Not sure what to pack for your first day of clinical, practicum or work? Are you feeling anxious about your first day and need to do something to help you feel organized and prepared? This post is all about your nurse bag essentials from a nurse and teacher! Oh my gosh I was so nervous the first time I went into a clinical setting! I was so anxious about being professional and prepared. Feeling prepared helped calm my nerves, and a step I took in feeling prepared and ready was making sure I had my nursing bag packed the night before. This is the list of nurse bag essentials for nurses, or nurse bag essentials for students that I have put together just for you. 

I STILL do this every night for my nurse work bag with my current teaching job. Sometimes I am in the office and sometimes I am in clinical so I need to make sure I have all my nursing bag must-haves for both settings.

First off lets start with the bag. 

This is the bag I currently have for my regular nursing shifts. I would take this bag with my belongings and another for my lunch. I have tried to find a link for this bag for you but I think it is too old. Here is something similar!

With my teaching job, I find I have more things to bring with me and I have a teacher tote. I absolutely love it because it has an insulated compartment inside it so I don’t have to carry a separate lunch bag. There isn’t always a fridge in clinical sites so I love this feature.

Water Bottle

This is huge. This is what gets me to drink how much water I need in a day. As a nurse, it is so easy to forget to drink water as you’re working so I have it as accessible as I can and with cute motivational sayings. This is the water bottle I have, it has a lock and I love the spout for getting the perfect volume in a sip (or chug depending on the day). I fill it up mid-day and this gets me my 2L. 

ID Badge

This is a must! When you’re practicing, and as students, people need to be able to identify you. Often the health authority you work for or school you’re attending give you photo ID. Sometimes people also need a name tag alongside that. Ideally, your ID Badge is fixed to your scrub top where people can see it, NOT on your pants pocket!!! This is my pet peeve in clinical with my students. People aren’t looking at your pants pocket for your ID! Also, if you know the principles of sterility you know anything below your waist is not sterile (not that your ID badge needs to be sterile at all but it just makes sense that it would get dirty). Anyways, I digress. You can purchase magnets that you can use or clips to get your ID badge on your top. Lanyards are popular however they can fall into messes and get dirty fast as well. These aren’t my goto. 

Pens

If you’re anything like me you’re a type A, obsessed with planners, and loves a great fine tip pen. I have messy writing, especially when charting. A few fine tip pens are a must-have in your nursing bag. Black ink is a must in my area of work but different health authorities and schools have rules about colour. 

Stethoscope

The thing that makes you feel most like a nurse! A nursing bag essential is your stethoscope, especially if you’re working remote or in an area that doesn’t supply you with one. Sometimes those that are supplied are extremely difficult to actually auscultate with for a good assessment. As a student and nurse I liked to use my own to really become familiar with it and learn how to use it properly. It became comfortable for me to use and increased my confidence the more I practiced with it. Having it easily accessible is important. It is not recommended to wear these around your neck in practice, but better in your scrub pockets. 

Alcohol swabs or disinfecting wipes

Another must have is something to clean and disinfect your equipment with. I would clean everything that was in my pocket that day including my phone, pens, ID, stethoscope and I usually wipe down my dansko shoes as well. Sometimes I would also clean my water bottle before putting it in my bag. As a nurse we come into contact with many pathogens and I do not want to bring them home, so I consider my bag to be a clean place and clean things before returning them into it. 

Small notepad

This is super handy for writing down vitals, organizing yourself for the day, and writing notes from discussions with your instructor. Something with tear away pages is important so you can rip out anything that has confidential information on it before you leave for the day. A smaller pocket sized notebook is also key so it isn’t so chunky in your pocket. 

Watch

I keep a cheap analog watch that either pins to my scrubs or fits easy in my pocket. Lots of health authorities have infection control practices that discourage wearing wrist watches although many nurses do wear them. I always get a cheap watch that I am able to clean easily and has the second hand. It makes it easier for assessing vital signs!

Hair tie

If you have long hair, I pack extra hair ties. Often people might need an extra (sometimes students/nurses forget one), or I myself forgot to put my hair up before leaving the house. Health authorities and different schools and policies about dress code and infection control practices, for example some places your hair needs to be back, and some needs to be completely off your shoulder. 

Hand Sanitizer

I like to keep hand sanitizer in my work bag, actually two. Preferably a pocket sized unscented. I keep one in my bag and put one in my pocket. If you’re like me and have sensitive hands and react to some hospital provided products so I choose to bring my own. I also wipe this down at the end of my shift before putting back in my work bag. 

Notes

Sometimes students or nurses have goals, a focus, or specific learning that needs to occur on a clinical day or work day. For example, you maybe working with a patient that has pneumonia and you’re looking to learn more about it. Maybe you’re keeping a list of things you need to study more for your upcoming biology exam! As a student I would sometimes write in my little notebook specific assignment criteria I needed to collect before an assignment was due. As a nursing instructor, I keep a notebook which helps me keep track of the students and their assigned clients.

See this post about study tips and strategies.

Optional:

Spare Scrubs

There are some contexts where you might want a spare set of scrubs. In home care, if you’re visiting homes and something gets on you, for infection control purposes it would be good to change your scrubs! If you’re a student, it’s handy to have the color uniform your school requires in case of an emergency. Some places (hospitals) may supply scrubs that you need to change into which can be available to you as well.

Hygiene Products

If you are a person that has a cycle, you may want to include some products for when flo comes for a visit. I have tampons and liners in every purse I own, my nurse work bag included! Sometimes I also throw some deodorant in my work bag as well as a toothbrush, toothpaste, and dental floss. You never know when you’re going to need it! Sometimes it can be nice to freshen up halfway through your shift.

I hope you found this post about your nurse bag essentials helpful. IF there is anything else you add to your work bag, comment below! Are there any other nursing tips you’re looking for, let me know in the comments!