What tools do/did you find helpful?

Ok, I know somewhere this has had to have been discussed but I just cann't seem to find the post(s). What I wanted to know is, What thing did you use or currently use while studing nursing at Charity (specifically but other school input would be welcomed also). example: IPOD, PDA, Folders, Web casting, note takeing ...... anything or things that you did or didn't do would be greatly appreciated. If you were in the night devision how did you handle going to your car after dark? I'll be doing my clinicals at University Hospital and its still spookie around there during the day I can only emagine how it gets at night. (just call me chicken little :) ). Any suggestion will be great. So thanks now.

I do not go to charity, nor am I an RN student. I am currently a senior in an LPN program in Baton Rouge...I graduate this October. We have two clinicals left (geriatrics 2 and Professionalism) before we're done.

The things I have personally found the MOST useful (in order) are:

1. My laptop computer. I type all my notes on it from class. I can print out paper copies if I need them, and I can get/send email to other classmates on the spot if need be. Seriously...best purchase I EVER made.

2. LOTS of little notepads. I use these in clinicals. Just the cheap ones from Wal-Mart will do. I use them to keep track of everything I have done, and everything I need to do during the day at clinicals. I also write down reminder notes on them. I write stuff I find hard to remember like all the pediatric IV calculation formulas on the inside front cover. Comes in REALLY handy when your instructor who hasn't seen you in 2 hours says "what have you been doing?" and you can flip open your notepad and say "well, at 0915, I was doing this. Then at 0945 I did this" and so on.

3. Care Plan book. Yeah, yeah...people will say don't use them, they aren't helpful, etc etc. They're expensive, but they've saved MY butt a few times, as well as the butts of just about ALL my classmates at one point or another. Get one despite what your instructors/other nurses will say. You WILL thank me later.

4. You will think this one is funny, but it's SO true: a nice set of smooth-writing and comfortable-to-hold pens...in black ink. You will be writing a LOT..and I mean probably more than you have ever written before in your life. Again...you WILL thank me later.

5. The most comfortable shoes you can find. Price is not a concern. Find the most comfortable shoes you can find and buy them no matter how much they cost. Mine were $180 and i almost had a coronary when I paid the bill. I felt much better when I was the only student without aching feet the next week. BTW: I bought a pair of all-white NewBalance 926's with the memory-foam inserts. Best. Shoes. Ever. It's like walking on a Tempur-Pedic mattress.

6. A good stethoscope. Don't get the el-cheapo model that comes with the nursing kit. Spend the extra $20 and get a good Littmann 'scope. You can get them online at www.stethoscope.com Remember, single-tube 'scopes are lighter, but double-tube 'scopes let you hear subtle sounds better. I personally have both, and FAR prefer my double-tuber.

7. This will also sound funny, but makes a big, BIG difference at clinicals: The most comfortable underwear/socks/t-shirts you can find. Having soft, comfy socks keeps your feet from getting sore from standing all day...make sure they're crew socks to add a little compression to your lower leg (you'll be standing all day long). The underwear...well, i probably don't have to explain this one. The t-shirts because you will be doing a lot of physical labor for clinicals, and a good, soft t-shirt keeps your scrubs/uniforms from bunching up and rubbing your skin raw.

8. Sleep. You aren't going to get enough so I'll skip that and just say to get as much as you can at all costs. I should have made this #1 as sleep deprivation in the #1 worst thing about nursing school.