in!" :rotfl:

~MJ

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Specializes in Oncology.
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.

This is the planner that I used (and LOVED) years ago. I have a PDA now, but I like to see everything at once, so I think I'll get another one of these. I can't get the link you gave to work. I found the website, but it's not easy to find what you're looking for there. Will you please tell me exactly which one you use and how to find it on the website? Thanks a bunch!

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

Well that's weird. It worked the other day. I'll try to find the link again.

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Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.
http://www.at-a-glance.com/store/search/viewSearch.cfm
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Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.

I figured out what the problem was. The site changes every date, because there is a graphic with the day's date on it.

So go to http://www.at-a-glance.com and put "upper class" in the 'Product Search' blank. you should only get one result and it should only be that calendar.

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Specializes in Oncology.
I figured out what the problem was. The site changes every date, because there is a graphic with the day's date on it.

So go to http://www.at-a-glance.com and put "upper class" in the 'Product Search' blank. you should only get one result and it should only be that calendar.

Found it! Thanks so much for your help!

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Specializes in Med-Surg, ER, Mental Health.

This thread is amazing...it's so helpful to read other people's suggestions of what works for them!

I wanted to add my 2 cents:

- I also use the little RNnotes (by Davis) notebook that

has the assessment, drug, and other goodies

of information in it. You can write on the pages with any

type of ink, and they wipe off to be reusable with rubbing

alcohol (those little pads are handy!)

- Digital voice recorder...I too record myself reading notes,

and then listen to them while I'm driving to school. This

can really help the stuff sink in. Since it's digital (no

tapes needed), you can download it onto a computer or

MP3 player to listen to more easily.

- Nursemates shoes (sneaker style) with Dr. Scholls heel

inserts...I'm working as a CNA part-time while in

nursing school, and even after being on a particularly

busy floor for a 12 hour shift, my feet are still feeling

fine.

- A watch that pins to your uniform top...after having my

clinical watch swabbed as a lesson in how many germs

get transmitted to them, let me tell you, it is gross and

dangerous to wear a wrist watch...seeing it with my own

eyes made me a believer!

- A little tiny bottle of hand sanitizer... the hospitals have

them in every room, but it's nice to have a bottle on you

in case you are in a pinch. Also, LTC facilities (I work part

time in one) don't tend to have hand sanitizer around, so

depending on your clinical setting, it's good to have your

own.

- Alcohol swabs, so that if you have to use a stethoscope

or any other equipment after someone else, you can

clean them first.

- This last one isn't a "what to get" tip, but rather a "what

NOT to get" tip: my first year in nursing school, I bought

ALL the textbooks on the list we were given, even the

ones that were labelled "suggested" rather than

"required". Well...I spent major bucks on books that I

hardly ever opened. My new policy is to buy only the

required books, and then borrow any other books off

the book list from the library. In fact, you can often ask

the instructor early in the term how often you will be

using the prescribed book for a class -- maybe you don't

need to buy any books for that class, just borrow from

the library. We spend SO much money in nursing school,

any savings is welcome!

Thanks for all the good tips everyone...keep them coming!

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Specializes in Float.
. 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

Wow..I LOVE this idea! I have tried doing the lecture thing and you are right..sounds sucks. I will have an hour commute also and never thought to record info myself to listen to..hmmm.....

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The info in this thread alone was worth the year membership.

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A 3 ring binder, pen, a pencil just for tests, highlighter, index cards (I use i ton of them to memorize all of the information) I also bought a expanding folder to seperate all of my tests by class. I also have a clip board for clinical. I bought Reebox walking shoes and I love them, Its a waste to spend a ton of money on a pair of shoes because you'll get 6 months top out of them. Good Luck!

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