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

Nursing Students General Students

Published

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!

Specializes in PD,Nxstage,hemo.

Your right they are very pricey for sure.

Hey could you tell me what is the hurst review?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Some things I've bought so far...

A rolling backpack! It will be your BEST FRIEND. I weighed my backpack with all my books in it... 35lbs! But on wheels, it's a breeze to pull from class to class.

A pair of comfortable shoes for both classroom, and a good pair for clinicals. I'm not in clinicals yet, but plan to buy a pair of Nurse Mates. For class, I picked up a nice pair of white Sketchers walking shoes with a slip-resistant bottom.

Some little things that will be invaluable to you are things like a mini stapler, paperclips, lots of ink pens and pencils, a small roll of scotch tape (trust me, you just never know... lol), ect.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in CNA/LPN.

I've compiled a great list for when I get into the nursing program, thanks to this thread! Great suggestions! Now I can live stress-free about creating my material and supply list! :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in CNA/LPN.

[color=#2f4f4f]since december, i've been able to tweak my list into things that really have came in handy for me now that i am in the program!

go ahead and splurge on at least two 4" or 5" binders (especially if you're in the program) - it may seem like such a necessity to me because my instructor hands out about one tree a day in lecture notes it seems! lol :D i had bought three 1.5" binders, but that definitely didn't last long! so i ended up wasting money on the tiny ones and overspending in the end.

post-it index tabs...i couldn't tell you how many i've used between my binders and textbooks. true life savers! instead of having a million dividers to separate each chapter, i usually group up 3+ chapters within one divider and use the index tabs to label and separate each chapter/section. it works better for me!

post-it flags and markers, for obvious reasons of information overload!

a stethoscope within your range. i didn't really have the cash to spare for a great stethoscope, but i went ahead and got a littmann classic ii and suffered a little for a few weeks. i really wanted a cardiology, but there was no way of that happening. littmann classic is just fine, and i have heard many of my fellow classmates talk about how much they love their littmann lightweight, which is much more affordable. i think they usually go for around $40-$50 something.

calendar! there are plenty of free online sites that allow you to create your own calendar and add things such as due dates and other important events coming up for the semester. i took the dates mapped out in my syllabus and typed them onto one, printed it out, and color-coded the assignments and test dates for each class with highlighters.

stapler, 3-punch hole puncher, surplus of pens...i prefer the clicky ones, definitely a desk in a quiet place in your house would do wonders for your study time! i also have used tons of note cards, post-its, and filler paper.

for clinicals, i bought a stethoscope of course, bandage scissors, hemostats, bp cuff (you'd be surprised how hard it is to find one if you don't have your own to use!), penlight, watch, pocket protector (i can stick alcohol swabs in here as well as my scissors, hemostats, pens, and change if i need it.

as you can see, i'm a pretty basic supply person. i'm on a budget, and having these have helped me stay above water so far, so i think i am doing good! :D

i'd love a pda of some sort, and even a new laptop because this one has about had it...but i can't afford either right now, so i will remain content with what i am able to afford for nursing school as opposed to focusing on the things i wish i could afford.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care, Emergency Medicine, Flight.

a sense of humor, big girl panties, and adapt to not sleeping.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Please post more shoe recommendations. I need some with good arch support and a cushioned sole to support my back and knees. I'm weird about shoe style because I have size 10 feet and the NurseMates, Danskos, and Croc-like shoes make my feet look even more like boats. I'm looking for a running shoe that is all white with good support.

I also had a weird question. Are nursing students required to come to and leave their clinical sites in scrubs? Or is there a locker room or something to change and keep your stuff in. I'm just thinking that with all the germs you'd come in contact that I wouldn't want to wear scrubs in my car so I was curious.

Keep posting things you were required to buy! This is a great thread!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Dialysis.

You really don't get that dirty in clinicals. Unless you come early and leave late to change in the bathroom, there isn't a place and a time to change scrubs.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Why would a school not allow tape recorders? (Please understand that I am not trying to be controversial, I have just never heard of that and am curious.) I am calling my school Monday to make sure that I am allowed to use a tape recorder. I am glad you made this post because I never thought about the possibility that they may not let me use one. Past colleges that I have attended have always allowed them. That sucks if they will not let me have one, and I am sorry that they will not let you have one, they are great.:confused:

My school (CCC) allows audio recorders put require you to sign a contract with them that states you will only use the recordings for studying purposes, will not share/give them to anyone else, will not post/publish them, and will turn off the recorder if the instructor asks. This is good because it supports HIPPA but also allows us to record the lectures for learning and studying purposes.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I wear a 10WW in women's shoes. I gave up caring what my feet look like years ago; I only care if my shoes are comfortable. I already have plantar fasciitis and there are very few shoes that I can tolerate wearing anyhow because of that. So I went to a local running store (a real one, not a shopping mall wanna-be one) and spent an hour trying on 6-7 different brands of shoes and different models within each brand by walking around the store and etc. with them on. The store had a treadmill that they used with a videocamera system to watch me walk/run in each pair, to check if I over-pronate, etc., which they offer as a free fitting/gait analysis service. Since none of the big name brands in the store came in a women's wide sized running shoe, I was trying on the men's ones. I've been wearing men's size 8 shoes for most my life anyhow, so I am used to that :p Ended up buying a pair of all white Nikes that absolutely do NOT kill my feet. They are worth every penny I paid and I am thinking of saving up and buying another pair as soon as I can. Alternating shoe pairs every day will make them last SO much longer.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Pens, pencils, 4 function calculator, a really good book bag or even a rolling book bag, buy NCLEX books to help study for tests (Saunders is what almost everyone i know uses), and I just buy some really good plain walking shoes. For some classes (like med-surg) I would say buy the study guide but for some classes I would say no. See if your school library has the study guides that you can either check out or use in the library. I do that for a lot of my classes. Also, be aware of what books you are buying. I know in our class every semester they ask for a different drug book and one time a lot of people went and bought the "new" drug book and it was the same drug book (came out same year and everything) with just a white stripe on the cover. I also know our school is really bad about saying we have to have something and then it never gets used OR its only used for 1 small thing a year (so share books with others to save some money). Also, check book prices online before buying your books you can save hundreds that way.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pediatrics.

BUMP for us newly admitted Fall '12 students!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I wanted to bump this again. And I also wanted to ask if there's anything in particular you didn't get and at some point during the semester, you ran out to buy because it helped you a lot. Also, any study tips for learning the huge amount of info they give you?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment