What do you need for NP School? What are the essentials for NP school?
Having gone through NP school, I will share all of the must-have items I used time and time again. If you’re just starting school or want to update your must-have list for school, this post is for you! This list is also great if you’re looking to get a gift for an NP student in your life.
11 NP School Essentials
Laptop or tablet with keyboard
Any brand or style will do. If you’re in the market for a new laptop or tablet, I’d recommend something lightweight and that has long battery life. At least at my school, there was always a shortage of outlets so it was nice not having to worry about bringing my charging cable or making sure I sat next to an outlet. If you’re like most NP students, you’ll be carrying around loads of books and other supplies. Having a laptop/tablet that is lightweight and doesn’t take up too much space is very critical. It’s also nice when you lug it with you to clinical rotations.
I used a MacBook Air throughout NP school. I loved how lightweight it was and the long battery life.
Many of my classmates used tablet-laptop combinations like the Microsoft Surface. If you decide to go with a tablet, consider the ease of writing papers on it. You’ll be doing a lot of typing so make sure to test out the keyboard and confirm that it’s comfortable and easy to use. Another benefit of these touchscreen tablet-laptop combinations is that you can often take notes and highlight right on the document you have open using a finger or stylus.
Good quality stethoscope
Littman Stethoscopes are well known for quality and durability. This brand is by the far the most recommended by other healthcare professionals. I received one as a gift for graduation from nursing school. It has held up incredibly well. I feel confident that it will last me a long time and is the right tool for my physical exams.
Coffee mug
You’re going to be drinking a lot of tea and/or coffee. Having a to-go mug that is spill-proof and keeps your beverages hot is critical. If you’re anything like most graduate students, you’re going to be consuming more than your fair share of caffeine. Bonus that a reusable to-go mug is better for the environment! My go-to brands are Miir and Contigo.
Lab coat
Check with your school if this is required for your lab courses. If not, it’s often recommended or required at some clinical sites. I wouldn’t spend too much money on this unless you know you’ll be wearing it for years to come. I’d start with one white lab coat and go from there. The extra pockets sure are nice!
Headphones
A necessity for studying! Listening to lectures while taking a walk or at the gym on the elliptical or indoor bike is a great way to get some studying and exercise done.
Smartphone
There are so many apps that are great references for coursework or in clinical rotations. This is a must-have once you start seeing patients in the clinical setting.
Backpack or large purse
You’re going to have a lot to carry every day. Make sure to have a durable backpack or purse to carry your school supplies in – textbooks, a laptop or tablet, notebooks, binders, etc.
Calendar or planner
There’s a lot of details and assignments to keep organized in NP school. You can use an electronic calendar or a paper planner, whichever suits you better. I’d recommend writing down any important work schedules, important events with family/friends, and school events first. Then add assignment due dates and any other important school dates.
I started off using a paper planner but found it cumbersome to hand-write all of my assignments in there. I also had trouble keeping my planner with me and organized so I eventually switched to Google Calendar. In addition to putting important dates in Google Calendar, I would sit down every 2 weeks or so and use Google Tasks to create tasks with due dates for school assignments and mark “completed” as I finished them. This system worked well for me as it was easy to reference and update from my phone or laptop.
Grammarly
In your graduate education, it is very likely that you will be doing a large amount of writing. The quality of writing expected in graduate school is much higher than in your undergraduate education. If grammar and spelling are not your strengths, I highly recommend Grammarly.
This editing tool can be downloaded for free and used in Microsoft Word and Google documents. It will check spelling, grammar, and punctuation as you write. It’s easy to download and use. It will help make sure that any assignments you turn in are proofread and of high-quality. You can also pay to upgrade and get more features – detect plagiarism, readability, tone, and suggest alternative vocabulary.
Study supplies
The most commonly used supplies include notebooks, pens, pencils, highlighters, and binders. You’ll be using these items in all of your courses from day #1.
Printer
This is not a must-have but a nice to have. I enjoyed the convenience of being able to print notes and assignments from home instead of relying on the printers on campus. You could probably get away with never needing to print a school assignment as most everything is submitted online. However, I always found it beneficial to print a paper or assignment for final editing rather than doing the final proof-read on the computer.
NP School Essentials
Once you get these 11 items together, you’re ready to start NP school. It’s a long, challenging road but having the right supplies/tools will you be successful. You’re going to spend a lot of time studying so make sure you’re equipped with the right tools.
I’d love to hear – What are your favorite must-have items for going back to school? Is there anything you would add to the list?
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