Clinical Bag Checklist
There are a lot of things that you may think you need in your clinical bag, and you may find that my suggestions are not needed or that I am missing some items that are important to you. The bottom line is this is a great place to start with packing and preparing for your clinical time. Feeling prepared can reduce anxiety and get you ready to learn.
A STURDY BAG
You can’t possibly transport all that you will need in your hands, so a bag is the first place to start. I prefer backpacks over shoulder bags because they distribute the weight evenly, or at least as much as possible. Most employees and students must park pretty far from the hospital entrance, so you are in for a long walk twice a day. No one wants to lug an imbalanced, heavy bag back and forth and blow out a shoulder. You will have plenty of time to put wear and tear on your joints as a nurse, no need to start now. Whichever your preference in bag, make sure you find a well-made bag that can fit everything you need it to. There are so many different types of bags and I’m pretty sure I have tried them all at one point or another and I have always come back to a traditional backpack.
STETHOSCOPE
You don’t have to go all out on this one, but make sure you have a stethoscope that is functional for you. Some people go all out for a Littman from the start, but that is not necessary at this point in your career. After all, they do make great graduation gifts. Regardless of the price tag, always make sure your name is on your equipment. You would be surprised how often you loan out your items or set them down in a place you don’t remember. This way, even if you lose your stuff momentarily, you will be more likely to track it down later.
TRAUMA SHEERS
Going straight for the top-of-the-line Leatherman Raptors might be a bit of overkill for this stage in your career. My only caveat here is if you plan to go into a trauma or ortho specialty, this will come in handy in the future. Then again, the same concept applies as the stethoscope... they make excellent graduation gifts. There are very cost-effective options out there that will work for clinicals. This is one of those items that can be upgraded depending on what unit you end up working on.
NOTEPAD AND SEVERAL PENS
This allows you to jot down things you need to look up later, codes for supply rooms and break rooms, as well as important contact information. A notepad can also end up being a great reference later in your career. Having multiple pens is important because you will inevitably set one down, it will get covered in some body fluid, or someone will steal it. Having to ask for something as simple as a pen is pretty embarrassing, and you get can win some brownie points if you have an extra one on hand to share. The best part about notepad they are also a great reminder of how much you have learned. Looking back at information you needed to reference and realizing you now know it by heart is a great confidence boost.As a side note, you will find that everyone in healthcare has a preference in pens. There is an undercurrent of humor about how nurses are emotionally attached to their pens, and it is mostly funny because it is true. If you really want to butter up your nurse, find out what pens they like and maybe have one or two “extras” on hand.
SMALL CANDIES
Sometimes you just need a bit of sugar to pep you up in between meals. Eating a bit of candy can be particularly useful when you just saw the grossest thing your eyes have ever beheld, and you maybe got just a touch nauseated, lightheaded, or even passed out. The hit of sugar will help you recover quicker and candies like peppermints help with nausea. Maybe even more importantly, a strongly scented candy can cover a plethora of smells.
SNACKS
High protein, easy to eat snacks will be life. This will probably carry on through into your nursing career so finding foods that can sustain you and are quick and easy to eat are important. There are lots of protein bars out there, but trust me when I say, they are not all created equal. Some require extended chewing times and that can be troublesome when you just need to scarf something down quickly. In fact, I would even include a candy bar or two (I prefer snickers or Reese’s so I can pretend I’m also eating protein.) It is important to take your lunch breaks, but we know that it isn’t always possible, or they getdelayed until relief is available, and you need food now. Keeping something quick in your bag can buy you time and prevent the hangry from setting in.
WATER BOTTLE
Bigger isn’t always better. Hydro-jugs are great for tracking your intake and not having to refill them often, but they are heavy. Something that can fit into a backpack and can be refilled easily are your best bet. It is also important to get one that doesn’t build up condensation on the outside. I have accidentally ruined more than one stack of papers with water bottle condensation, both in my bag and on a desk. More importantly, I cannot stress enough how important it is to stay hydrated. It seems counter-intuitive – all you hear is how nurses don’t get to go to the bathroom, but you cannot go through your shift without drinking water, even if it means you need to use the restroom a lot. Not only will your kidneys thank you, believe me when I say, exhaustion seems to cut just a bit deeper when you are also dehydrated.
CALENDAR
If you haven’t gotten yourself a functional calendar by this point, then I can’t help you. Just kidding. I live and die by my calendar and relied on it heavily in nursing school. Having your schedule with you is a great way to ensure you don’t double book yourself or know what test you are studying for next. My preference for layouts has changed as my life and responsibilities have changed, but only you know what kind of calendar will work for you. As mentioned before, Google calendar is wonderful, but you may not be able to have that on you while you are in clinicals.
HOME MEDICATIONS
This might be overboard, but I always had Tums, Tylenol, Excedrin Migraine, and emergency medications like my inhaler. While these things are in abundance in the hospital, it is easier to just have it on hand than to spend the time to track it down. I will also make a mention for the menstruating women, that menstrual cups are a lifesaver. If that is not your jam, make sure you have enough feminine products of your choosing on hand. Stress of nursing school does weird things to one’s cycle and it is always better to be prepared.
A WATCH
It seems obvious that you will need a watch with you. Not only will you be counting down the minutes until you get to go home, but you will need to know when to give medications, recheck vitals, or even when to get back from lunch. I didn’t use a smart watch during my clinicals because it was too distracting, but they do offer many features that I found useful later. You can easily set alarms for yourself as reminders for various patient care tasks.
PRE-FILLED NOTECARDS
You might find yourself without tasks or even with a nurse that doesn’t want your help. Instead of sitting and being unproductive, take the time to study or brush up for your next exam. There are lots of different apps that you can have on your phone for this purpose, but not all facilities let students have their phones with them on the unit. This way, you can still study even if your phone is under lock and key. You can also use downtime to review notes and get some study time in which can free you up after clinicals. You are required be there anyway, so you might as well make the most of every minute you can. YOUR RESUMEThis one is a bit extra, and you can call me crazy, but having a resume on hand means you never miss an opportunity for a potential job. Clinicals are a perfect opportunity to showcase your skills and knowledge that make you a great candidate for employment. If a manager presents an opportunity, you want to be ready. Clinicals are not just for learning, but also for networking.​
Be prepared to adjust the contents of your bag by adding or taking away whatever you need to be successful and care for the patients in your current assignment. Your preferred items will change for each clinical placement and as you progress with skills and knowledge. Having the tools that you need on hand is another step to having a successful clinical rotation.