7 NURSING CLINICAL ESSENTIALS FOR 2020

Are you a nursing student getting ready for your first clinical placement?This essential list will save you time and $$! After completing two clinical placement semesters so far, I’ve gathered the top essentials YOU NEED to keep you prepared for that first day :). Also, if there’s anything you need specific to your program requirements, you can check with your professors/coordinator. So besides bringing the necessary documents, school ID, and your scrubs, you’ll definitely need to bring other supplies to be more prepared for the shift ahead.

So let’s start the list, shall we? I’ve bought at least 90% of these from Amazon Prime because who doesn’t love fast, free shipping?

1. STETHOSCOPE (From 3M Littmann or MDF Instruments or Amazon)

So to begin, you can’t enter clinical placement without a… stethoscope! Every nurse owns a stethoscope and every nursing student is required to have one during health assessments and clinical. If you don’t already have one, I do recommend investing in a higher quality stethoscope from the brands 3M Littmann or MDF instruments to last for the long run.

I own a 3M Littmann Classic III and I also got my name engraved on it for no additional cost. The price range for a 3M Littmann Classic III (the majority of nurses recommend this one) is generally around CAD $130. As for MDF Instruments, their stethoscope prices start from CAD $37. MDF instruments are also known for their glittery, rose-gold stethoscopes but they are more costly.

You can purchase directly with Amazon for a cheaper price and faster shipping:

2. MANUAL BP Cuff (From Amazon)

All nursing students are first taught how to measure a patient’s blood pressure manually before using the electronic one. Many nursing programs usually provide these during class practice time, however many of them (from my personal experience) have been very old and broken, so I just bought my own and bring it to class. The manual bp cuff is very useful for personal practice and since it’s yours, you can bring it around with you in case your clinical placement doesn’t have one.

Whether you are beginning your first placement or your last, always bring your manual on the first day/week and ask your instructor if you should proceed with bringing it.

The majority of these manual packs come with a low quality, ear hurting stethoscope that just appears “cheap”, so I don’t recommend using them.

3. Medical Pen Light (From Amazon)

Medical Pen lights are useful for neuro assessments and some penlights are a two-in-one with an ink pen. I didn’t buy the one with an ink pen but it’s really useful if you lend or lose your pen mid-way throughout the shift. The one I bought on Amazon had decent quality but I’ll link a better one that my friend uses. ($14 CAD).

4. A Pocket Notebook + Pens (From Amazon or your local dollar store)

These are definitely the cheapest items from the list and can be bought at your local dollar store or Walmart. I suggest getting the pocket notebook instead of using sheets of paper with a clipboard because the notebook is so small and convenient and slips right into those scrub pockets with ease. In my opinion the clipboards were too excessive for clinical since you’re always on your feet during the shift and there may not be a safe place to keep your clipboard. I also find the clipboard a bit intimidating, especially if I were a patient and a student writes on a clipboard to record my vital signs.. but that’s just my opinion.

Also, with pens get the multicoloured ones and bring more than one to clinical… I’ve definitely been that person to ask someone for a pen because I didn’t bring a backup.

5. Pocket Drug Guide and/or prepared Drug Cards (From Amazon)

I bought my first pocket drug guide for my first clinical semester but according to my instructor I didn’t need to bring it and for my unit, I also didn’t find it useful. Instead of the store-bought cards, handwritten drug cards were mandatory in our program and we weren’t allowed to use store-bought/pre-made cards.

In my second semester, I continued writing my drug cards and for the facility, we were given a list of “most common drugs” so I wrote new cards for new drugs as I went along. In my second clinical placement, I was able to use the pocket drug guide and I found it very useful!

So always check with your nursing program and instructor about the drug cards but I do suggest buying one anyway because at some point you will need it. I got mine from Amazon from the 2019 year from when I started but always get the current year. The price is usually under CAD $30 for a small drug guide.

6. FOB/Pin on brooch Watch or Wrist Watch (From Amazon)

Honestly, any second-hand watch will do. For new nursing students entering your first clinical placement, I do believe most instructors will not allow any digital watches so they must have a second hand. Wristwatches are usually not the best because it’s below the elbow and can get in the way of patient care but it’s better than bringing no watch. You will need a watch for vital signs and not every room will have a clock that works. I do not have a brooch watch because the one I initially bought off Amazon did NOT WORK!! And it had a really cute dolphin design too, I just never got around to buying a new one yet. I have linked some cute affordable ones down below starting from about CAD $12.Honestly, any second hand watch will do. For new nursing students entering your first clinical placement, I do believe most instructors will not allow any digital watches so they must have a second hand. Wrist watches are usually not the best because it’s below the elbow and can get in the way of patient care but it’s better than bringing no watch. You will need a watch for vital signs and not every room will have a clock that works. I personally do not have a brooch watch because the one I initially bought off Amazon did NOT WORK!! And it had a really cute dolphin design too, I just never got around to buying a new one yet. I have linked some cute affordable ones down below starting from about $12 CAD.

7. A Water Bottle (from anywhere)

Lastly, don’t forget your water bottle! I hated those clinical days when I didn’t bring my reusable water bottle and I had to pay for a plastic one, it sucks. Also, you probably already own a water bottle and bring it with you everywhere by now, just don’t forget to bring it to clinical because you’ll be so quenched being on your feet all day! I’ve linked some from Amazon below if you don’t already own one and don’t want to spend too much $$ on an expensive one you may or may not lose.
I suggest using insulated water bottles to keep your water colder for longer.

And if you made it this far… I hope you got an idea what supplies you’ll need for placement! Also, if you’re a student remember to check with your program and clinical instructor in case you need other supplies not mentioned in my list.

Anyways, I hope you have an awesome first clinical day experience if you haven’t started yet! And if you have already completed a clinical placement, what were/are your essentials?

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