I know this question and/or similar questions have been asked, because I searched. Most of those threads are a couple of years old, though. I think this could benefit many of us entering nursing school in the fall. Thankfully, clinicals don't start (for me, anyway) until about the 8th week of classes. I'm just curious about what real life nursing students take to clinicals. According to my program, I must take
- tablet (Kindle, iPad, whatever)
- stethoscope
- clipboard
- hemostats
- bandage scissors
- penlights
- black ink pens
Where do you put all of this stuff? Where do you leave it? Do you stuff it all in your scrub pockets? I only have four. Four! And not huge ones, either. Do you use pocket organizers? Overnight bags? Do your patients mind holding all of your stuff while you assess them. (Calm down, I'm just joking.) What about personal stuff like Chapstick, and anti-nausea medication, and food? Besides all of this, do you have to carry patient charts too?
I want the details: what you bring, where you put it. Many thanks. :)
We were not allowed to wear stethoscope around neck in school..infection risk. They make steth holders for waist band. You wont need it but for assessmentd anyway. Its an old sacred cow to carry steth around all day. Its not necessary as long as you have it around just in case.
As far as other supplies...
Watch
Pen light
Multi colored pen
Permanent marker
Dry erase marker
I loved having my own pulse ox..didnt have to constantly track one down..I think they are about 40$
App for meds...micromedex is great cuz thats what my clinical site used for drug reference BUT
you have to use facility approved education. My job now uses lexicomp so I cant use Micromedex anymore.
I was not allowed any electronics on the clinical floor, we were allowed to keep stuff in the staff locker room so like a majority of other people said dint bring stuff you can't afford to loose. The one thing that helped me out was having a clipboard that opened up where I could throw papers and even private information about patients that if I left down somewhere it won't be seen by a curious patient.
One thing is make us all your stuff is labeled. People may ask to borrow something and you may not get it back....ever!
The one other tip I was going to tell you was bring multi colored pens! I know it sounds weird but I would write my report in one color and then my assessment in another. I had a third color for stuff to jump out at me as needed.
The one other tip I was going to tell you was bring multi colored pens! I know it sounds weird but I would write my report in one color and then my assessment in another. I had a third color for stuff to jump out at me as needed.
I like this idea! Somewhere, in some hidden place I'm sure, I have one of those pens that has the four different inks in one. I'm very visual, so that could help.
Right cargo pocket - Trauma shears, Bandage shears
What's the difference between trauma shears and bandage shears? I'll bing it.
After further thought, I realized I actually have six pockets, four on my scrub top and two on my pants (not cargo though ). Oh, the possibilities...
We were not allowed to wear stethoscope around neck in school..infection risk. They make steth holders for waist band. You wont need it but for assessmentd anyway. Its an old sacred cow to carry steth around all day. Its not necessary as long as you have it around just in case.
What is the the thought behind this? Wouldn't string your stethoscope at your waist cause just as big as an infection risk? If that's the case, what about name badges? They brush up against patients too.
What's the difference between trauma shears and bandage shears? I'll bing it.
After further thought, I realized I actually have six pockets, four on my scrub top and two on my pants (not cargo though ). Oh, the possibilities...
They are the strippers and clippers. Trauma shear are the big 7 1/4" used for for really getting through stuff. Bandage are the smaller metal ones for more precise cutting. I only carry trauma shears now. I think they work fine for everything, plus they are harder to lose being larger.
Here's what we were required to bring for our first semester:
Stethoscope (you'll just wear it though)
Nursing Diagnosis Handbook
Pen Light
Bandage scissors
Pen
Name badge
Required paperwork
I bought a messenger-style bag and kept everything in it. We had access to computers in each room/nurses station/classroom so we didn't need to bring a tablet of any sort. (I did use an iPad for funds and pharm lectures though) Our "classrooms" were located on each floor, adjacent to the nurses lounge. These rooms were locked, and we could only get in with our badge. Our class was split into smaller clinical groups of about six to eight people, each group having a different floor, so it was just your small group & your instructor who had access to the room. So all the bigger things were left in the classroom.
As far as little personal items, I kept a little zip-up bag with tampons so I wouldn't have to take my purse to the restroom with me. I kept a tiny sample freebie of lip balm that I got from Sephora in my bag as well. I did not take my purse, and my wallet was kept in my school bag.
Another thing that I bought that I LOVED, was a tiny spiral-bound notebook from Staples. We were required to chart both in the computer system & on a paper form that we turned in to our instructor weekly... so it was really handy to have that tiny little notebook to jot down patient assignments, or notes for questions that could be asked of the instructor later. (It was small enough to fit in my pocket.)
We only had a 30 minute lunch, and that was iffy some weeks just because of the need to complete paperwork in time, so I would suggest packing a lunch in a little insulated lunch bag. I just made mine the night before so I wouldn't have to worry about it the next morning when I was exhausted from waking up at 5am! I think I only ate in the cafeteria twice during my whole first semester last spring. I just usually didn't have the extra time. One thing our instructor was big on, was the fact that our meals came *after* we knew we would have our paperwork ready by the time we would have to leave.
Another thing that helped me out greatly was to pack everything the night before. I mean everything, down to having my uniform, socks, shoes ready, so I wouldn't have to look for it that morning. I also showered the night before, as we were required to wear our hair back anyway, and I knew I would want to shower as soon as I got home after being in the hospital all day.
When I was a student, many of us took a back pack or small bag. There was no room in the staff lounges and we were required to share lockers. On my person I carried:
Two or three multicoloured pens
Small note pad
Stethescope
Pen light
Bandage scissors
Chapstick
I also carried a drug guide which I left at the nursing station, and we could each leave a small binder containing our notes on a designated shelf in the lounge. Have fun in clinicals!
I'm curious to know what they expect you to do with the hemostats.....surely clamping off a bleeding artery is not something that you plan on needing to do (although Heaven help that artery if anyone actually does this)
Hmmm, it's going to sound snarky, but those meal trays must really pile up by the time of discharge!!! Really? Once something is set down it can't be removed?
And not huge ones, either. Do you use pocket organizers? Overnight bags? Do your patients mind holding all of your stuff while you assess them. (Calm down, I'm just joking.) What about personal stuff like Chapstick, and anti-nausea medication, and food? Besides all of this, do you have to carry patient charts too?
). Oh, the possibilities...
MendedHeart
663 Posts
We were not allowed to wear stethoscope around neck in school..infection risk. They make steth holders for waist band. You wont need it but for assessmentd anyway. Its an old sacred cow to carry steth around all day. Its not necessary as long as you have it around just in case.
As far as other supplies...
Watch
Pen light
Multi colored pen
Permanent marker
Dry erase marker
I loved having my own pulse ox..didnt have to constantly track one down..I think they are about 40$
App for meds...micromedex is great cuz thats what my clinical site used for drug reference BUT
you have to use facility approved education. My job now uses lexicomp so I cant use Micromedex anymore.