What do you keep in your locker/make sure to take to work with you?

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Hi everyone! I was wondering what are the most important items (aside from hygiene products) that you make sure you bring to work/keep in your locker?? I am a new GN and the I am trying to figure out what the must haves are :)

So, I may be classified as a hoarder by others' standards. However, I've been stuck at work for four days before...

Things I keep at work:

1. My hat collection (for now, and for as long as we're allowed to wear them)

2. Scrub jacket (x2, 1 I wear and a spare, never know)

3. Tennis shoes (work only)

4. Clogs (work only)

5. Socks (two pair minimum)

6. Underwear (never know), other personal items as appropriate

7. Toothbrush and tooth paste

8. Deodorant

9. Hair brush and several hair ties plus a small collection of bobby pins (esp if I try something crazy like bangs)

10. Travel sized bottle of shampoo, conditioner, lotion

11. Tylenol and/or Advil, Excedrine, Zantac

12. Usually some type of hard candy or cough drops

13. A small collection of snacks / meal bars / protein powder (often I have a can/cup of soup stashed)

14. Things I routinely use at work - scissors, pens, carpuject, dry erase markers, etc

15. My phone charger

16. Headphones (if I have to sleep at work falling asleep listening to my phone/music helps)

17. An old pair of flip flops I no longer like to wear (in the event I'm in a situation to need to shower at work, shower floors have always grossed me out).

If I know the weather is going to be bad (ugh, winter in the south) I generally bring an extra (extra) change of clothes, some more food, extra socks, and dress in layers on my way in (and this way have a fleece jacket or sweat shirt to wear to sleep in just in case we don't have a lot of spare blankets). The good news now is that I've already been "that person" who got stuck at work (several years now) and I'm hoping to avoid it this year by suggesting that others take their turn.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Pediatric Float, PICU, NICU.

Being a float pool nurse, I don't really have a central locker/location to store my belongings on every floor in the hospital so I keep my work bag with me with very bare minimal especially in regards to personal items. I keep a small pencil box full of things I need for work - pens, pencils, white out, highlighters, sharpies, scissors/trauma shears. As far as personal items go, I keep a phone charger at all times, obviously my wallet/keys, gum, and just recently got in the habit of keeping a small bottle of ibuprofen/tylenol since I had surgery but usually could find someone on the units who always had some to give up. That's all I keep with me inside the hospital. In my car, I keep a change of clothes in case I needed to do something right after work - I refuse to be "that nurse" who is out in their scrubs. If something were to get on my scrubs during my shift, I can borrow and change into the hospital's surgical scrubs.

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Specializes in Med/Surge, Psych, LTC, Home Health.

I work night shift, so I mostly have snacks. I also sometimes keep

coffee, in case the floor runs out.

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Specializes in Critical care.
...just recently got in the habit of keeping a small bottle of ibuprofen/tylenol since I had surgery but usually could find someone on the units who always had some to give up.

I bought a huge bottle of ibuprofen at the warehouse and put it in my breakroom for everyone to use- my excedrin though, that's the stuff that needs asked for ;)

As others have stated, if the winter weather forecast looks iffy I'll pack a bag and keep it in my car- that way I have my creature comforts if I can't make it home. I live an hour from work, so even though I don't use my coat going to and from work (I go from my home's garage to the parking garage at work) I always make sure it's in my car with a hat and gloves- I was born in the Midwest (now live in the northeast) and my mother drilled that into me.

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

My bag has motrin, pens, trauma shears, my lunch, and nursing references. My locker has an extra stethoscope and random education stuff from work. My car has

a full change of scrubs including underwear.

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I keep a folder with brain sheets, policies, important numbers, etc. A small bag with pens, scissors, calibers, stethoscope. I bring these out onto the floor during my shift. I also keep some kcups, food, seltzer water, etc. We have thiefs on the floor and do not keep them in the break room. Our lockers are small and would never be able to fit change of clothes, shoes, etc.

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So, I may be classified as a hoarder by others' standards. However, I've been stuck at work for four days before...

