Essentials To Carry With You As A Nurse

Whether you’re a seasoned nurse or you’re just starting your journey into healthcare, being well-prepared for your shift can make all the difference. To make life a little easier for yourself, and to provide the best level of care that you can, there are some essential items that every nurse should carry with them. Today, we’re going to be looking at the essentials to carry with you as a nurse that will make sure that you’re 100% ready for the shift ahead. 

What To Pack In Your Nursing Backpack

Your nursing backpack should be your best friend, no matter what type of nurse you are or are training to be. The items that you pack are going to need to be helpful and practical to make your life as a healthcare professional easier. Today, we’re going to be looking at a variety of items, including:

• Nursing Scissors
• Pain Medication
• Maskings/Face Coverings
• Hand Sanitiser
• Pens
• Water
• Snacks

So grab your backpack and let’s delve right in. 

Nursing Scissors

They may not be the first item you think of when considering what essentials to carry with you as a nurse, but nursing scissors can be your best friend when you find yourself in a pinch. Nursing scissors are indispensable – designed with safety for you and your patient in mind, these specialist scissors feature a blunt tip to prevent any accidental cuts and an extremely sharp edge to ensure smooth cutting through bandages, tape, and even clothing. A good, high-quality pair of nursing scissors is a must-have for every nurse, so make sure to pack them in your bag. 

Pain Medication

A good stash of over-the-counter pain medication can help ease mild symptoms, making them one of the items on our list of essentials to carry with you as a nurse. Sometimes all that’s needed to make someone feel a little perkier is some Ibuprofen or Paracetamol, so ensuring that you carry some around with you is a great idea. Remember that over-the-counter medication isn’t a substitute for prescribed medication, but offering something like this can help to make your patient’s day a little more comfortable. It’s also important to carry around pain relief for yourself. Busy shifts and long days can leave little time for hydration, and rushing around can cause nurses to become achy. Having some pain relief on standby can make your day more comfortable too. 

Masks and Face Coverings

During COVID-19, we all saw the importance of wearing a mask or face covering to prevent to spread of infection and illness. As a nurse, face masks are more than just a precautionary item – they are essential. Whether you’re working on a high-risk ward, or you’re in close contact with a variety of patients during your shift, wearing a mask can help protect you and those around you from infection. Make sure you have a few spare mask masks tucked away in your bag, especially if you’re moving between hospitals or making house calls.

Hand Sanitiser

Next on our list of essentials to carry with you as a nurse is hand sanitiser. Infection control is one of your top priorities as a nurse, so keep a reliable hand sanitiser in your backpack at all times. 

Pens

Pens, pens, and more pens! As a nurse, you can never have too many pens. A nurse’s day is full of taking notes, filling in charts, and updating medical records, so pens certainly make the list of essentials to carry with you as a nurse. My advice is to invest in some good quality pens that won’t leak, and also choose several that are different colours to make highlighting key information easier.

Water

Don’t underestimate the importance of staying hydrated! It’s so easy to forget to drink water when you’re so busy running around, so another of my essentials to carry with you as a nurse is a reusable water bottle. Keeping a reusable water bottle with you during your shift will help you stay hydrated, so try to get into the habit of sipping water throughout your shift. 

Snacks

Snacks are definitely on our list of essentials to carry with you as a nurse as we all know it is vital to keep your energy up during long shifts. The nursing profession can be a long and demanding job, so it’s imperative that you keep your energy levels up by snacking on healthy foods, such as nuts, fruit, or granola bars. 

Personal Items: Because You Matter Too

Finally, the last things to remember on our list of essentials to carry with you as a nurse are your personal items. These are items that should be carried around for your own comfort and convenience. Think about the items that you may need daily, such as lip balm, hand cream, a compact mirror, any make-up, and of course, things like your phone, headphones, and keys. Remember that taking care of yourself is just as important as taking care of your patients. After all, you cannot pour from an empty cup! 

Being well-prepared is part of what makes a great nurse. 

By keeping these essentials in your bag, you ensure you’re ready to tackle any challenge that comes your way, while also providing the best possible care for your patients. Here’s to making every shift a bit smoother and every patient’s experience a bit better.