Nurses are some of the most versatile and vital employees within healthcare facilities. Their day consists of assessing and triaging patients to dealing with medical supplies and patient families and everything in between. They need a robust set of tools in their wheelhouse to be prepared for any scenario.
Let’s review which essential tools nurses use at work daily and why they’re so crucial to the job.
What are nursing tools and why are they important?
Nursing tasks—providing care to patients, liaising medical information, counseling patient families, maintaining health records, etc.—require a collection of tools with unique functionalities that help nurses perform all their duties.
There are tools used to do things like:
- Take patient vitals
- Track medical data
- Interact with patients or physicians more effectively
- Protect themselves and the patients
- Make themselves suitable to being on their feet the majority of their shift
The healthcare facility may provide some general tools, such as I.D. cards, medical supplies, and access to patient portals. In most other scenarios, it helps new and tenured nurses to come prepared with their own preferred tools.
1. Standard facility-approved uniform
Scrubs
Nursing uniforms, such as medical scrubs and lab coats, serve a critical purpose in nurses’ day-to-day jobs. Nursing scrubs provide a professional and identifiable appearance that most patients will recognize. They are often antimicrobial to protect against contaminants and made of breathable material with large built-in pockets to offer a range of motion. Some facilities enforce scrub cut, fit, or color regulations, but many nurses are allowed to select scrubs that match their personal preferences.
When considering medical scrubs as a tool, nurses should select a brand, color, and fit that provides them comfort, flexibility, and functionality during their daily duties. Scrubs with embroidery or patterns provide a platform for expression and connection with patients. Scrubs containing drawstrings, buttons, side slits, and extra pockets may offer better mobility. They must, however, be approved by the medical facility you’re working in.
Lab Coats
Similarly, white lab coats are an important, everyday tool some nurses should have on hand for all clinical and professional healthcare meetings. Lab coats are designed to protect scrubs and skin from contacting any lab contaminants while allowing staff to discretely carry items in the large pocket and increase patient confidence. In fact, a 2016 study at the University of Michigan found that medical staff (physician) attire was important to more than half of patients, and one-third claimed it influenced their satisfaction with care.
2. Smart footwear
The average nursing shift in a hospital is 12 hours. Without quality footwear, nurses could be at the mercy of sore, tired, and blistered feet at the end of their shifts. This daily discomfort can grow into long-term back and joint pain if not addressed.
An essential tool in any nurse’s toolkit is a curated set of shoes that targets your unique needs. Consider the arch and ball support needed to sustain your feet throughout back-to-back long shifts. In addition to price and appearance, pay special attention to the comfort and cushion that the shoes offer to transform them from basic footwear to a necessary asset. And take a look at brands or styles that fellow nurses recommend.
Bonus: To eliminate additional discomfort during long shifts, many nurses choose to add compression socks and insoles to their tool kit.
3. Professional stethoscope and gear
Clinical stethoscopes are powerful tools for monitoring patient vitals, and each nurse should find the brand matches their level of comfort, quality, and accuracy. To find the right fit, nurses should determine how they plan to use the stethoscope in their daily job, whether they work in pediatrics, emergency, or general care. Stethoscopes range in:
- Type: From digital to dual- or single-head
- Acoustics: From checking blood pressure to sensitive monitoring of critical care patients
- Tubing: From varying lengths to tubing material (latex vs. latex-free)
- Maintenance: Some require antibacterial cleaners, while others need soap or isopropyl alcohol
A similar level of care should be put into selecting a nurses’ sphygmomanometer and thermometer. Sphygmomanometers should be selected for their mobility and versatile functionality when checking patients’ blood pressure. Digital high-quality thermometers allow nurses to conduct fast oral, rectal, under-the-arm, and forehead body temperature readings.
Additional professional gear that nurses should consider carrying based on their daily job function include:
- Band-aids
- Bandage scissors
- Medical tape
- Tourniquet
- Tongue depressor
- Pulse oximeter
- Personal protective gear
Many of these will often be provided by the hospital, though nurses can certainly bring their own as long as it’s approved by the facility.
4. Multipurpose lanyard
Lanyards are a commonplace tool for many nurses because they offer an easy way to display credentials or access authorized spaces. One way to enhance this tool is to look for multipurpose lanyards that help free up additional space in pockets or nurses’ hands. Lanyards with multipurpose pockets or hooks offer space to hang additional work cards/I.D.s, masks, pens, styluses, and more.
RELATED: 7 Vital Allied Health Professionals and What They Do
5. Medical reference book or pocket guide
Pocket guides or reference books are handy tools for experienced and new nurses alike. They can quickly confirm a patient’s condition, reaffirm a treatment plan, or provide a medical explanation at a moment’s notice. New and experienced nurses can benefit from having a medical reference book on hand or an R.N. nursing cheat sheet in their scrub pocket for unexpected situations.
6. Handy tools for nurses’ hands
Nurses work hands-on with many patients, samples, and medical equipment, so they should come prepared with tools that keep their hands fresh and ready. Hand sanitizer, alcohol wipes, gloves, and hand moisturizing cream are all important items to keep within reach. Similarly, many nurses opt for wristwatch so they can easily access the time, their schedule, incoming notifications, and even health-tracking applications while they are actively performing duties.
7. Nursing bags
Once a nurse has all their tools, what is the best way to carry them? Nursing bags are an essential tool that helps nurses contain and transport of their other tools. These can refer to totes or messenger bags that nurses have at home, but the most effective way to transport medical gear is with medical-focused nursing bags.
Nursing bags offer storage like tote bags do, but they include specialized compartments for nursing tools such as stethoscopes, sphygmomanometers, sanitizer, masks, and other gear. Nursing bags are often more durable than standard bags, so they can support nurses on the go.
Within a nursing bag, nurses are also encouraged to carry indispensable tools nurses use at work, such as snacks, a water bottle, writing utensils, a daily planner, and backup clothing.
READ: Preventing Healthcare Burnout
8. Healthcare data systems
Nurses are not responsible for providing the data systems used at their hospitals or healthcare facilities. However, nurses should have familiarity with using healthcare data systems that have access to patient health information (PHI) and electronic health records (EHR). These critical informational tools are the lifeblood of how most healthcare facilities store and securely access sensitive data.
As a tool, nurses should know how to remain HIPAA compliant while interacting with data systems such as:
- Remaining up-to-date with HIPAA regulations
- Reviewing facility guidelines for accessing and interacting with data systems and PHI
- Reporting any PHI disclosures or HIPAA violations to the appropriate entities
- Understanding the importance of password protection and not sharing credentials/passwords
- How to properly achieve informed patient consent when accessing PHI
- Training regularly on PHI and data system security
- Implementing two-factor or stronger authentication requirements, such as facial recognition, when accessing sensitive systems
- Setting up user-based access to data systems
A nurse is as good as their tools
Nurses should all strive to provide the most compassionate care to their patient populations. Having the right tools means that nurses are prepared for whatever scenario arises and can still provide the best possible care to their patients. Being prepared also helps nurses fight against healthcare burnout.
New and experienced nurses are encouraged to be mindful of the tools they equip themselves with to ensure they are setting themselves up for success.
Whether you’re a nurse looking for a job, or you’re looking to hire a team of nurses, Insight Global can be your partner! Contact us to see how we can work together to provide the best care to patients.