What's In Your Pocket?

NHavenRN · Jul 8, 2006

Once I'm in the room, I usually wish I had more, but generally just:

Right shirt pocket:

alcohol wipes

pen

Left shirt pocket:

saline flushes

Right pants pocket:

cash for coffee, and food when just coffee doesn't cut it any more

Left pants pocket:

hair clips (my hair falls into my face constantly, despite my best intentions)

steth around my neck

I used to carry more, but I just can't stand to have my scrub top move independently of my body because its so loaded down with stuff! Plus, most of our patients are on precautions (ID floor) so I can't reuse much I walk in with anyhow. My short-term memory skills are definitely improving as I have to remember every little thing I might need before I walk that walk down the hall - it makes for an interesting challenge, at least.

andre · Jul 9, 2006

Left shirt pocket: two Bic multi-color click pens and my cheat sheet (I'm OCD enough that I color code some things on my sheet)

Right shirt pocket: a few alcohol wipes, a couple of blunts, a saline flush or two, sometimes my calipers, a penlight, maybe a luer lock

Pants cargo pocket: hospital cell phone

Tape on my kelly clamps, clipped to the bottom of my scrub top

Steth around my neck

That's it!

Andrea

analee23 · Jul 9, 2006

Left pocket, 2 pens, if I carry more I lose em, alcohol wipes and a small pad of paper to write vitals n such on. Right pocket a set of braslow crash cards and trauma sheers, in my right pant pocket, stickers (I work peds) and a lil money for the vending machine. Stethoscope around neck and a small sharpie and chapstick attached to name badge.

Anything else I need is in the rooms or near enough that I can get em in a pinch.

And I have a locker to put keys, cell phone, and other things away.

neygray · Jul 18, 2006

New nursing student here....what are hemostats and what are they used for?? Are they used enough that I should pick up one to keep on hand??

Anything that needs that little extra ummph...too tight luer lock or iv tubing, etc. also helps untie knotted gowns, etc. You may also know hemostats as kelly clamps, looks like scissors with rounded ends and they clamp together at the end.

mf1126 · Jul 19, 2006

Left scrub pocket-red pen, black pen (usually 2), highlighter (highlight important info on my "brains" or what I need to make sure I pass on in report)

Right scrub pocket-a couple of alligator clips, alcohol pads, 1-2 flushes, chapstick, scissors, and things that migrate into my pocket as I use them.

pants pockets-mints, money

I have a clipboard that opens up so I keep extra brain sheets, a dry erase marker for the boards in pt rooms, a sharpie and an extra pen

Watch on my wrist

Stethoscope around my neck (with a roll of tape threaded on to one of the earpieces--always handy and accessible with one hand if needed!!)

I think that is about it--I am new so I am still figuring out what to carry!

Michelle

steelydanfan · Jul 19, 2006

A pair of scissors.

Alcohol preps.

Iv caps.

Pens. As many as I can, I am FAMOUS for losing them!

Hemostats.

Critical Care Handbook (Just your basic cheat sheet for drugs I may not have hung for awhile).

ECG electrode patches.

Gum.

And it's not in my pockets, I have one of those utility belts. Sue me, I like it.

bethin · Jul 19, 2006

Two pockets. I'm freaky and separate things into two groups, and always expect to find the stuff in the correct pocket.
Right pocket: two pens, narc keys, lotion, fingernail clippers, scribble paper/pad.
Left pocket: penlight, scissors, hemastats, alcohol wipes, electrode pads. If I have a rubber band on my wrist it's from the charge paper from some bag of fluids, and the paper wound up in the left pocket. Rubber band is to remind me to do something with the paper.
Watch on wrist, steth around neck... heaven help me on the day I wear the jacket with four pockets, then stuff winds up in all the wrong places and I can't find any of it.

And I thought I was the only one who seperated! I'm right handed so I keep my pen in my right pocket along with scissors and my report sheet. Other pocket has alcohol wipes and bandaids, chapstick (heaven help me if I loose it-I get grumpy) and loose change. Pen light in my left pocket. I may not use it (I'm just an aide) but there are a few nurses who never bring one or scissors or even a stethescope! I guess I'm prepared for them.

Watch on left hand. No stethescope - just an aide.

rnccm, RN · Jul 20, 2006

Scissors, $1.10 for a soda when I get a chance, 10cc packaged syringe of normal saline flush, alcohol wipes, three ink pens.

happytobehere · Jul 21, 2006

he he

shyne · Jul 21, 2006

pen

marker

candy

chapstick

cheat sheet

hospital pager

abimathew · Jul 26, 2006

in my pockt,

i always carries some choclates to give to...............................................................

.................................................................

................................................................

...............my :trout:

studentnurse74, LPN, LVN · Jul 29, 2006

Scissors, alcohol pads, tape, black ink pen, red ink pen, highlighter and chapstick or lip gloss. I keep my stethoscope on my neck. I also have a clip board with my kardexes on it, and it has storage inside that I keep my pocket drug book, our "cheat sheets" from work with order of lab draws, braden scale, etc, and a picture of my son and doggie. Guess I should put one of hubby in, too...