Tools of the trade
I thought i would add a section that people may use to see what works for me. There are things that I have missed for years, but changed my practice since finding them. From shoes to stethoscopes. Books. Scrubs. It can all be found here with links.
Footwear
Footwear:
If you’re on your feet 12 hours a day, shoes aren’t just shoes — they’re survival gear. If you don’t take care of your feet, the pain creeps up to your knees, then your back. And if your back can’t carry you, you can’t carry on for others.
#ERNursing, #nursingshoes, #Brooksrunning
Otoscope
Otoscope:
Part of my regular assessments has to do with inspection of the ears. This can be a difficult thing to describe to patients or if you have or are a student. We can all look up pictures and feel as if we are accurately describing what we see, but a camera makes it better. The Teslong Digital Otoscope is my pick. One of the best attributes of having this tool is being able to take pictures. I have been able to show patients what I see as well as send them pictures of their own ears for follow up or referrals. This one I picked up from Amazon. Rechargeable, reusable ear speculums, and a carry case.
Stethoscope
Alright, so here's where one could spend a lot of money or look for functionality. There are some really neat tools out there that can help you zero in on an issue or catch even small abnormalities. The stethoscope is that tool for me. When you combine a statoscope with practice, heart wounds become more noticeable, lung sounds take shape and meaning, and you really start understanding how important auscultation is. So for me, this is middle of the road. I can hear well, easy to carry, and sturdy.
Stethoscope
Alright, so here's where one could spend a lot of money or look for functionality. There are some really neat tools out there that can help you zero in on an issue or catch even small abnormalities. The stethoscope is that tool for me. When you combine a statoscope with practice, heart wounds become more noticeable, lung sounds take shape and meaning, and you really start understanding how important auscultation is. So for me, this is middle of the road. I can hear well, easy to carry, and sturdy.
Pens
Pens:
Do I really need to say more? Nurses steal them, guard them, and sometimes trade them like currency — food, favors, maybe even part of a shift. Pens are gold.
This is one tool where personal preference really shines. Everyone has their favorite, and every nurse will defend theirs. The only non-negotiable? It has to write in black.
When I worked in the ICU, we had our own system: scratch notes, labs, and check boxes went in black, but the important details got marked in red on the side. It made sense at the time, and to this day, I still find myself reaching for both colors when I want something to stand out.