Welcome to all new grad nurses! In this blog, we give you the ultimate list of nurse essentials that every new grad nurse needs.
- Stethoscope
- Comfortable shoes
- Watch with second hand
- Penlight
- Nursing clipboard with storage
- Scrubs with pockets
- Notepads and pens
- Cheat sheets
- Portable phone charger
- Nursing scissors/trauma shears
- Hand sanitizer and hand creams
A decent-quality stethoscope
Use: A stethoscope is the most important nurse tool and is used for patient assessments. Some common uses for stethoscopes are listening to heart sounds, lung sounds, bowel sounds, and blood flow. It is also an educational tool that helps the students to recognize the sounds related to different health conditions. Always send on high-quality stethoscope so it can last you through your nursing career.
Things to consider:
- The earpiece fits your ear canal.
- The tubing is thick.
- The chest piece is stainless steel so you can hear sounds more clearly.
Recommendations:
- 3M Littmann Classic III
- FriCARE Dual Head Stethoscope
- Omron Sprague Rappaport Stethoscope
Comfortable shoes
Another important thing nurses need to include is comfortable shoes. As we know, the nurse’s job is very hectic, and nurses are on their feet all day long. Therefore, they must be wearing comfortable shoes. Wearing uncomfortable shoes can be discomforting and can cause pain, so comfortable shoes also come in nurse essentials.
Things to consider:
It should be the right fit with a nonslip sole.
- Shock absorption
- Wide toe box
- Stiff sole
- Arch support
- Easy to clean.
Recommendation:
- Nike Air Zoom Pegasus
- Brooks Ghost 14
- Dansko Professional Clogs
- Hoka One One Bondi 7
- New Balance Fresh Foam 1080v13
- Skechers GOwalk Arch Fit – Togpath
- Adidas Ultraboost 21
- Merrell Jungle Moc
- ASICS Gel-Nimbus 24
- Vionic Walker
Watch with second hand
Another important nurse essential is to watch with a second hand. Nurses use watches to keep the time track of medications and check the pulse rate of patients. It is one of the most used tools for nurses. The pulse rate can be checked by counting the heartbeats in 60 seconds therefore watch with a second hand is an essential nursing tool.
Things to consider:
- Water-resistant
- Easy to clean.
- Easy-to-read dial
- Lightweight and comfortable
Penlight
Another essential nursing tool is penlight. It is a small torch that nurses use to check the pupils of patients, oral and throat examinations, etc.
Things to consider:
- Brightness and beam quality
- LED bulb
- Compact and lightweight
- Durability
- Long battery life
Nursing clipboard with storage
The nurse essential list also consists of a clipboard with storage. It acts as a portable workstation for the nurses and nurses can store important documents, charts, and notes. This keeps everything organized and easy for them to access. The storage compartment can also help to keep the patient information private, which is an important standard to follow according to HIPPA.
Things to consider:
- Portability
- Durability
- Storage capacity
- Secure closure
- Smooth writing surface
- Compact design
Scrubs with pockets
“A pocketless scrub is healthcare’s worst nightmare.” Scrubs with pockets are one of the most essential nurse needs. Pockets help you to stash your pen, paper, and snacks while you are on the go.
Recommendations:
Note pads and pens
You are a nurse on your feet, and you have patients to deal with. You need to have a notepad and pen to be with you all the time. It is the basic nurse essential tool. It helps you to write down notes, reminders, and patient information.
Cheat sheets
Another important nursing tool is the cheat sheet. For new grad nursing students, it’s difficult to remember everything there, for cheat sheets come in handy. These are color-coordinated.
Portable phone charger
Another important nursing tool is a portable phone charger. Nowadays, phones have become the most important part of our lives. If we need information about something or want to call someone, we use phones in our daily lives. It is important to have a portable phone charger with you so that your phone is charged all the time, and you don’t have to deal with a drained battery.
Things to consider:
- Compact size
- High-capacity charger
- Match to device needs
- Durability
- High quality
- Water-resistant
Nursing scissors and trauma shear
Nursing scissors and trauma shears are another important nurse tool. Scissors help them cut gauze bandages, etc. Trauma shears are used to cut tougher fabric, such as seat belts or thick clothes.
Things to consider:
- Blade strength and sharpness
- Size and material
- Durability
- Easy to clean
- Safety lock
Hand sanitizers and hand creams
Hand sanitizers and hand creams are also nurse essentials. Nurses deal with different patients and different equipment all the time. Sometimes, it becomes difficult to wash their hands after every checkup, which is time-consuming; therefore, they need to have hand sanitizers with them all the time. So they can keep their hands clean every time they deal with patients.
Conclusion:
To all new grad nurses, we give you the ultimate checklist of all the nursing essentials you need to embark on your journey. This nurse essentials list will help you make a significant difference in your daily workflow and provide patient care.
