What Supplies Should I Get for School?

LoriRNCM, ADN, ASN, RN · Aug 14, 2014

I use a dry erase board in my study room and at the beginning of the semester all due dates and test dates go on there. I don't clutter it up with readings etc. Just due dates for assignments or tests. That way at a glance I can see what's coming. You will obviously need a planner to put readings etc in as well as the above mentioned due dates. I use a Jansport Driver 8 backpack because nursing texts are ginormous. I have a canvas tote for clinical. A closing clipboard for clinical paperwork. A few notebooks which have held up my whole first year, I just change out the tab dividers each semester for new courses. Honestly, it's not that much more stuff than you need for regular classes. A steth, BP cuff, penlight (I use a mini mag light)..... you can't use your personal BP cuff in the hospital but you can use it at lab and to practice on people at home.

Kuriin, BSN, RN · Aug 14, 2014

Cardiology III Stethoscope

Manual BP Cuff

Multiple penlights

Different colored pens

Hundreds of #2 pencils

Large notebooks

Bandage scissors

Two sets of scrubs

Tight fitting long-sleeve shirt that you can roll up sleeves that go under scrubs

Laptop or tablet with a physical keyboard to type fast

Microsoft Office SUITE

Calendar planner

SKay226 · Aug 14, 2014

Thank you both for your input! It is such a great help :)

TLizS · Aug 14, 2014

Following I will hopefully be starting nursing school in January (and I have a weird obsession with school supplies) wondering if there is anything I haven't thought about that I might need good suggestions so far!

HisKids37 · Aug 14, 2014

I think your program will prepare you for what you need. Mine was very specific as far as what we would need. I did buy a rolling backpack, because everyone on here said to. LOL Most people in my class have them. This time, though, I'm just going to use a regular backpack. Last semester, I rarely took my books to class with me, and I found the rolling backpack to be a pain to maneuver around and not much bigger than a regular backpack.

IThinkICan100 · Aug 15, 2014

Here are a few random things I found invaluable my first year:

- Heavy-duty backpack: I first used a leather messenger bag my in the beginning, but I quickly found that my class supplies were toooooooo overwhelming to carry. I found a nice heavy-duty jansport backpack that fits the bill nicely. Just do yourself a favor and invest in a nice backpack from the beginning.

- Compartment clipboard: This is the best tip I have! I used my compartment clipboard every day in clinicals to hold scratch paper, notes, handouts, and reference sheets. The compartment part was invaluable to hold confidential patient information that I was carrying around in clinicals. You want to make sure you have a label with your school's name, your name (first name only, please), and a quick disclaimer that this folder carries confidential information and to please return to nurses station if found.

- Nursing bag: I have a bag that I only use to carry my clinical/nursing supplies. It's great to grab it in a hurry out the door to clinicals. It has my stethoscope, drug book, penlights, hemostats, surgical scissors, pens/pencils, B/P cuff, pulse ox meter, thermometer, and other tools. I invested in this piece by piece my first year and this proved a great investment. I no longer had to borrow stuff from the clinical site or my classmates. It actually got to the point that I left my bag at the nurses station and my classmates would borrow my supplies (with the stern disclaimer that if they loose something, it better me replaced!). I also take this bag with me to work in home health.

- Evernote app: Works as a cloud storage notebook. You can link your cloud to your phone, laptop, and tablet.

- Compression socks/TED hose: I know... They look like something your grandma wears, but -trust me- you will love how your legs feel after wearing some. And, I am a male, so you ladies have no excuse! You can find some really cool looking ones at sport stores. Mine are athletic compression socks that are black with silver, but you can see them because of my scrub pants and fugly white nursing shoes (dress code required)

phoenoryker · Aug 15, 2014

Good advice so far. I think we are worried that we are setting ourselves up to be behind the curve, but it is just our nerves. At our orientation this week, we found out what we needed. Hopefully, everybody's program has a true commitment to our success as clinicians. My faculty and directors seemed genuinely motivated to do so. I am sure yours will too. I would like to add to be cautious about toting around confidential information, accidents do happen.

pmabraham, BSN, RN · Aug 15, 2014

Good day, IThinkICan100:

Would you mind sharing what compartment clipboard you are using? Also, since you shared you are a guy (as am I), would you midn sharing what you are using for a nursing bag? What B/P cuff are you using (make/model)? I'm not sure if I'll need a pulse ox meter; but would you mind sharing which make/model? For the compression socks/TED hose, where did you get yours (any specific name/brand/type)?

Thank you.

Peanut&Buttercup · Aug 15, 2014

My school gave us a list too but I feel like there's a "secret" not required list that I should have but isn't "required." :)

I've been eyeing the WhiteCoat clipboards. They have lab values on them, which may be handy (I have no clue -- haven't started yet!) but they fold and can fit in scrub pockets. They are spendy but look cool.

What do you think -- yea or nay?

JustBeachyNurse, LPN · Aug 15, 2014

I'm surprised you could use your own pulse ox, thermometer or BP cuff in clinical sites. Every clinical site I went to and every facility I worked in specifically prohibited this because all equipment had to be checked out, calibrated and validated by the biomedical engineering department. It was near impossible to properly clean & sanitize personal equipment (especially BP cuffs) between patients. It's one thing to take a sani-wipe to your stethoscope it's another to try and remove body fluids from a cloth BP cuff.

Check with school before investing as we were told up front to not waste money. If we were caught using personal equipment (pulse ox, thermometer, BP cuff) staff or clinical instructor could & would confiscate for failure to follow facility policy. The only personal equipment permitted was stethoscope , penlight, and bandage scissors or trauma scissors)

Pocket packs of baby wipes, hand sanitizer and cleaning/disinfecting wipes (Clorox is one brand and great to wipe down the outside of your bag or shoes if soiled/exposed) are great to have on hand.

Index cards, highlighters, permanent markers, pencils. Black ink pens

Clipboards are relative as we were not permitted to have them in clinicals as they made patients nervous, reduced patient interaction (some students hid behind clipboards when interviewing patients) and there was a contamination incident.

Pocket sized notebooks/note pads were preferred. I liked index cards held together with a binder ring.

Before you invest in technology see what is permitted in school. Some schools don't allow recording devices. Some schools don't allow laptops or tablets due to space limitations and distractions. Some schools do not offer wifi which reduces usability on many tablets

Kuriin, BSN, RN · Aug 15, 2014

In terms of compression stockings, just find them at Walgreens (or any pharmacy) or a medical supplies shop. Make sure the mmHg is 15-20 (in that area). Don't be like me, a 28 year old man with varicose veins! (just a couple)