Things I keep at work:

1. My hat collection (for now, and for as long as we're allowed to wear them)

2. Scrub jacket (x2, 1 I wear and a spare, never know)

3. Tennis shoes (work only)

4. Clogs (work only)

5. Socks (two pair minimum)

6. Underwear (never know), other personal items as appropriate

7. Toothbrush and tooth paste

8. Deodorant

9. Hair brush and several hair ties plus a small collection of bobby pins (esp if I try something crazy like bangs)

10. Travel sized bottle of shampoo, conditioner, lotion

11. Tylenol and/or Advil, Excedrine, Zantac

12. Usually some type of hard candy or cough drops

13. A small collection of snacks / meal bars / protein powder (often I have a can/cup of soup stashed)

14. Things I routinely use at work - scissors, pens, carpuject, dry erase markers, etc

15. My phone charger

16. Headphones (if I have to sleep at work falling asleep listening to my phone/music helps)

17. An old pair of flip flops I no longer like to wear (in the event I'm in a situation to need to shower at work, shower floors have always grossed me out).

If I know the weather is going to be bad (ugh, winter in the south) I generally bring an extra (extra) change of clothes, some more food, extra socks, and dress in layers on my way in (and this way have a fleece jacket or sweat shirt to wear to sleep in just in case we don't have a lot of spare blankets). The good news now is that I've already been "that person" who got stuck at work (several years now) and I'm hoping to avoid it this year by suggesting that others take their turn.

Lol!!! Where do you keep all that??? Our lockers are super small, I can hardly fit anything in!!! Do you take anything with you at your nursing station??

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I keep a folder with brain sheets, policies, important numbers, etc. A small bag with pens, scissors, calibers, stethoscope. I bring these out onto the floor during my shift. I also keep some kcups, food, seltzer water, etc. We have thiefs on the floor and do not keep them in the break room. Our lockers are small and would never be able to fit change of clothes, shoes, etc.

NewEngland, good idea about the brain sheets. I usually draw them by hand , every day. Do you have a premade template you could share??

Where on the floor so you keep your extra stuff?

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My bag has motrin, pens, trauma shears, my lunch, and nursing references. My locker has an extra stethoscope and random education stuff from work. My car has

a full change of scrubs including underwear.

I keep my sheers on me, lunch is in the fridge, and extra uniform/undies are rolled up in my locker. We have a strict policy not to leave the building (that means no going to the car - I know it's silly). I've seen other nurses keep their bags at the nursing station. I haven't tried it because I'm afraid I will lose my Litmann iii steth, (I'm using a cheapy on the floor and keep my Litmann in my locker) :)

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I bought a huge bottle of ibuprofen at the warehouse and put it in my breakroom for everyone to use- my excedrin though, that's the stuff that needs asked for ;)

As others have stated, if the winter weather forecast looks iffy I'll pack a bag and keep it in my car- that way I have my creature comforts if I can't make it home. I live an hour from work, so even though I don't use my coat going to and from work (I go from my home's garage to the parking garage at work) I always make sure it's in my car with a hat and gloves- I was born in the Midwest (now live in the northeast) and my mother drilled that into me.

Are you guys allowed to go to your car if needed, during your shift? We are not :/

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Dialysis.
I keep my sheers on me, lunch is in the fridge, and extra uniform/undies are rolled up in my locker. We have a strict policy not to leave the building (that means no going to the car - I know it's silly). I've seen other nurses keep their bags at the nursing station. I haven't tried it because I'm afraid I will lose my Litmann iii steth, (I'm using a cheapy on the floor and keep my Litmann in my locker) :)

Cripes, you aren't allowed to leave the building? Well, that's crap. I also don't get why you'd leave your stethoscope in your locker. What's the point of having a good one if you never use it?

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Cripes, you aren't allowed to leave the building? Well, that's crap. I also don't get why you'd leave your stethoscope in your locker. What's the point of having a good one if you never use it?

I know right? Why they have that policy in place I don't know! Some still do sneak out, but I won't even think about it, for now anyway!

The reason I don't like using my Litmann is because I don't like how tight the upper part of tubing is! It literally crashes my ears! :/ Obviously I miss the clear sounds , but so far I'm managing just fine with the sprague.

I've used the Litmann throughout my nursing school, so it's not brand new, I just find the sprague more comfortable. Have you ever had this issue with the Litmann?

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