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Nursing School (aka the apocalypse) Survival Tools- Helpful Stuff, Study Guides, Hope, and Encouragement ❤️
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items Nursing school survival is a struggle like no other. Here are some things to have in your how to make it through nursing school toolbox; truly, I am so hopeful that you guys and girls will find these items/suggestions useful. A lot of these descripti...
Sections
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Clinical Rotation Items You Might Be Glad To Have
Self-Care MUSTS for Nursing School
Hope
School Needs
Study Guides
Clinical Rotation Items You Might Be Glad To Have
Clinical is WILD. During every clinical rotation during school I’ve ever had I have come away with something that has irrevocably changed me. There are no two ways around it. Nursing school clinicals are extremely challenging, heart-wrenching, inform...
Keep it with you forever. The drug guide is one of the most important books for nursing school, and beyond. You’ll find you refer to this often.
Davis's Drug Guide for Nurses
VSS? Hope so. Either way, these are a permanent pocket item. Keep extras in your lockers/purses/wherever!
Small Spiral Notebooks 3x5, 25 Pack
There are going to be some smells during nursing school and your career you will truly wish had you never encountered. Unexpected places, events, wounds. Keep it on you- like actually in your pocket- during clinicals and in your locker during your ca...
Vicks Vapor Rub
You never know what is going to happen, you have to be ready for ANYTHING. Safety scissors/trauma shears, gotta have em. Sometimes bandages or clothes have to be cut FAST.
2 Pack Medical Scissors Trauma Shears
You are going to date, time, initial, and label everything and you definitely don’t want your ink to smear. Sharpie fine point for the win!
Sharpie 4pk Felt Pen Fine Tip Black Ink: Porous Point Pens, 0.8mm, Stationery & Office, Black, Pack of 4
All time favorite pen to take VS or notes with, classroom or clinical. This is a hill I will die on. Sometimes boxes are really small to write in and the finer the point, the more information you can give. Cover your asses, y’all. Cannot stress this ...
Pilot 5pk G2 Gel Pens Fine Point 0.7mm Black Ink
Badge reels come apart at the WORST times. Pro tip: keep at least 2 in your lockers. Always.
Hello Kitty and Friends Snack Shop Hello Kitty Retractable ID Badge Reel Lanyard Keychain with Lobster Claw Clasp Pink
Can’t foam in or out enough. Shew y’all.
The Honest Company Hand Sanitizer Spray - Coastal Surf
Ladies, please put your hair up. It is so unprofessional to have it down. Nobody wants your hair in their face, IV line, or open incision. Keep them with you at all times!
Goody Comfortable Elastic Hair Accessories Set - 37ct
I don’t know how else to say it. You’re going to cry in nursing school. You’re going to cry in your clinical rotations, you’re going to cry when you get home. Some of this is so stressful it actually makes me wonder how any of us get through. Stock u...
Kleenex On-the-Go 3-Ply Facial Tissue - 8pk/10ct
Definitely became one of my favorite places to hang out with friends and relax after work. If you are lucky enough to find a Cooper’s Hawk near you, I highly recommend this restaurant. The food is incredible, the service is on point, I would say mid ...
An upscale casual restaurant
All you have to do is look around and you will see that 90% of your colleagues have these on because they are like walking on there. When we are clocking 25,000 to 45,000 steps a day, you better be walking on clouds! Best shoes ever.
HOKA® - FLY HUMAN FLY™
Self-Care MUSTS for Nursing School
The burnout is so, so real. Even getting burnt out in nursing school is possible, start making self care IN nursing school a daily thing so it sticks with you after graduation and beyond- we cannot help another human’s suffering to our fullest capaci... caring for ourselves in meaningful ways first, however that looks for you.
Nursing school is the place to develop good self care habits and routines. Ideally while you’re still in classroom, when you rotate through clinical, you’ll have some great coping mechanisms. A lot of these pts you’ll take home with you in your heart...
BodyRestore Shower Steamers Aromatherapy
I can’t tell you enough times there are going to be a lot of days that everything hurts. Knock it all out at once and get in bed! Nursing school is hard on your body, your mind, everything you have. Take care of yourselves.
CVS Health Dual Action Pain Reliever, Acetaminophen and Ibuprofen Tablets, 36 CT
I hate to say it, but there are going to be days that everything hurts. Everything.
Icy Hot Original Pain Relief No Mess Roll-On, 2.5 FL OZ
Nursing school is exhausting, that’s facts. It hurts, too. This is a great way to beat the hell out of everything that hurts. Hang in there!!
