Not every Nurse Aide role or workspace is the same, and it can be difficult to know what you’ll need while you’re on your feet. Students still in Certified Nurse Assistant school can be confused on how to prepare for their first day on the job. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of items to include in your CNA work bag. Prepare yourself for a number of situations with these suggestions from experienced CNAs.

Extra Face Masks

Face masks have become the standard for healthcare workers everywhere, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic, but even medical professionals may forget to grab a face mask on their way out the door. Remembering to pack some face masks, specifically N95 masks, in your bag ensures that you’re covered if you forget or if your mask becomes dirty at work.  

Contactless Forehead Thermometer

Taking a patient’s temperature is a standard step when recording vitals. If this is part of your job, a contactless forehead thermometer is a modern tool for CNAs that has become widely popular since the start of the pandemic. Better yet, there’s no need to sanitize it after use because it never touches the patient.

Hand Sanitizer and Lotion

A smart, cost-effective way of always having hand sanitizer nearby is to buy a travel-sized container with a keychain for your work bag or that you can clip to your scrubs. Have a bulk container at home so you’ll be able to refill throughout the week without wasting money. You can also get hand sanitizer wipes to disinfect your car seat after your shift. After all that sanitizing, your hands will get really dry. Keep a tube of thick hand cream in your bag to avoid dry and cracked hands. Chapstick will also be a lifesaver for dry, clinical settings.

Healthy Snacks and a Water Bottle

When people rely on you to do your job, your ability to perform your duties is essential. According to a study published in the British Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, proper nutrition and hydration are key to better patient care in clinical settings. Avoid hunger pains and low energy by keeping extra snacks close by, and make sure to carry a reusable water bottle you can refill throughout the day or night. Also, throw in a small tin of mints or gum to freshen up your breath after those coffee breaks.

Phone Charger

Nurse Assistant shifts can be long hours and your phone can quickly drain. To make sure you’ll have a fully-charged phone at the end of your shift, bring an extra phone charger in your bag. You could also help out a fellow CNA with a phone on low battery. If outlets are hard to come by in the break room you can bring a power bank instead.

Watch

You won’t always be able to have your phone on you while you’re working. And even if you can, a simple watch is a better option because it’s faster to glance at the time and more sanitary than constantly taking out your phone. You’ll need to time things such as measuring pulse and respiration rates and you’ll need to be hands-free. You can stick with a classic watch with a second hand or upgrade to a smart watch that also tracks your steps and health.

A Small Notepad with a Pen and Permanent Marker

Jotting down important notes comes with being a CNA. Of course, as a medical professional, you’ll want to avoid recording any information that isn’t HIPPA compliant. This is also a great tool for new Nurse Assistants who have just graduated. You can keep some cheat-sheet notes of things to remember as well as write down anything you’ve learned on the job.

If you’re the type who wants to be prepared for anything, carrying two pens is a good idea since you never know when one is going to dry up. Plus, you can be a good coworker and lend a pen to others when needed. A permanent marker is also useful for instances where you need to label a patient’s personal items or samples. Another helpful tip for a night-shift CNA is to bring a pen with a light so you don’t have to strain your eyes in low-light settings.

Back-Up Clothing

Whether you’re a CNA that works with children, adults, or seniors, any number of accidents can happen that may soak or soil your clothes. Carrying extra CNA scrubs and socks when these accidents happen can save you from having to go home and change. Having a few extra hair ties is always convenient. It’s also good to bring a comfortable jacket in case your workplace runs a little chilly. You can keep these extra clothes in a specific scrubs bag or trash bag that you can also use for used clothing so it can go straight in the washing machine and won’t contaminate anything at home.

Basic Over-the-Counter Medicines

When a headache hits on the job, you don’t want to have to suffer through your whole shift without ibuprofen or Tylenol. If you’re prone to heartburn, make sure to keep some antacids with you. Non-drowsy allergy medicine is never a bad idea either in case your allergies flare up or you have an allergic reaction to something. An extra stick of deodorant can be handy for long or stressful nursing shifts.

A Reliable Stethoscope

Because there’s a good chance that taking vitals will be a typical part of your duties as a CNA, you should always have a stethoscope made by a reputable brand in your work bag.

Surgical Scissors

If part of your role involves performing general wound care, carrying a pair of surgical scissors makes sense. This small but handy tool won’t take up too much space in your CNA work bag. Plus, they’re useful anytime you need to snip something. Make sure to keep scissors out of reach in case you’re working with confused or agitated patients. Just make sure to store them in a sanitary way and thoroughly sterilize them before using them in a patient setting.

We hope these items for your CNA work bag come in handy for your first days on the job! Remember: it’s better to be over-prepared than to be caught in a sticky situation. In fact, you just might impress your manager and coworkers.