Nursing 101: A Comprehensive Guide For Graduates Starting Work in 2024

Congratulations! After years of study you’ve qualified as a nurse and you’re ready to commence your rewarding career. Whether you’re an enrolled nurse, registered nurse or midwife, there are several staple supplies you’ll need to be prepared for everything that comes your way. Whilst scrubs and comfortable shoes might be obvious, there are also some others that may have slipped your mind in all your excitement and anxiety. Remember to check with your workplace policy to make sure you are following requirements. Read on to settle those nerves and prepare yourself for your exciting journey ahead with our comprehensive guide of everything you’ll need for nurses starting work in 2024.

High Quality Scrubs 

During your practical units of study in a hospital or medical centre you will have undoubtedly seen the wide variety of nursing scrubs available. With so many options, what should you look for? As scrubs are the most important part of your new get-up, we’ve considered three factors you should keep in mind when looking for your own.

Comfort

Think about the waistband and look for elastic drawcords for maximum comfort and flexibility for bending and squatting in your scrub pants. Nursing scrubs that are too loose can get in the way of your work and are more likely to come into contact with bodily fluid and open wounds. Don’t go so tight that you can’t move freely either, a slightly fitted style is best.

Fabric

When it comes to clothing there’s nothing worse than scratchy and stiff fabric. Choose a soft, breathable fabric that has antimicrobial properties and odour control. Nursing is unpredictable and you never know when you’re going to need a spare set (or two) of scrubs on hand. Make sure they’re fast drying otherwise you’ll end up with twenty sets and a continuous supply of washing to do! Nursing scrubs need to be cleaned after every shift and with a lot of washing comes the risk of them wearing out quickly. Good quality scrubs may be more expensive but are definitely worth the cost, and will stand the test of time to prove it.

Pockets

The more the merrier! You may be allowed to wear a bum bag or ‘nurse pouch’ but as it won’t be washed as frequently it’s more likely to hold onto bacteria. As a minimum you need two deep pockets, one for a notepad and one for your phone –  ideally with a zipper to keep it safe. Really though, you want to have various-sized pockets for a pen, penlight, keys and identity cards, as well as all the medical supplies you’ll need to have to hand.

Suitable Footwear 

Nurses working in a hospital setting walk, on average, around six kilometres in a nine hour shift. And when you’re not walking, you’re standing. Unless you want an aching back, blistered feet, and a painful plantar fascia, choose shoes that best support and protect your feet.  Make sure they meet your workplace requirements and are supportive with a cushioned insole and good built-in protection, including an enclosed toe, to prevent absorption and damage to your feet from falling sharps. They should be easy to clean since spills are inevitable, and non-slip, or, if that’s not possible, at least slip-resistant. Make sure they’re lightweight and breathable, and you should be comfortable all shift long. Along with suitable footwear, wearing compression socks can help with leg and foot comfort and safety. If you are prone to poor blood flow, swollen or painful lower legs, or blood clots, make compression socks a part of your daily outfit. No one will see them and they’ll make your life a lot easier.

An Actual Watch

Being able to quickly check the time is such an important part of nursing. Whether you’re logging medication, checking a patient’s pulse, or recording the exact time of a birth, you can’t be pulling out your phone every second minute. Aside from that, mixing the bacteria from your device with whatever you’re dealing with in front of you is not a good mix. So try the old fashioned way of telling the time. There are benefits to using a smartwatch, but as long as your watch tells the time to the second and has the day and date, you’ll have what you need. Check with your employer as you may have to use a fob instead of a wristwatch.

Stationery With Personality

Whether you’re a lover of fluffy pens and scented markers, or prefer something chic and simple, a writing tool and a notebook is going to be essential. Some workplaces may provide these but even if they do you might like to add your own touch. Make sure the pages of your notebook or pad are firm and not likely to accidentally tear or fall out. Colourful paper is fun and can bring some joy to your workplace, just make sure all your writing is easily legible for all your colleagues. There are some factors to keep in mind when it comes to choosing the right pen, including ink, comfort and closure. When you finally make your decision, your prized pen is at risk of being lost or used and accidentally kept by a colleague. A distinctive pen may help you keep track of it better, but you may also be more disappointed if you lose it. Buying a pack of cheap pens and carrying a couple around in your scrubs is a good way to test your ability to hold on to your pens before investing in something a little more durable or personalised.

Nursing scrubs, supportive shoes, a watch and suitable stationery are essential parts of your nursing kit. Of course, everyone’s nursing experience is different, and you will likely discover over time that there are items you can’t live without on a shift. Until then, just make sure you have a large (but not excessively heavy) water bottle and a lunch box or bag that can fit lots of food for long shifts.And if you’re a potential nurse in the making, hopefully this article has provided you with some useful advice or inspiration. It’s never too late to start your nursing career – with the right scrubs and the right attitude, it won’t be long before you’re on the frontline. Good luck in your nursing career!

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