Things I wish someone would have shared with me for the first year of being a good nurse.
Happy DAY!
Lets talk about working as a nurse! My nursing career started out like a dumpster fire on a dry summer day! While I thought I knew what I was getting my self into COVID changed everything. I started my nursing career 3 years before COVID, and let me be the first to say that I miss those times.
While working as a nurse pre-covid was engaging and hard work, NO ONE can prepare you for what working as a nurse in 2020 was like. I was an ICU/ Trauma nurse in 2019-2022 and those were some tough times. And while I could tell you some crazy stories, I want to share with you what no one was able to share with me.
Bellow is the list of things that I wish I had to get through the first year as a nurse!
This will change your life. I used this until it broke; and then I got another! I will not work a day on the floor without it. WHY? HIPPA is a thing so you have to keep your report sheet with you at all times. When you need information on a patient and don’t have your computer handy this will be your go to! ALSO IT FITS IN YOUR POCKET!!!
These look like overkill But trust me you are gonna love them! I still use these to this day! I have used them to cut off rings, Cut off Dressings, Break glass, Cut off a seatbelt, and Measure wounds. Not to mention I have never lost them thanks to the attachment location for a pully.
Safety Glasses are still required on some units and these are the only ones that I could stand using! They are comfortable and added a little color to a bland hospital.
Buy this now and thank me later! After 3 years of wearing a mask my ears are still intact. After wearing a mask and going non-stop for 13 hours your ears are going to be rubbed RAW! This Headband helps stop the pressure from the loops.
So Please Remember ICU/ Trauma nurse here. I never had paper on me when things got tough. This was a life saver. I don’t know How many times I undressed a wound to realize that I didn’t have a measuring tape with me! This saved me every time.
If you ever work a night shift you will be ever so thankful for this one. As nurses we are to help people heal, but how can we do that when we are waking them up every 2 hours for rounds by turning on the light? This prevents the need for a light!
Yes I know we all carry Backpacks, Or bags, or Purses, However after many years of searching for everything in my “work” backpack and purse I can promise this is a must! just put everything you use in here after every shift and put it in your backpack, then all you have to do is pull it out when you arrive for your next shift. It will save you a ton of time searching for your favorite pen!
Ok so this last one is something that you will understand… One day!
The first time you have to “use” the bathroom and there is only one on your hall for all 10 of your fellow nurses, therapist, and case managers, you will be glad that you have this! YOUR WELCOME!
All 7 (Ok 8) accessories you have seen are things that I still take to work with me EVERYDAY!
Once you get into the swing of things you will understand why I still make sure I have them with me!
Feel free to message me with questions or comments in the comment section!
I hope that this is helpful! And for those of you who are getting ready to graduate… CONGRADULATIONS! You did it! It was a hard task but you beat all odds and are now on to bigger and better thing helping one person at a time!
The Pennies, Pastas, and Pinatas RN!
Also for more must haves please check out the my other posts!
