Top 14 things every nurse must have in their pocket
A nurse is a job that is not only vital in saving a person’s life but also plays an eminent role in improving one’s life by their constant care and support. If you ask any nurse what their favorite thing is about wearing they will most likely say “pockets!” scrubs pockets hold all of those essential tools that a nurse needs to survive a shift. If you’re a student or a new nurse, you might not know yet exactly what you should keep in your pockets and what you should not. So here is a list of 14 pocket nursing essentials that need to be carried in your pocket.
14 pockets Nursing essentials that a nurse must have
Let’s see the nursing essentials that a nurse must have in his/her pocket.
1. Pen and highlighters
You can never have enough pens! Highlighters are also a great tool to use if you want to mark information about the patient on his or her chart. So this is the first thing you should have in your pocket. You can use a pilot g2 pen as well. The pilot g2 pen is a gel ink pen and writes smoothly. So, you can use a pilot g2 pen for writing the patient’s name. The pilot g2 pen is comfortable and easy to use so it can be used to pen.
2. Gum
Nurses get up close and personal with lots of people, so fresh breath is a must. So they carry different flavors of gum in their pocket in order to freshen themselves.
3. A snack
To maintain the blood sugar and to be prepared for those busy days when they may not be able to get a break they carry a light snack in their pocket.
4. Notepad
While a paper towel or scrub pants will work for jotting down vital signs of the patients. Sometimes it is nice to have the paper in the pocket.
5. Stethoscope
Whether you choose to keep your stethoscope around your neck or in your pocket, a stethoscope is an absolute must for a duty nurse.
6. Lip balm
Hospitals are cold and dry. Coat your lips with lip balm to prevent the inevitable chapping
7. Tape
Between taping up IVs and blood draw sites, you’ll certainly use a lot of tape throughout the day. So carrying tape is a must too.
8. Alcohol Swabs
Chances are, regardless of your nursing field, you will deliver at least one iv push field, med each shift. Make patient safety, easy and sterile by keeping alcohol swabs handy.
9. Watch
There may not always be a clock around you or in your patient’s room. A watch is essential for taking vital signs of patients as well as knowing how many hours before your shift ends.
10. Scissors
Be the hero on your unit by having scissors in your pocket. Put your name on them to prevent other nurses from holding onto them and feeling proud.
11. Penlight
Penlights are not only good for neuro assessments; they also make great lights for charting at a night in a patient room or finding a pill you dropped on the floor.
12. Iv flushes
Save yourself time when giving medications or maintaining a line by having your IV flushes always at your side or in your pocket.
13. Hair or bobby pins
Avoid getting your hair in body fluids or on patients by having a hair tie or bobby pins in your pocket.
14. Hand lotion
After the 100th time washing your hands, your hands will be screaming for moisture, it will be like a washerman’s hand. Keep your hands soft, happy, and shiny with a small tube of lotion
Takeaway
A nurse is a job that not only is vital in saving a person’s life but also plays an eminent role in improving one’s life by their constant care and support. For a nurse, it is very important to have all the nursing essentials with them all the time. So, it is very important to know and have nursing essentials in their pocket. I hope this article has helped you to have your nursing essentials all the time.
