What's in your bag?

nurse2many · Apr 23, 2012

Put on TED hose and a good pair of gym shoes.

justcup · Apr 23, 2012

Lotion, clipboard/notepad, LPN notes hand book(I loved it my first year of nursing), sharpie, water bottle!

LuvScience · Apr 23, 2012

I always bring a stethoscope, BP cuff, clip board, tape measure, scissors, pen light, sharpie, highlighter and lots of pens.

JenLPN001 · Apr 25, 2012

I found very early on that it also never hurts to have a spare uniform hidden somewhere. Not necessarily in your bag of course, but keep one in the car. You never know when someone's gonna hurl something at you... or just hurl :uhoh21:

wannabe2008 · Apr 25, 2012

Im a new nurse (LPN in OK) and tomorrow is my first day of work. Its a medium size nursing home with a skilled hall on it. What should I pack in my bag for tomorrow and days to follow. I have my stethoscope, pen light, scissors, pens, and what else?

Ativan.

nomuramai · Apr 25, 2012

along with a watch with second hand, and a small btl of hand sanitiser just in case.

catlvr · Apr 25, 2012

Sense of humor since it always better to laugh than cry, and attitude that you are going to do the best that you can with what is available to you (I fall down on this one every day but I never give up trying). I also have a very bright LED pen light that I use for skin checks and breathing rounds if I work nights. It illuminates things that I never used to see. I also have a regular incandescent for neurochecks. If you can, get a few nursing programs (I adore Nursing Constellation from Skyscape) for your phone/pda. Sounds like everything else was covered by others.

Good luck!

MyHartSings4U · Apr 25, 2012

Along with your stethoscope, pen light, scissors, and pens; I recommend a small pulse oximeter, a pediatric temporal thermometer, a wrist B/P cuff, small sticky note pad, large nail clippers, a roll of paper tape, yellow highlighter, and a black sharpie. Don't forget antibacterial wipes for your equipment between residents!For future use, I also recommend you keep a 3 ring binder with: a list of phone numbers (1) PCP's & providers (mobile x-ray, transport companies, lab, etc); all facility admin (DON, ADON, maintenance & housekeeping supers, etc) & all facility nursing staff. (2) blank master copies (keep in plastic sleeves, use yellow highlighter to write master on all pages) of all chart docs (admit pack, nurse notes, assessment, request forms, etc) and (3) contact info for your resident's responsible parties'. I know this is a huge list, however, I've been a nurse for 30+ yrs and I've learned to work smart, NOT hard! LTC has evolved greatly over the yrs. Your residents and their families are now YOUR extended family. Take care of their medical needs, keep them safe, love them, give them dignity, give them privacy, and most of all keep the families in the loop, they will become your allies in the care of their loved ones. Good Luck! I hope this is a start to a rewarding career.Robynn Betz, LVN

ScrubCap · Apr 26, 2012

i think that myhartsings4u had some wonderful suggestions. in addition to the items you mentioned, i also keep a kelly clamp and dry-erase markers (for updating patient white boards if they have them) for nursing needs. also - i keep a small makeup bag that has deodorant, chapstick, toothpaste and toothbrush, floss and nail clippers. i also keep some fiber one bars in my bag in case i don't get to lunch in a timely manner (never know how your shift will be) and also some crystal light lemonade packets to add to my water mug when i need a little boost. it's also a wonderful idea to keep a spare change of clothes (scrubs, bra, underwear and socks) in your car - just in case! good luck with your new job and welcome to nursing!

merrywhiterose · Apr 26, 2012

Keep an extra pair of scrubs in your car. Take several pens, a sharpie, bandage scissors & a penlight.

woundnurse1 · May 8, 2012

Clipboard...Serves as your brain after awhile...you'll soon find yourself using sticky notes at home..:) a pen for each pocket...nurses are the worst pen-cleptos there are....scissors and a penlite...good to go ...:)