Congratulations! You got accepted into a nursing program! This is no small feat and you are about to embark on what I think is one of the most challenging, yet rewarding, educational programs in existence.
You’ve probably gotten a letter or email giving you details about what you need to purchase for school. But there might be a few things that will really help you that your nursing program left off the list. Below, you’ll find the top 10 most essential things I think you will need to get you through nursing school.
#1: A Good Planner
If you’ve already taken college courses, you may think that the first day or first week is going to be a cake walk. “Let’s just get to know you, let’s just get you oriented to our course.” Think again! You have to hit the ground running! And most nursing programs are trying to cram a lot of information in a short amount of time. Plus you will be juggling lecture, labs and clinicals along with all the reading assignments, homework, test, quizzes, papers etc.
So, you really need to be organized. It doesn’t matter whether you prefer a digital planner or the traditional pen-and-paper method of keeping track of your schedule and assignments. But get a planner! Whichever works best for you.
#2 A Good Backpack
You are going to need something to carry all your supplies, and nursing books are super heavy! So you need a good backpack. I used a black SwissGear backpack throughout nursing school and even passed it off to my kids a few years later. It was super durable and functional. It had pockets on the side to carry a water bottle, a spot for a tablet or laptop, and plenty of room for all my stuff.
#3 Basic School supplies
Many nursing students like to color code their notes, create flashcards, highlight charts etc. You can buy pre-made flashcards, study cheat sheets but I think the more you write, rewrite and personally wrestle with the material, the better you will learn it. So here is a list of basic school supplies I recommend.
- Pens/pencils
- Index cards
- Highlighters
- Colored pencils/markers
- Notebooks/binders
#4 Stethoscope
Oh yeah, now we’re getting to the cool stuff! A stethoscope is going to be your best friend for, well, the rest of your career! Your school has probably already put that on your list and they may even have one they recommend (or require). So make sure you double check the info in your orientation packet to see what your school says about it.
My school recommended the Classic Littman II stethoscope and I still use it to this day. Although my dream stethoscope is the Littman Cardiology IV because it has better sound for listening to heart sounds but is too expensive and not necessary for the beginning nurse. The really expensive and fancy stethoscopes with Eko software are also not necessary for nurses, in my opinion, because if you really need to see a patient’s heart rhythm you request a physician order for a real EKG.
And a stethoscope accessory to really consider getting is an ID tag, that way it will never get stolen! A friend of mine gifted me one and it was one of the best graduation gifts for a new graduate nurse!
*Side note – your program may also require a manual blood pressure cuff, as mine did. However, I rarely found a use for mine during school, only years later because I conduct physical exams with patients at home. If your school does require it, buy the least expensive one you can find. Most of your nursing programs and clinical sites will have the equipment you need to take a blood pressure.
#5 Pen light
Although I didn’t use it that much in nursing school I really do think this is a good tool. Lots of nurses will teach you their “work arounds” like using the light in the room or getting their phone out and using the flashlight feature. But do you really want to pull your phone out in a patients room with infections and bodily fluids? No thanks. And the problem with turning the lights on in the room or using a window light is that it can’t be controlled as easily and you probably won’t be able to see into dark places like the back of the throat.
A pen light is not very expensive and worth it if you want a reliable tool to inspect a patients pupils or see into dark crevices. The ones they make specifically for healthcare sometimes have a pupil gauge on the side for reference.
# 6 Sharpie Mini Markers with Clip
These things are awesome! Nurses are always writing on stuff with a sharpie like syringes, bandages, patients. I found these mini sharpies that clip onto your badge or lanyard so you are never without one when you need it!
#7 Scrubs
Before you buy scrubs you have to know your school requirements. They are very picky about the color and fit of scrubs. Nursing Schools don’t like you to be showing cleavage or have scrubs that are too tight fitting. So make sure you check their requirements first.
Ok, true confession. I didn’t have a lot of money when I went to nursing school so I bought the cheapest scrubs I could find that fit me and were minimally comfortable. They happen to be these Cherokee scrubs on Amazon (pants and top). Now, I wear these scrubs from carhardt which are also an economical choice but more comfortable and flattering to me (pants, top). But probably the most comfortable scrubs I ever wore were Barco Grey’s Anatomy.
#8 Good shoes
Nurses are on their feet A LOT. So, good shoes are super important. I wore “special” shoes when I was a toddler because I have very flat, wide, feet and my ankles roll. So good quality shoes have always been important to me.
I see ads all the time claiming to have the best shoes for nurses. In my opinion, one size does not fit all. You need to go find the right shoes for you. And for me, that changes all the time. I buy different brands because styles change and one doesn’t always fit the same as it did before.
I do not usually buy shoes online because I actually have to put them on my feet and walk around in them first. If you have any special conditions or concerns about your feet see a podiatrist. But I also recommend going somewhere with knowledgeable salespeople that will actually measure your feet and watch you walk in the shoes. Some places now even have scanners that analyze the biomechanics of your stride. Although I did that once and I am not sure it really made that much different. The shoes at that store were just really expensive. I think you know your feet best and how the shoes feel to you.
Anyway, for what it’s worth, these are some styles I have tried before and what I think of them:
- Dansko – these clogs were really popular when I went to nursing school and to be honest I hate them. They were terribly uncomfortable to me. ButI know some people who swear by them. They are supposed to be really durable and last forever.
- Hoka – these became very popular in the last few years and I’ve worn them a couple of times. At first I absolutely loved them. It felt like I was walking on clouds. But that seemed to wear off quickly and after a few months I still had to buy new shoes which was disappointing because of how expensive these are. Overall, they are still a really good shoe though. I guess, I just have to accept that when you are on your feet constantly, you need to buy new shoes about every 3-6 months anyway.
- Brooks – I really like this brand. They tend to have a slightly wider base for people like me with wide feet.
- New Balance – Also a good brand for anyone who does a lot of walking. A good solid base as well.
# 9 Compression socks
Because nurses are on their feet and standing a lot, they are at greater risk for circulation issues and pain in the legs and feet. I only discovered these in nursing school because we learn about the benefits for some of our patients. Don’t worry, you don’t have to have the same level of compression that patients with fluid overload have but some level of support really helps you when you are on your feet for 12 hours a day. Compression socks can:
- Improve blood flow
- Reduce swelling
- Reduce pain
- Reduce fatigue
I usually buy my compression socks in a multi-pack and they come in a lot of cute patterns and colors.
#10 Badge Reel
You will be required to wear your nursing school ID and your clinical ID badge at clinical sites. Sometimes, they are even programmed to scan and get you into locked areas, like a med room. Your school may give you a free lanyard or clip-on badge holder. But a badge reel that is retractable is really handy for scanning. They will break from time to time so either pay a few extra bucks and get a little better quality one, or buy a multi-pack and carry a spare.
If you like to be fancy, you can also find some really cute designs or personalized badge reels on Etsy.
#11 Clipboard
This is very nice to have at clinical sites. I had a clipboard with storage in nursing school that opens so you can store papers and pens inside it. I also printed off a list of labs to know for reference but you can find some that already have lab reference values printed on them.
Check out our Etsy store for more nurse gifts, clinical/study tools, and accessories. VitalPrintsShop.Etsy.com
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Categories: Healthcare, Nursing, Careers
Tags: health, healthcare, nurse, nursing, travel
Free Nursing Career Information: Expert Tips for Success 