Published
What paraphernalias do you usually bring and use in the ward? The things you should not forget.
Scissors, tape, steth, black ink pen, black permanent marker, alcohol wipes, small notebook, formulas for drug calcs, hemostats, chap stick, gum/mints, and a vial of Mastisol to help me thru stinky situations. Stinky, yes...as in PEEE-YEW! I taped the most frequently used numbers (but somehow never remembered) to the back of my badge.
In the ED, I carry tape, lip balm, and alcohol wipes in the left pocket, pen in the right, and stethoscope around my neck. I also carry a folded piece of blank, 8.5 X 11 inch paper in the left leg pocket to jot notes on until I get a chance to chart. I should carry scissors, but I use them infrequently and there's always a pair available in the department.
I keep my pen (black) and stethoscope around my neck.
In my pocket: alcohol (wipes), two highlighters (pink and yellow), tape, flushes, scissors, my brain sheet, pen light, gum, my phone (our patients can call us directly so it's always ringing), lip gloss.
I used to keep a hemostat in my pocket but I broke it and have yet to replace it.
Stethoscope around my neck.
In my pocket....Alcohol swabs, Scissors and a pen.
Sometimes if i'm really ambitious i'll carry around the IV caps (like when you unhook an IV and you need to cap off the end of the line incase if it needing to be reused.) for some reason i can never find those things, so i try to stock up with a couple a head of time.
I find myself coming home with a stock supply of alcohol swabs. I always take more than what is needed. My fiance enjoys it...."MORE ALCOHOL SWABS???"
tvccrn, ASN, RN
762 Posts
Here in the US we are not allowed to carry meds in our pockets. All meds have to be under lock and key even if they are OTC in the outside world.