Things You NEED for Your First Day on the Floor
Starting your first day of clinical or first day of work is stressful without having to worry about the supplies and things needed to make the day run quote on quote smoothly. I am going to list things needed to lessen the stress just a little.
A Quality Bag: There is truly nothing worse than trying to carry 100 things at once (I have tried.... and failed) having a reliable yet affordable bag to carry your essentials in while you run into work / clinical is a must. I will show the type of product I am talking about via pictures if needed! Amazon has super cute affordable options for bags like this. If possible shop local but I know that is not a option for some. Some people love book bags some love shoulder bags... does not matter which just go for waterproof so you can easily sanitize it after each shift!
2. Scissors. There is truly nothing more annoying than trying to get something open with your fingers and gloves on. Enough said on that one. Buy a pair of trauma scissors, small ones.
3. Pen light. There is no telling what kind of day you'll have on the floor and some days you may not even use it but having the pen light there just in case is always a good choice. I have used it during night shift so I don't have to wake my patient. Again, these are super affordable and make sure not to spend more than 10$.
4. GOOOODDD SHOESSSS. Ah I can not stress this one enough do not overlook the importance of good shoes for a 12 hour shift. Now do some research before purchasing and make sure to take into consideration foot width and any arch issues. I will show a few good options I have worn or have heard good things on. Edit: HOKA shoes are the best. I have a pair and my feet never hurt and I feel supported all shift long. Invest in a quality pair of shoes.
5. Stethoscope.Okay, this one is a given. A lot of students receive a nice one as graduation gifts but if you are looking for a good one I work cardiac and use the basic Littmann and it works great!
6. Lunch box. No one likes hospital food 3 days a week that is a fact and if you work night shift you know nothing is open anyways... pack your food. It's healthier, cheaper and will pay off in the long run: for your wallet and your waistline. Nothing fancy here anything will suffice. This is the one I have: its cheap easy and gets the job done.
7. The small stuff. You are going to need pens, expo markers, pencils and a good sharpie.
8. Cute badge pin. Okay, not exactly needed but I love cute ones. Etsy is my go to to find them!
9. The be clean set. Theres no doubt that we all feel a little gross after a 12 hour shift but having hand sanitizer, lotion, deodorant, Advil and some chapstick in your bag helps a bit.
10. Lastly scrubs of course! There are truly so many brands it can be overwhelming. I suggest finding a few brands you have heard good things of, friends have, your favorite IG nurse has etc. My favorites are Wink (super affordable), Figs (pricey) and Medelita (average)! Get a set of scrubs in a few of your top choices and narrow down your favorite after that purchase.
Well, that's all from me today! I hope this helped a bit. Let me know if theres anything else that helps ya'll at clinical or work!
