Some good accessories can make the job a tiny bit easier. We asked our experienced Samba Care nurses for their essential must-haves, and here’s what they said:

• A waterproof watch set in military time: The waterproof part is pretty self explanatory, but why set your watch in military time? Aside from the fact that it’s standard practice in almost every medical facility, it will also help you work safer, more consistently, and more efficiently. In other words, we’re all in the army now.
• Supportive footwear: Nurses walk up to four miles per shift, so your feet need the best support possible. Good, supportive, and SLIP RESISTANT shoes (and even compression socks!) help prevent chronic back and foot pain and help you work more efficiently in the short- and long-term.
• A high-quality stethoscope: Civilians may assume that only doctors use stethoscopes, but we in the field know that nurses and their stethoscopes are a bonded pair. Make sure you invest in a good one to help you monitor heart, lung, bowel, and blood pressure activity.
• A BIG water bottle: Hydration is key when it comes to good nursing. Between hours on your feet, moving between patients, and long stretches between snacks and meals, the risk of dehydration is high. With a large-sized water bottle, you’ll have that problem solved.
• Click pens and sharpies: Have you ever needed to write something down but can’t find a pen? When you’re working with patients, you don’t have that luxury. Make sure to keep a supply of pens handy for records and sharpies for signing and dating a wound dressing, marking drainage and labeling patient belongings. For extra insurance, get a sharpie that hooks onto your keychain.
• Nursing scissors: When you need to cut through bandages and material quickly, a good pair of nursing scissors will do the trick. It’s easy to let them get dull, so make sure you replace it as needed.
• A good bag to carry everything!

Have fun filling your toolkit!