What do you never leave home without?

Specialties CCU

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ghmccart

37 Posts

Specializes in ICU/CVICU.

one bag w/three ring binder for educational stuff, couple crit care refs, chapstick etc, gum for bad breath, other things work in and out of the rotation. on my person I carry crit care ref. and very important to me is my little not pad that I write pearls from the experienced nurses " so what about this or what do you do when this happens" or when I learn something really good and want to recall it laters. every now and then I will read all the pearls I have written just to put them in my mind once again. two pens one sharpie in front L pocket, alcohol, caps in bottm L, tubex,calipers, and mini calculator in front R pocket(I calculate all my own gtts the old way), and thats it, dont forget to have a watch with a couple timers/alarms for odd situations

CRNA2BKY

281 Posts

come on, some one has something, I'm sure!!

How about an American Express card? The commercials always told me never leave home with it (hehe.) Sorry, just my little smart-alec in me. Acutally, I want to be a crna also, so I hope to work in an ICU after graduation also, and I know I want to be prepared too. Good luck.

Specializes in CVICU, PACU, OR.

I always have 2 pens, highlighter, permanent marker, penlight, calipers, 2 hemostats, scissors, and alcohol pads.

CVICURN2003

216 Posts

Specializes in CVICU, MICU, CCRN-CSC.

I always have

*MY stethescope (Littman Card III is best for me),

*hemastats can never find any fast when you need them like untangling the gtts when they arrive to the unit and you cant get that cap off to draw and flush

*my fine tip no run gel ink pen at least two for writing your I&O really little on the flow sheet and NEATLY

*A Sharpie to mark CT drainage and write on dsg's

That's what I carry in my pockets

I also have a bag with a cc reference pocket guide, calipers, hijacked little blue plastic hemastats for CRRT, One of those carpuject things (but a mouth swab end or straw works just as well) extra pens, a highlighter, calipers, extra sharpies and some gum or breath mints (I chew when I am stressed:wink2:)

Oh and I never leave home without my DIET DR PEPPER and my sense of humor (dry and sarcastic as it may be)

Patience...I also always try to remember how i would feel if it were my husband, parent or child laying there and endure the STUPID questions they ask. And I do mean STUPID. To us anyway, not to them. But sometimes you will want to scream at them "I am just trying to keep hubby, mama, grandpa ALIVE right now...I don't need YOUR entire history about the leg cramps you endured as a child:uhoh3:

Good Luck! I hope you love it. I do.

celticcare

20 Posts

Specializes in Cardiology, Emergency.

Thanks also from me for this thread, its great to get some ideas as CCU is where I want to start working when I graduate. Great to know what to get and sort of things to have to get used to carrying them or using them on my final clinical rotations.

Keep safe out there

Scotty :monkeydance:

Needa Nurse

17 Posts

Specializes in Intermediate ICU, Medical ICU, PACU,CCU.

I thought I posted before, but I can't find it. Sorry if I am repeating.

I never leave for work without my stethoscope, calipers, hemostats, sharpie markers, a pen, 1.5 liters of water, and, most importantly, at least 2 packs of gum. At my hospital, we have policy and drug references on line, so I don't need to bring them. All of our charting is computerized too.icon1.gif

Another things I take/wear are comfortable scrubs, a sweatjacket for when the temperature drops at 0300, good footwear ( cross trainer sneakers for me) and a good supportive bra. (Sorry to the guys on this one! :rolleyes:)

Hope this helps! Don't bog yourself down by lugging too many books/ supplies- make priorities! icon10.gif

Specializes in STICU, CVICU, Flight.

Give me my Danskos, watch, stethoscope, black pen, red pen, fine tip sharpie, 2 hemostats, Advil, and Chapstick, and I'm good to go! (I keep the phone extensions to blood bank, lab, Rx, CVOR, CCL in the back of my badge holder.)

Specializes in ER, PEDS, PICU, PUB HLTH AIR GRND TRNSP,.

A PDA with Critical Care suite, davis' drug hand book, Tabers Med dictionary of course a good cardiology steth. and YOUR BRAIN. i do crit transports of all types of patients cath lab, trauma, SICU, PICU,. etc. So, I have to carry eveything wth me . Good luck and have fun!!

nurseabc123

232 Posts

Two pens, stethoscope (actually, it's in my locker), my badge, lunch and a pop! Everything else I need is in the room/on the computer.

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