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Nurse Must-Haves
21
items I’ve worked nearly a decade of nursing under a wide variety of hospital settings (neuro/trauma ICU, CVICU, step down, medsurg, telemetry). 🏥🩺🦠🚑
This is a growing list of my absolute essentials for new grads and experienced RNs, LPNs, CNAs, any h...
Sections
3
Shift Essentials
Self-Care for the Caregivers
Night Shift Necessities
Shift Essentials
I love these scrubs. Comfy/breathable, durable, tons of cute colors, and very affordable. Of all the scrubs I’ve tried, these are the most “true to size” and consistent in sizing across the board. Lots of style variety, and all the pockets you could ...
Adar Scrubs
I know, I know, I can already hear you saying “White shoes? No way.” Listen, Linda -
They come in different colors. They can be wiped down with bleach wipes, thrown in the washer, etc.
I’ve worked neuro/trauma, medsurg, CVICU and these shoes have b...
Vans Range EXP Sneaker
I cannot stress the importance of compression socks when you’re working long shifts. It helps with edema, leg fatigue, and lowers your vascular risks (DVTs, varicose veins). Take care of your feet and legs for the long haul, y’all.
Bombas Compression Socks
A slight upgrade from the classic Littmann, I love my Cardiology Littmann. Lots of customization (an added perk), but the sound quality was what sold it for me. Working in multiple step down and ICU environments, I noticed a difference between the tw...
3M™ Littmann® Cardiology IV™ Stethoscope
Cute and customizable, my ID tag was gifted to me, but you’d be surprised how many stethoscopes wind up “wandering off” around someone else’s neck or lost hanging on a computer.
Stethoscope ID Tag
This app is VERY cool to use for codes - if you’re well versed in using it. This app will record time stamped log of compressions, pulse checks, meds, shocks, procedures, airway, vital signs, and so much more. I LOVE this app for recording codes and ...
RescueNet® CodeWriter - App
I bought this clipboard (single fold) in nursing school to hold all my notes and paperwork during clinicals and I STILL have the same one 7 years later. Outer folds have a sticker with cheat sheet lab values, normal range for vital signs, pupil sizes...
Foldable Nursing Clipboard
I fidget at work a lot (that’s the ADHD). This pen is so cool. A bit pricey, but I love the way this black gel ink pen writes and flipping it from sloth to textured. Plus, it’s so unique, you’ll know if that resident steals your pen.
CRUSHMETRIC Pen
No drinks at the nurses station, but nothing beats my 42oz yeti mug with straw. It keeps my water cold all day long so I don’t have to keep refreshing my water with what limited time I have.
Yeti Insulated Travel Mugs, Cups & Bottles
Self-Care for the Caregivers
Love these for dark circles, puffy eyes. I have sensitive skin and can react to patches and face masks, these did not bother my skin at all and don’t slide off your face while you’re walking around.
BREYLEE Eye Masks - Retinol & Caffeine
Foam in, foam out. Constant hand washing always leaves my cuticles cracked, especially in the winter. I throw this stuff on any dry area before bed and wake up with my skin feeling so much better.
O'Keeffe's Working Hands Hand Cream
I don’t know about you, but during COVID when we were wearing N95’s under surgical masks, my face was braking out like crazy! Even during flu season, I get pimples near my nose and on my chin. These are great. I wear them to bed or during my shift si...
Mighty Patch Hero - Overnight Acne Pimple
Social media is on to something here. I love throwing one of these on and wearing it overnight, although I do tend to peel it off and put it on my bedside table during sleep. My skin always looks refreshed and hydrated the morning after.
medicube - PDRN Pink Collagen Masks
I call it my Nurse Tackle Box. I always carry non-prescription meds in this wherever I go. Tylenol, Motrin, Benadryl, TUMs, the occasional allergy or cold medicine. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had a coworker ask “anyone have any Tylenol?” Th...
Holii Travel Pill Organizer
Night Shift Necessities
Magnetic, push button, battery operated. Tiny and powerful, clips right to your scrub top. I loved this when I worked nights. I could zip in, do my work without whipping all the lights on at 2am and disturbing my patients’ sleep.
Nursing Night Light
Great sweet tooth snack for a mid-shift pick-me-up. I used to carry a few of these in my backpack to share with coworkers on really rough nights. Just enough caffeine to keep you rolling without leaving you wired post-shift.
AWAKE - Caffeinated Chocolate Bites
This recommendation is kind of a double edge sword and may be a hit or miss for you.
Blue light affects your melatonin production, good for staying awake, but rough on the drive home when you’re trying to wind down. It interrupts circadian rhythms ...
Blue Light Blocking Glasses
If you don’t have blackout curtains, be prepared to toss and turn all day while you’re trying to sleep. Nothing felt more unnatural than trying to get more than 5 hours sleep with the sun shining through the windows.
Blackout Curtains
You’ll 100% want curved curtain rods for your blackout curtains. It’s so hard to sleep when there’s a strip of light peeking into your room.
Wrapped Curtain Rod for Blackout Curtains
Forgo the blackout curtains for a sleep mask. I personally hate things touching my face, but I’ve heard great things about this mask from old coworkers.
Weighted Blackout Sleep Mask
Nothing was more annoying than sleeping and being woken up by a lawnmower, doorbell, kids, pets, your partner, or in my case, chainsaws - my neighbors have a wood stove to heat their home and have a truck full of lumber delivered every year that they...
Loop Quiet 2 Ear Plugs