Cordless Deep Tissue Massage Gun
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Not a partner site, but sometimes you just need to soak it out. Guys AND girls. Sometimes you just need to forget the whole entire world and what you saw that day in clinicals. That’s ok, we all go through that.
On some of my other rec lists (Opulen...
Bath Tray and Bath Pillow
Keep those nails at a quarter inch, you don’t want to get sick and neither does anyone else. Doesn’t matter what nail file you choose. Just keep it moving.
Trim Heavy & Medium Duty Black Salon Boards - 2pc
I know, I know. More writing. I chose this journal simply because of its beauty and the calm that it brings when I look at it. Journaling is a very powerful tool during nursing school, it allows you to go back and revisit your growth. Highly highly h...
Paperblanks Poetry in Bloom Softcover Flexis Midi 176 pg Lined
Hope
So please things are hilarious enough to get you through the day. Some designed to make you think. All will help you and keep you going, nursing school is a monster, words of encouragement are so important.
Nurses 2026 Day-to-Day Calendar: Jokes & Quotes
We need to laugh so much. Nursing school is so stressful, some of these stories from more seasoned nurses will really tickle you. It ain’t all sunshine and rainbows, kids.
Bedlam Among the Bedpans: Humor in Nursing
An absolutely stunning, tear jerking read that will probably fuel that fire when it starts to burn low.
The In-Between - by Hadley Vlahos (Hardcover)
School Needs
Necessities. 100% have to have. You'll see :)
Not a partner site, but there is no other scope that even comes close to the quality of a Littmann. Confession: I had to take one of my kids to a cardiologist because someone gave me some wrong information… Anyway, his stethoscope had a power button ...
Littmann Steth
Not a partner site but this planner is gorgeous- and I’ll always support a fellow nurse! A planner is an integral part of getting through nursing school, you have to keep track of so many assignments and tests that it’s almost crazy.
The Complete Nursing School Planner
You will possibly go through thousands of these. Highly recommend buying at least 400 to start with. Might even get through the first semester. Y’all I’m so for real.
3''x5'' 200ct Index Cards Heavy Weight Ruled White - up&up™
Get the biggest backpack you can find for your entrance into nursing school. And then look for a bigger one.
JanSport Big Student 17.5" Backpack - Happy Hearts Black
I would certainly get more than one of these. I don’t know that I’ve ever used so much paper in my entire life and I had to have a great way to store it. This binder is heavy duty, I tried to break it (I know y’all hear me) and couldn’t.
Avery 2" One Touch 500 Sheet Capacity Heavy-Duty View Binder- White
Mead for the win, as usual. Also tried to destroy these in a fit of rage and was unsuccessful. Great folders, heavy duty, lots of nursing notes in here, guys!
Five Star 2 Pocket Plastic Folder with Prongs (Colors May Vary): Stationery, Multicolor, 25 Sheet Capacity, Internal Pockets
Gotta have it. This one is functional, the other one is cuter.
Five Star Dual Zipper Pencil Pouch - Black 10" x 7"
Start with 8. Or more. It’s crazy how fast these things disappear!!!
Sharpie 4pk Highlighters Smear Guard Chisel Tip Yellow
Nursing school requires a cute pencil pouch. The other one is just functional, this one is adorable.
Blue Sky The Evergirl Faux Leather Pencil Pouch Pressed Flowers 7.75" x 3.5"
One of the most important tools in your arsenal. I have it twice on this rec list- it is an actual life saver. No bs.
Davis's Drug Guide for Nurses
You can have fun with your notes, not so much with your charting. Enjoy the cute stuff, sometimes it even makes the days a little brighter :)
Four Candies 39PCS School Supplies Set Pink
My absolute favorite pen- tiny clean lines and no smudging. None. 🙌🏻
Pilot 5pk G2 Gel Pens Fine Point 0.7mm Black Ink
Add it to your app and thank me later. Bad attitude before caffeine is how I roll. Sad but true- also makes a great gift for a nursing student if they need a little cheering up.
Starbucks $25 Gift Card
Study Guides
There is absolutely NO such thing as too many study guides, and as an RN, I’ll tell you why: THERE IS ONLY ONE CORRECT ANSWER. No matter the question. Get all the guides you can.
I don’t even know how many hundreds of NCLEX test prep questions I did using Kaplan. Excellent resource.
NCLEX Review and Nursing Test Prep | Kaplan Test Prep
There is no such thing as too much studying for the NCLEX.
Pearson Reviews & Rationales: Comprehensive Review for NCLEX-RN
Free??? Yes please!
Download Our Free NCLEX® Study Guide | NCLEX Bootcamp
Straight from the horse’s mouth- the NCLEX site itself!
Prepare | NCLEX