Always, always, always, have your stethescope with you. You never know when you're gonna need it.

Carry extra gloves in your pockets too, you never know when you're gonna need them either.

I have an enormous "Nursing is my bag" bag.  When people ask me what I could be carrying in the huge thing I say "Everything".  Thank Goodness for Cargo pocket pants.  CHAP STICK, scissors, pens, paper, watch, hand sanitizer, pen light, STETHOSCOPE, calculator, and TAPE.  Then in the bag, peanut butter crackers, extra shoes, loose change, more pens, more paper, more hand sanitizer, gum, mouth wash, toothbrush, tooth paste, drug book, clipboard.

Also, A good nurse will always have a pair of scissors . I never heard this when I was in school, but have heard it alot since I started working as an RN three years ago. Even in the OR, I never thought I'd need scissors, but in the 6 weeks I've been in the OR, I have needed them and used them and heard serveral times, "A good nurse always has scissors."

Roll of tape on a kelly forcep clipped to your scrubs.

Take more than one cath kit into the room with you.

kayak. Very good.

Anyone have any tips for short cuts on charting?

They all sound like good tips so far. With new technology I carry a palm pilot that has medical downloads on it. It goes EVERYWHERE with me. Cargo pockets are a must on a set of scrubs. The pockets have a pair of scissors, kelly clamps, tape, penS (not just one). A tourniquiet, an IV needle or two, a saline flush for each IV needle. ETOH wipes and some 2x2's. Each pocket has certain things that go in it so that I always know where things are. (That comes from being a flight nurse and packing my flight suite, I do the same with my floor scrubs.) Oraginzation and being prepared for the unexpected plays a big roll in productivity.

I bought a fanny pack type thing that I had seen in a catalog. I used it one time. I like my pockets. Pockets in scrub top, lab coat and pants. I love cargo pants pockets.

I need to get myself a palm pilot and learnt to use it.

I hate to be a kill joy, and I have been trying to supress the need to say this.  I know we all know it, but the Infection Control Nurse in me has just got to say "wash wash wash your hands", if you carry alot of stuff in your pockets your contaminating it every time you put your hands in your pockets.  Wash your scissors, and throw away the tourniquets after each patient.  Sorry, but I do feel better now.  No wonder they used to cringe when they saw me coming.

Also, wipe down your stethoscope, and pull a glove over the end.  Listen wth the palm of the glove over the diaphragm.

Very good bit. that is a great idea and a shortcut that will improve patient care not hinder.

Scarlett................wow, a nurse after my own heart!  I have the extra clean clothes,undies in my trunk....and another set in my locker.  Pens, penlight, stethescope, scissors, etoh preps in the pockets; wipes down the stethescope after each use, I dont share pens and desanitize after touching anybody and before I write.   Ok, on the charting...........man,  the only thing close to a shortcut I have figured out is take a little extra time charting after each incident and on patient, so no late charting, and then I dont have to do the 'one line across w/error', thingie........we dont do electronic charting yet, except for the meds....barbaric, huh?  Nice place despite the barbarism, though.........love it.    We cant help emergencies and I'm not perfect...but Id love to keep posted on anybody's success with the charting thing too.

Oh, one more thing on locker stuff to stock..............if you guys are pals with dentists/orthodontists and their staff.............get a bunch of disposible toothbrushes.  My sister inlaw words for an orthodontist.  She gets those disposable toothbrushes that have pre-applied toothpaste.   Wouldnt want to use them all the time.........but great for emergencies, sent my son boxes of them in Iraq, and I keep a couple in my purse.  Her boss enables me  to buy 3 boxes of them at a time, has over 150 per box.....cost $25 for all of them.

Sorry I was offtrack too! I just do a better job as a nurse when I feel clean from the skin out. As far as the charting, I learned a long time ago to sort of have a template for charting. New pt? gonna do a head to toe assessment. Then start with the head. Neuro, pupils,mentation. next chest -heart sounds, breath sounds, next abd- bowel sounds, soft?rigid? voiding? BM? next extremities- MAEW? casts/splints? drsgs? describe skin. When I go through each segment I describe the related tubes,drains. Ex listening to breath sounds describe chest tube. Listening to bowel sounds describe NG tube. Describe skin include IV's. Take a few minutes and prepare your "template" I don't do OB so there may be other things that need covering on a more routine fashion (nipples, uterine height,lochia) When I have a pregnant pt in the ED I always assess and chart Fetal heart tones. Guess where? When I get to the abd. I take time here to chart vaginal discharge.  After my head to toe then I address C/O. You can make this as simple or as complicated as you need. When you develop your signature assessment (LOL) it becomes a tool like your stethoscope and helps you remember to assess and chart. New nurses actually make your self a little card to help yourself remember. Those of you who are computer charting don't you find the computer sort of forces you to do this? Much easier to chart at the desk when you remembered to get your assessment in the room. Those pesky COWS (computer on wheels) always have a low battery when you need them. Do your sister/brother nurses a favor and plug those suckers in when not in use!!