So, you’ve officially entered the magical (and slightly terrifying) world of clinicals, welcome!! While I wish I could package up coffee and willpower and keep them both on me at all times, here are the more practical items I actually carry in my clinical bag. Side note: I *am* that girl that wears a fanny pack to clinical… all of these items could easily fit on your person in your pockets if you aren’t the bag type!
1. Stethoscope
Let’s start with the classic, tried and true stethoscope. My advice? Don’t bring your $300 Littman cardiology edition unless you want to feel your soul leave your body the moment you realize it’s gone. Been there, mourned that. Grab a solid, inexpensive one that won’t make you spiral into an existential crisis if it goes MIA on day 3. (True story)
2. GOOD Pens & Sharpies
These are sacred. Sharpie S-GEL, TUL, and thin-tipped Sharpies are my jam. If you’re paper charting, nothing is worse than a pen that skips or smudges. And Sharpies? Absolute must for labeling meds. (And keep multiple, because you will inevitably lose one).
3. Mini notebooks
You’re going to want to write down everything. Trust me. From case log information to random clinical pearls, you’re going to want an easy place to reference it all (and so you’re not always looking at your phone). I stock up at Dollar Tree, Daiso, or Target before the start of each clinical rotation (I usually fill up at least 1 per site, which for me is every 3 months!)
4. Badge
Duh! Don’t forget to grab a badge buddy from Atomic Anesthesia for quick drug references. (Again, lifesaver so you’re not always looking at your phone!)
5. Scrub Cap
Here is where the fun starts. Whether you’re going for skulls, florals, or cats in space—let your personality show.
6. Phone Charger
Okay okay so you’ll use your phone a decent amount (despite clinical training always saying we should never be on our phones). Your phone = access to anesthesia apps, drug references, and texts from your preceptor. Keep it charged. Keep it close. Bonus points if you have a smartwatch that you can easily check.
7. Pocket Snacks
Protein bars. Almonds. Energy packets. Whatever keeps you from becoming a hangry hazard in the OR. You won’t always have time for a full lunch, but you will have 30 seconds in PACU to inhale something vaguely nutritious.
8. Apps You’ll Love - These are essential -
- Vargo Anesthesia & Co-existing Disease – Your preceptor asks about max local anesthetic dosing for your patient? Boom. Vargo.
- AnsoPro – Such detailed images and quick and dirty notes for USG blocks.
- Safe Local – Know your max doses without doing the math mid-draw.
- Pedi Crisis – Because tiny humans are not just small adults, and everything is weight-based.
- ASRA Coags – Regional blocks + anticoags = chaos without this app.
- UpToDate – Only if you’ve got access, but it’s the holy grail for evidence-based answers on the fly.
Fellow SRNAs, what are your go-to clinical bag essentials? Drop them in the comments!
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