What's in My Clinical Bag? THE ESSENTIALS!!!

    When you enter nursing school, your curriculum will consist of lectures and clinicals. Clinicals is when students go to the hospital to apply the nursing skills and knowledge they have been learning in lecture. Normally, clinical days start bright and early at 6:30am. I really had to adjust my sleeping schedule to wake up early while still getting my eight hours of sleep. The night before my clinical days I would prepare all the supplies that I needed into my reusable designated clinical bag. It is common for hospitals to require you to bring the least amount of personal belongings because there are no secure designated spots for the students to place their items. Luckily, scrubs have multiple and deep pockets that can allow you to hold onto what is necessary! 

Here is a list of necessary items I bring with me to clinicals!

• School ID: Most hospitals will not allow you to work on the unit if you don’t have your school ID! They want the staff and patients to know that you are a student… and not some random stranger. 

• Foldable clipboard📋: I love my foldable clipboard! It is a really good idea to take notes when you are in clinicals and this is the perfect way to do so! The ability to fold the clipboard allows you to fit it into one of your scrub pockets. Another plus side to folding the clipboard is that it is a good practice for patient privacy. If you are leaving your clipboard on a desk, folding it will conceal patient information. BONUS: It has helpful nursing information on the outside. Sort've like a cheat sheet! (Example- injection sites, blood lab ranges, and conversions). I would definitely suggest checking this item out!

  

• Stethoscope: A must have item when you want to hear heart, lung, and bowel sounds.

• Optional-A stethoscope container: Stethoscopes are so expensive and you want them to last long! I bought a container from amazon that protects my stethoscope when I am not in clinicals. 
  

  

• Pen Light: Used for assessing the inside of the mouth, ears, nose… Oh! Don’t forget to check the patient’s eyes too.

• Pens and Sharpies

• Nursing Brain🧠: A nursing brain helps you organize your information about your assigned patients and your To-Do lists. You can find a lot of nursing brains on Google or use them for inspiration to make your own. 

  

• Goggles: To protect your eyes when you are entering a patient’s room with droplet precautions or in the splash zone (like when you are cleaning a wound🤕). 

• Mask

• Water Bottle🚰: Stay hydrated! You are always on your feet and moving every direction, but it’s good to take water breaks. Care for yourself so that you can care for others!

I hope that my list of essential items helps you prepare for your clinicals!

Good Luck! 💓