What kind of personal medical equipment are nurses allowed to use at the hospitals?

AndersonRoland · Feb 14, 2015

These days' nurses are often outfitted with lots of technological equipments to carry out their jobs. Equipment use also depends on the specialty and facility provided by the hospitals they are working in. However, most common medical equipments they should have are stethoscope, thermometer, scissors, sphygmomanometers, syringes, blood pressure cuffs, bladder readout machines etc. to perform their duties with useful tools which can be easily carried in a pocket, on a cart or at a nurse's station.

JWG223 · Feb 14, 2015

I'm a new nurse who is starting unit orientation on Monday and I was wondering what kind of medical equipment you can bring on your wn..like I have read on this board that some nurses buy their own pulse ox,do you guys buy something else and carry it to work like blood sugar machine or your own blood pressure kit?? I noticed that some of the blood pressure machines are made in the way that it can fit into your pocket..I just want to be adequately prepared and save myself time instead of looking for a pulse ox or something of that nature..please share your thought,experiences,advice..thanks.

I bring my stethoscope, writing tools, penlight, and scissors (cheap/convenient). Why waste your money on things your employer supplies?

I get being excited and all, but keep the money in your pocket!

registerednutrn, BSN, RN · Feb 14, 2015

I have a pulse ox, manual blood pressure cuff,stethosocpe, screwdrive, pliers, sissors , pill cutter, pill crusher, silk tape( very hard to come by where I work), sharpie. I know screwdriver and pliers sounds weird but I have used them more than once.

Mr. Murse · Feb 14, 2015

I'm just pretty much repeating what a few others have said, but unless you're working home health or somewhere way out in the boonies, chances are the only thing you'll really need to bring is a stethoscope. Pen lights are helpful too, but there are usually flashlights of some kind available in hospital units. Hemostats too.

If I were you, I would not stock up on a bunch of stuff before you even go to your first day of work. Go and see what they supply and what you'll need. Observe and/or ask what other nurses find most useful that the workplace doesn't provide.

I really could go to work without anything, because we even have cheapo stethoscopes we use for isolation rooms that are available too. The hospital provides scissors, manual BP cuffs, pill cutters/crushers.......pretty much everything. So like I said, just go feel it out first.

Stethoscope, a pen or two, and maybe a clipboard would be all that would I recommend for your first day.