If you’re about to start your new career as a nurse then congratulations! I know you want to be prepared as possible on this new venture so here’s a list of 11 must-have nursing essentials to make sure you’re ready for ANYTHING and EVERYTHING.
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1. Stethoscope
Every nurse needs their own stethoscope. Trust me, the disposable ones are trash.
Plus this is like the first legit nursing item you get to buy that shows a tad bit of individuality! How fun! Show your personality girl. Go pink, go matte black, go rose gold. Wherever your heart brings you. You do you.
You can go one of two ways. The uber fancy way, which is usually a Littman. These are pretty pricey and what most people will buy in nursing school. I chose an ADC because I wasn’t working on a cardiac type floor. I’m not diagnosing any murmurs so I don’t need the same stethoscope as a cardiologist, you know what I mean?
Here’s an ADC, the stethoscope I use ($34.99):
Here’s a Littman for those of you that are really into cardiac ($94):
2. Pens and Sharpies
This might seem obvious. Duh.
But I have a few tips.
And you almost never have a Sharpie in your pocket when you need one. Which is, all the damn time. But my tip with pens…get the retractable kind. Last thing you want to worry about is a pen cap. And make sure they don’t bleed ink! Impossible to read if you’re writing on an IV dressing or some tape or a lidocaine patch or something.
Here are enough Sharpies to last your whole first year in your career ($5.50):
3. Comfy Shoes
Before I became a nurse, I had no idea how much of a physical job it was.
YOU. WILL. BE. EXHAUSTED.
One way to support your poor body is by getting the most comfortable shoes you can. These will be totally personal and I recommend going to your nearest Fleet Feet and letting them do a full foot analysis on you.
4. Trauma Shears
Ok when looking for a pair of shears…aka badass scissors…the bigger the better. You can get tiny little suture cutting scissors from work. But you never know what you’re going to need to cut through during a shift. And you want to be prepared for anything.
Clearly black is the new black for me, I love these ones ($12.99):
5. Pen Light
So a pen light can be replaced by the flashlight on your phone. But, many nurses don’t like to bring their phones into patient rooms, understandably.
And even if you’re not checking the dilation of someone’s pupils…us night shift nurses just need to see without being total A-holes and turning all the lights in a room on at 2am.
So just get a pen light. Keep it in your pocket. Cheap and easy ($7.99):
6. Comfy Scrubs
Ok so everyone says that scrubs are like pajamas. That’s a half truth.
NOT ALL SCRUBS ARE CREATED EQUAL.
So this may be completely out of your control. A lot of hospitals will supply you with a certain brand or give you a uniform stipend that you can spend at a certain store.
But if you have any say over what scrubs you can buy…then I’d recommend Figs, Lago, or Grey’s Anatomy.
7. Hand Cream
Girl.
Your hands have never been so dry. As after a twelve hour hospital shift. Hand cream is not a luxury it is a NECESSITY. Keep it simple here. No fragrance, nothing fancy, just some OG hand cream that works. Here is what I, and almost any other nurse you ask, believe to be the best of the best ($3.99):
This is the tiny fit in your pocket or pencil pouch version.
8. Compression Socks
Now if I could start nursing all over again I would be wearing compression socks from day one. They promote circulation in your legs, lessen swelling, and prevent a bunch of vein issues you do NOT want happening to you.
Trust me.
Google search varicose veins right now if you don’t already know what they are.
And look at all the cute freaking patterns they come in!
9. Watch
Your watch will be your right hand man. And to make your life easier you want a watch that can perform numerous functions.
You’ll want a timer, a stop watch, reminders, a clock face, and maybe a place to check your text messages so you’re not always carrying your phone around.
This is something I would splurge on if I were you. And I was, you. I bought plenty of static watches before I FINALLY decided I just needed a damn Apple Watch.
Here is a series 3 (what I still use and works perfectly fine for me $229):
Here is a series 7 if you’re a fancy pants ($379):
10. Snacks
Nursing. Is. Busy.
If you’re lucky, you work in a state like California with strict labor laws. And you MIGHT get a lunch break. But, if you’re a bleeding heart like many nurses are, and choose to care for your patients or catch up on charting during your lunch break…you’re not going to have sufficient time to sit down and eat a meal.
So stock up. Keep them in your bag, your locker, your pockets. Keep them everywhere and bring more than you think you’ll need.
I love meat sticks, bars, cheese, grapes, trail mix, oatmeal packets, things like that.
11. Tylenol
And last, but not least, on the list of nursing essentials…is Tylenol. Because everyone’s favorite co-worker is the one with the cure to their inevitable weekly shift headache.
Sounds like I’m kidding but I’m not.
