What do you keep in your clinical bag?

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Getting excited for my next round of clinicals! Trying to stay ahead of the game this term, and planning ahead. What do you usually keep with you in your clinical bag? So far mine has:

Lunch, snacks, water (12 hour shifts, i find if I don't get a snack or two in me I may just fall over!)

Steth, bp cuff, penlight, scissors

a watch ( i never wear one, so I have to remind myself to bring one!)

Pens, notepad

What other things do you take with you to clinical that you find super helpful? Am I forgetting anything important?

Thanks!

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I had the same, and my "go bag" for work does too. I also add in a charger, eye drops, gum, 5hour energy, protein mix, and usually a trinket or two that my kids gave me as well as my mala beads (NEVER hit the floor without those!).

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I keep a sandwich baggie with some alcohol pads and some Tiger Balm just in case I run into a smell that I can't handle. (In addition to the same stuff you mentioned.)

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Specializes in Oncology/hematology.

Everything you listed plus: Carmex, Altoids, a scrubs jacket, extra pens, clinical notebook with all my paperwork, drug book to look things up, and I'm sure there's more that I'm not thinking of.

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Specializes in Forensic Psych.

Drug guide, nursing handbook, iPad, mints, cash, snacks, water bottle, badge holder, tiny note pare, pens, and notecards from lecture to study if I have extra time. I've never had extra time yet, but a girl can dream lol.

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Everything everyone said but add tampons, Tylenol, chewable pepto bismo, and a extra pair of scrubs in case I get dirty.

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Specializes in Cardio-Pulmonary; Med-Surg; Private Duty.

Pens.

Clipboard with clinical paperwork.

Caffeine pills.

Ibuprofen.

Gum.

Bandage scissors with a keychain light attached (harder to lose two things at once).

Student ID badge.

Fob watch (pins to my chest instead of wearing a wristwatch).

I hook my ID badge on to my fob watch and keep them together at all times -- makes it easier to find them in my bag, and harder to forget one or the other. The only thing I ever take out of my clinical bag is my clipboard, to do the paperwork at home. Everything else is either in my bag at home or on my person at clinical.

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Charger!! So important. Also tampons/pads... just in case.

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Specializes in Cardio-Pulmonary; Med-Surg; Private Duty.

(FYI and probably TMI, but if you get the Mirena IUD, you might not have to worry about tampons/pads anymore!)

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Also eatting well before clinical cuts down on need for snacks. With my current term ive been doing 12 hours shifts, both 7a-7p and 7p-7a, and i never go to a 12 hour shift without eating eggs and toast. Usually 3 srambled eggs (2 just whites, one whole) and a slice of cheese on toast...egg sandwich keeps me going for a while without being hungry. could go on a small lunch later in the shift and be fine

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Add to your list, iPad (has my drug guide on it), pulse ox (I use for work as well), wallet in case I'm still hungry. Haven't needed pads/tampons yet. Hoping I don't since surgery lol. Highlighters and coffee. Please coffee. Most important out of everything is the coffee.

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