It’s tough work being a nurse. Long hours on your feet, so many demands on your time and all those individual patient situations tugging at your emotions. Not to mention all that ‘stuff’ you need to carry around all the time.
Yes, the modern nurse needs more than a smart uniform, a watch and a sense of humour. We’ve listed all the items that, according to our research, the twenty-first century nurse should have at, or very near, his or her fingertips.
Take a look and if we’ve missed anything off, tweet us @MedisaveUK or send us a message on Facebook.
Medical gear that nurses carry
Stethoscope – is this the one instrument that you’d choose first, above everything else? It’s unlikely to stay in your bag for long, but once it’s out, hang on to it. Did we mention that we can
laser engrave your name onto a stethoscope?
Thermometer – one of the most basic items of medical equipment because it’s so massively useful. As with stethoscopes, there is a huge variety available so, depending on how and where you work, you may choose to carry more than one.
Finger pulse oximeter – these inexpensive gadgets are a quick, non-invasive way to measure a patient’s blood oxygen level.
Pen light – you’ll need this for conducting eye examinations. Be sure to get one that patients won’t find uncomfortably bright.
Medical scissors – take care that they’re comfortable for use next to a patient’s skin. You may want more than one pair for different purposes.
Swabs – you’ll get through lots of these quick, easy cleaning pads. In the unlikely event that you carry some around for months and don’t use them, check that they haven’t dried out.
Medical tape – your reel of hypoallergenic tape will come in handy in plenty of situations.
More years, less baggage
Is it true that you can tell the more experienced nurses because they have less in their pockets and bag? Our research suggests that nurses who have been doing the job for years have learned to travel as light as possible.
Practical stuff
Watch – clocks, clocks everywhere, but it’s still handy to have your personal timepiece.
Pen – the paperless office hasn’t arrived and nor has the paperless health service! It’s a good idea to carry several and have a mix of colours.
Tissues – for tears, smudges, spills and more!
Hand sanitiser – extremely practical in an environment where you need confidence that your hands are clean.
Diary or planner – this is a handy reminder of your appointments and is especially useful when you are so tired you don’t know whether you’re meant to be coming or going.
Notebook – if you’re old school, you’ll still write notes on paper instead of using an app on your phone. But it’s also very practical—when you need to scribble a message for someone and leave it on their desk, paper wins every time!
Pocket reference books – being a nurse involves lifelong learning, usually on the job. Reference books are there to give quick answers to your questions, and pocket editions are much easier to carry around.
Standards and procedures – particularly useful when you’re new to a job, procedure guides are often produced in pocket size by employers.
Self-adhesive notes – these little stickies can have several advantages over a page ripped from a notebook—they’re brightly coloured and they generally stay where you put them.
Elastic bands – how many uses can you find for an elastic band in a medical environment? It can work as a bookmark, to hold notes together, keep your pen somewhere safe or even provide a temporary fix when you need to hold a piece of equipment together.
Learning what a nurse doesn’t need to carry
If this list seems a little daunting, that’s because it’s trying to include everything. A nurse working in the same environment day after day will soon learn what he or she needs to get the job done, shortening their list of what to carry.
Personal care items for your nurse’s bag
Taking care of others, often in long shifts, can take its toll on you. It’s your responsibility to take care of yourself, not only so that you can keep doing a great job, but also to protect your wellbeing inside and outside of work.
Hand cream – don’t let all that wear and tear on your hands, from working and washing, ruin your skin.
Bottle of water – dehydration can cause fatigue and loss of concentration, which isn’t good whether you’re on or off duty. Having a bottle of water to hand makes it easy to grab a gulp at even the busiest times.
Cash – always handy, particularly if you’re going to need a snack to sustain you.
Toothbrush and toothpaste – it’s amazing how much better you can feel after taking a couple of minutes to clean your teeth, not to mention that it can give you a mini-break to help clear your thoughts and refocus.
Mints – for that welcome burst of freshness during a long shift.
Personal medication – don’t get caught out by not having your own medication available when you need it, whether for hay fever, headaches or heartburn.
Lip salve – it’s the small details, like having dry lips, that can make you feel less than one hundred percent on the job. Carrying a lip balm with you solves that problem.
