Essentials for Nursing Students

©2009 Kathy Quan RN BSN ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

As you begin your course of clinicals, you will need to be prepared with basic nursing equipment. Plan for this expense along with tuition, books and other fees. Check with your institutions for any specific requirements as to color and design before purchasing.

NOTE: Some schools require that you wear a specific uniform and may require that you purchase your basic equipment from them or a specific vendor.

You will need a stethoscope. A 5-Way design should serve you well. It has both the bell and diaphragm and can be interchanged for adults, children and infants. The Littmann Class II SE is a great choice. Add an ID tag to keep it from wandering if you lay it down, or someone asks to borrow it.

Uniforms will most likely be dictated by your school. They may have a specific uniform, or just guidelines. The most comfortable and versatile is scrubs or pants and tops, but some schools still require the women to wear dresses. You will need at least 2, preferably 3 or 4, depending on your access and time for washing. Crisp clean uniforms are essential for sanitation reasons as well as professional appearance. Pockets are life savers, and the more the better. Wrinkle free and stain releasing fabrics are highly recommended. Please see our sponsor's sites for uniforms, scrubs and shoes:
Medical Scrubs Mall
Uniform Advantage
 

Comfortable nursing shoes or clogs are essential! Again, check for any specific requirements from your school or hospitals. Lightweight, well-fitting and padded can't emphasized enough. You're going to be on your feet and running for hours! Be sure they fit well and are comfortable. Don't choose looks over comfort and fit!

A watch with a second hand is absolutely essential, and of course you have to be able to read it easily. A calendar and military time options are worth looking for, as well as a lighted dial. It has to be waterproof because you're going to be washing your hands and wrists often.

You will also need a gait belt for transferring patients and assisting with safe ambulation.

You will need a good pair of stainless steel bandage scissors in a 5 inch size. They should have some sort of identification attached to them so they get returned to you should someone borrow them. A pocket organizer designed for nurses will house them and keep them safe in one of your pockets.

A four color pen will be handy, and if it comes on a rope to hang on your neck, it'll be perfect. Many institutions require multi color charting to differentiate such things as phone calls, narcotic administration, pain assessments etc. Some require blue ink and some black as the primary color ink, with red as the secondary. Being prepared makes you more confident. (Even if all of your charting is computerized, you will need a pen often!) Some pens designed to look like a syringe are popular with nurses.

A medical dictionary such as Taber's will become your best friend as will the latest edition of the Drug Handbook or PDR for Nurses Keep them in your backpack or locker at all times. (Don’t forget them at home.) Replace them yearly!

A penlight for pupil (neuro) assessment should be kept in the pocket protector with your scissors. The disposable ones often have a handy pupil size chart on the side.

A few other items you may want to purchase along the way include a small retractable plastic tape measure, a nursing calculator clip board, or small pocket calculator.

You might also want a sphygmomanometer. Or you might consider a Combo Kit which includes a stethoscope, bandage scissors, reusable penlight, tape measure and sphygmomanometer in a matching fanny pack. These come in a variety of colors.

A PDA can be a very useful tool at the bedside for looking up drugs or other health information. It can also be used to keep vital contact information and for a calendar to keep you organized. Time Management is an essential skill that you may not learn in nursing school. A PDA can be very helpful is keeping you organized and on task.

Everything should have your name on it. Doctors are notorious for borrowing an item and then walking off with it. When you are rushed or called to another patient, you can easily forget your equipment and find it gone when you return.

Here are a few books that might make your education process a little easier and help you ease into your first year as a new nurse:

Relax and enjoy your entry into the rewarding career as a nurse!

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