Nurse work bag essentials

 

With this week being Nurse’s Week and me being a nurse, I wanted to share the top fifteen things that should always be in your work bag!

 

1. Pen/Pencil; Something to write with, maybe a couple of extras! Especially because I am the one to always lose my pen. Typically I will leave it sitting on a desk or computer, or it will be in my pocket and I can’t find it! Always have extra stashed in your bag!

 

2. Water bottle; Top priority is to stay hydrated during a shift! I like to bring my hydro flask so my water stays cold throughout the shift.

 

3. Advil/Motrin/pain killers; No, I don’t want to take them, but some days at work you get a headache, or your co-worker gets a headache, and you just need them!

 

4. Scissors; As soon as I get to work, I stash these in my pocket! A pair of scissors come in handy!

 

5. Stethoscope; Obviously, to assess our patients.

6. Snack; I love to always keep some nuts or some sort of bar in my bag! Something I can munch on quick if I get super hungry.

 

7. Lotion; When washing your hands and using hand sanitizer all day, it’s good to have some lotion!

 

8. Gum/Mints; Especially when I have my night shift. It’s perfect when you’re super sleepy to just pop a breath mint in your mouth. It definitely helps to wake you up!

 

9. Floss; For after you eat lunch and you just have something stuck in your teeth, and you can’t get it out! The worst feeling in the world… And it will keep bugging you until your able to get it out!

 
 

10. FOR MY LADIES, AN EXTRA HAIR TIE; TYPICALLY WHEN I AM AT WORK, I HAVE MY HAIR UP IN A BUN OR PONY. BUT IF I FORGET AND I AM RUNNING OUT THE DOOR, OR IF MY HAIR TIEBREAKS, IT’S ALWAYS GOOD TO HAVE A BACKUP!

11. ALSO FOR MY LADIES, A TAMPON OR PADS.. JUST IN CASE! 🙂

12. MY BADGE; SOME PEOPLE KEEP THEIR WORK BADGE IN THEIR CAR. I LIKE TO KEEP IT IN MY BAG, SO I NEVER FORGET IT!

13. A PHONE CHARGER; TWELVE HOURS IS A LONG TIME AND YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN YOU WILL NEED YOUR PHONE!

14. CHAPSTICK; NOTHING WORSE THAN CHAPPED LIPS THROUGHOUT THE DAY.

15. FACE WIPES; NOT THAT I AM A BIG FAN OF FACE WIPES, BUT MY NURSES OUT THERE KNOW.. WE HAVE BEEN SPIT ON… HAD BODILY FLUIDS SPRAYED ON US… OR VOMIT ON OUR FACE! THESE ARE JUST IN CASE!

THESE ARE THE TOP FIFTEEN THINGS I USUALLY KEEP IN MY BAG FOR WORK. I TYPICALLY WORK 12-HOUR SHIFTS AND I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO BE PREPARED FOR A LONG DAY AHEAD. I WILL ALSO BRING COFFEE WITH ME, SNACKS, AND LUNCH TO HAVE THROUGHOUT THE DAY! ANY OTHER IDEAS OF IMPORTANT ITEMS YOU PUT IN YOUR WORK BAG?