5 Essential Tools for Nurse Practitioner Students
There are a few essential tools that really helped me get through school and clinicals. Today, I am sharing my list of tools that will help nurse practitioner students.
1. Smartphone. A smartphone is essential for today’s clinician. As the amount of clinical data that we accumulate increases, smartphones can help us manage this data while serving as a handy resource for performing activities such as checking drug interactions. Back when I was in school, I utilized a PDA (personal digital assistant) in the form of a Palm Pilot (that was only 12 years ago!) and it is amazing how far the technology has come since then. It really didn’t have much functionality at the time other than ePocrates and some limited note taking. Today’s smartphone can access a patients electronic health record, order electronic prescriptions and even view diagnostic imaging results in high resolution.
2. A small notebook. While I am very into technology, I am a bit old school when it comes to note taking. A small notebook that can fit in your lab coat pocket will make jotting notes very easy (and will make it seem that you aren’t fumbling with your smartphone and texting somebody). Most schools require you to keep a log of patients that you see during your clinical day (please remember to de-identify any patients personal health information). A notebook is a quick and easy way of taking those notes. To merge the old technology with the new, you can snap a picture of the notes using your smartphone and then use an app like Evernote to archive them and search them. Very cool.
3. Otoscope/Opthamlamscope. You can never look at enough tympanic membranes, retina’s and optic disks. And if you want to be the most popular person in your family, you can examine family members eyes and ears at family gatherings. You need not spend a lot of money on an otoscope/opthamalamscope setup since they make travel kits that have relatively good optics. Check out Welch Allyn products as the industry standard. This is money well spent and if you have young children, it’s always nice to be able to look in their ears when they are sick.
4. Stethoscope. Investing in a good stethoscope is also an essential tool. My stethoscope of choice is a Littmann Cardiology II. It is great for auscultating heart and lung sounds. The stethoscope has not been immune to technical advances. There are stethoscopes that are electronic with the ability to amplify heart and lung sounds while reducing background noise. Some even allow you to digitally save the audio files for playback. It’s probably not necessary to go the electronic route as a student but definitely is worth it to spend the extra money for a good stethoscope. Also remember that stethoscopes don’t last forever especially after sticking them in your pockets, around your neck and being exposed to the elements. So you should probably replace the diaphragm and ear tips every few years. Also be sure to clean your stethoscope between patients!
5. Student Membership to Your State’s NP Association. I previously blogged about why it’s necessary to be part of your state’s NP association. There are enormous benefits to students in the form of networking, mentoring, and other state-specific resources that will help your practice as an NP. Most associations offer student discounts on membership and it is a great time to become involved and familiar with issues that may impact your practice.
I hope you find the items as useful as I did and that it positions you for success. Good luck!