Snack – When your energy levels drop during a shift, a quick bite to eat can be enough to pep them up again. It can also be a tiny treat to help you keep going. It’s up to you how much chocolate is involved in your choice!
Other useful articles for nurses:
9 tips for nurses looking for comfortable shoes
Top 5 benefits of being a multilingual nurse
Stethoscope – is this the one instrument that you’d choose first, above everything else? It’s unlikely to stay in your bag for long, but once it’s out, hang on to it. Did we mention that we can laser engrave your name onto a stethoscope?
Thermometer – one of the most basic items of medical equipment because it’s so massively useful. As with stethoscopes, there is a huge variety available so, depending on how and where you work, you may choose to carry more than one.
Finger pulse oximeter – these inexpensive gadgets are a quick, non-invasive way to measure a patient’s blood oxygen level.
Pen light – you’ll need this for conducting eye examinations. Be sure to get one that patients won’t find uncomfortably bright.
Medical scissors – take care that they’re comfortable for use next to a patient’s skin. You may want more than one pair for different purposes.
Swabs – you’ll get through lots of these quick, easy cleaning pads. In the unlikely event that you carry some around for months and don’t use them, check that they haven’t dried out.
Medical tape – your reel of hypoallergenic tape will come in handy in plenty of situations.
More years, less baggage
Is it true that you can tell the more experienced nurses because they have less in their pockets and bag? Our research suggests that nurses who have been doing the job for years have learned to travel as light as possible.
Practical stuff
Watch – clocks, clocks everywhere, but it’s still handy to have your personal timepiece.
Pen – the paperless office hasn’t arrived and nor has the paperless health service! It’s a good idea to carry several and have a mix of colours.
Tissues – for tears, smudges, spills and more!
Hand sanitiser – extremely practical in an environment where you need confidence that your hands are clean.
Diary or planner – this is a handy reminder of your appointments and is especially useful when you are so tired you don’t know whether you’re meant to be coming or going.
Notebook – if you’re old school, you’ll still write notes on paper instead of using an app on your phone. But it’s also very practical—when you need to scribble a message for someone and leave it on their desk, paper wins every time!
Pocket reference books – being a nurse involves lifelong learning, usually on the job. Reference books are there to give quick answers to your questions, and pocket editions are much easier to carry around.
Standards and procedures – particularly useful when you’re new to a job, procedure guides are often produced in pocket size by employers.
Self-adhesive notes – these little stickies can have several advantages over a page ripped from a notebook—they’re brightly coloured and they generally stay where you put them.
Elastic bands – how many uses can you find for an elastic band in a medical environment? It can work as a bookmark, to hold notes together, keep your pen somewhere safe or even provide a temporary fix when you need to hold a piece of equipment together.
Learning what a nurse doesn’t need to carry
If this list seems a little daunting, that’s because it’s trying to include everything. A nurse working in the same environment day after day will soon learn what he or she needs to get the job done, shortening their list of what to carry.
Personal care items for your nurse’s bag
Taking care of others, often in long shifts, can take its toll on you. It’s your responsibility to take care of yourself, not only so that you can keep doing a great job, but also to protect your wellbeing inside and outside of work.
Hand cream – don’t let all that wear and tear on your hands, from working and washing, ruin your skin.
Bottle of water – dehydration can cause fatigue and loss of concentration, which isn’t good whether you’re on or off duty. Having a bottle of water to hand makes it easy to grab a gulp at even the busiest times.
Cash – always handy, particularly if you’re going to need a snack to sustain you.
Toothbrush and toothpaste – it’s amazing how much better you can feel after taking a couple of minutes to clean your teeth, not to mention that it can give you a mini-break to help clear your thoughts and refocus.
Mints – for that welcome burst of freshness during a long shift.
Personal medication – don’t get caught out by not having your own medication available when you need it, whether for hay fever, headaches or heartburn.
Lip salve – it’s the small details, like having dry lips, that can make you feel less than one hundred percent on the job. Carrying a lip balm with you solves that problem.
Snack – When your energy levels drop during a shift, a quick bite to eat can be enough to pep them up again. It can also be a tiny treat to help you keep going. It’s up to you how much chocolate is involved in your choice!
Other useful articles for nurses:
9 tips for nurses looking for comfortable shoes
Top 5 benefits of being a multilingual nurse