What I Keep in My Work Bag For Every ED Shift
- mannysmorethanmed
- Oct 19, 2023
- 8 min read
Happy Thursday, everyone! I hope everyone is having a great week!
As you know, I am a physician assistant/associate currently practicing in Emergency Medicine. The hours in EM are long, as I work 10-12 hour shifts. Unlike other specialties, we do not get time for breaks. I am often trying to squeeze in something to eat (aka shovel whatever snack I packed into my mouth) between seeing patients. There are times where it seems taking 5 minutes to even use the restroom seems impossible.
Going into work, I know I have to be prepared for anything. With that being said, I've learned quickly what to bring with me to work to help keep me afloat and functioning at my best.
In the ER, I work varying types of shifts. I learned very quickly not to rely on buying food at the cafeteria because 1. The hours are limited, 2. It's only open in the weekdays, and 3. Sometimes I don't even have time to leave the department to go! In the ED, as a group we LOVE Uber eats, Grubhub, Door Dash, and any other app that allows us to deliver food without having to leave the building to get it. However, ordering out can be EXPENSIVE, especially when done often.
If I don't eat enough on my shift I get brain fog, hangry, and a headache! I make sure to bring with me at minimum, a lunch bag filled with snacks. There have been days where I have accidentally forgotten my lunch bag on the counter... 🤦🏻♀️ My boyfriend and family are wonderful and will often run it to me. But, on times where they can't, I make sure to have a stash of snacks in my work bag to keep me fed.
The ED is also shift-work. It truly is impossible to "call off". Being 1-man down can truly make all the difference between an empty waiting room and a packed waiting room with a 3+ hour wait. For this reason, I've learned how to become my own pharmacy, and how to manage at work even when I'm not 100% my best.
With me, I bring all the essentials to truly make sure I set myself up for a great shift.
Here is the breakdown of what I bring:
Backpack- Everything you see on the table in the picture I carry in this backpack! I definitely recommend getting this type of bag for work if you are looking to purchase one. It's big enough that it fits everything that I need, but also not too big that I feel I'm hauling a suitcase!
Coffee Pods- Our department has #2 Keurig pods at each hospital I work at. They do provide pods the majority of the time, but I like to make sure I keep my own stash with me for when I need that extra kick of caffeine. ☕️
Snacks- This one is self-explanatory. Gotta have some snacks! In my backpack I keep ones that are non-perishable and won't get crushed if they make their way to the bottom of my bag. These snacks have SAVED ME more times than I can count... especially when I accidentally forget my lunch at home! 🤪
Gum- At my one hospital we have a community gum drawer. It's great for a refresher after eating, but I also like to keep my own personal stash of mints/gum in my bag. Not only to freshen my breath when needed, BUT to also have to fill my mask with minty-fresh air when I am walking into a stinky situation in a patients' room... (aka code brown 💩, necrotic flesh 🦶... I think you get the idea).
Money- I like to have a small stash of cash in my work bag. I have used it for gas when I am on E on my way home from work and forgot my wallet. I've also used it to help support co-workers family fundraisers, or, even to pay someone when we decided to order out food.
Medicine- I keep my own personal stash of the basics. This includesTylenol, Motrin, eyedrops, DayQuil, and Benadryl (although not pictured here because I used all my bag stash and have to buy more). Most hospitals will lend you basic medications from the pharmacy, but I find it better just to carry my own. I frequently get tension headaches at work, and find these medicines save me!
Personal Care Products- This is also pretty self-explanatory. I carry ChapStick and hand lotion to help keep myself feeling my best. You can modify whatever other personal care products you feel you'll need.
First Aid Kit- I know this one seems a little silly because we have everything in my first aid kit in the department (LOL) but I still carry it as a "just in case" thing to have. Mine is VERY basic, but if you are like me and like to have one, you can always invest in a more comprehensive version.
Extra Badge Reels- I had not one, but TWO badge reels break on me while at work! The second time it happened, I did not have a spare holder, so I had to keep my badge in my scrub pocket. Since that time, I decided to keep extras in my bag because I am sure this is inevitably going to happen to me again. And this time... I will be prepared!
Pen Light- I keep this light with me on shift to help perform my neuro exam and for looking into the mouth. I also use it to assess the skin for rashes. When my battery dies, I usually end up using the flashlight on my phone. In the ED, you learn to be ~flexible~
Pens- You can never have too many. I find I start out with 5 and am always down to 1 by the end of my shift. I swear I don't know where they all go, but since I am this way, I come prepared.
Phone Charger- I use my phone at work to Tiger-Text specialists, in addition to utilize the apps I've collected as resources. When I work an early morning shift, I usually don't need to use this. But, when I work later in the day, I sometimes forget to re-charge my phone before work, and this definitely comes in handy.
Badges- I keep my badges in my work bag. I make sure to store them there even when I get home so I always have them on me, and don't accidentally forget them at home!
Eyeglass Case- Usually when I work, I wear my glasses. I don't know what it is about the hospital air, but I swear it is drier than normal air! Usually when I wear my contacts my eyes are super dry and killing me halfway throughout my shift. It's nice to have this case so I can make sure my glasses are always clean, OR, if i am wearing my contacts, I have the option to switch to my glasses.
EMRA Manuals- I use these EVERY SHIFT. I take them out of my bag each shift and set them on my desk. The 3 I personally can't live without are the antibiotic guide, PressorDEX and orthopedics guide. If you do not own these, I HIGHLY recommend!
Post-It Notes- I will use these post-it notes to stick on my computer at work if I want to remind myself to do a task, or, to mark a page I'm using in my EMRA guides.
AAPA Maxwell Guide- I obtained this sometime while I was in PA school and honestly used it a lot more as a student than I do now, but I still keep it in my bag because I do look at it occasionally and like to have it as an extra resource.
Notebook- In my notebook I will jot down cases that I want to remember, medications I want to look up, or an overall topic I want to refresh myself on. I will also use it to write down a case that I want to reflect on later so I can improve my personal practice. I also will use it to write down something new that I learned that I want to re-review so I do not forget it.
Mini bag- This mini bag was provided to me by my employer in a welcome package. I keep my medical tools in this mini bag so they are all in one place. I used to bring my own otoscope and my own reflex hammer, but do not anymore as my workplace provides them. I would keep these in this bag in addition to my stethoscopes, and pen light. It is easy to keep everything in one place so they do not get lost in my bag.
Safety Goggles- When I have someone who I am concerned has a respiratory illness, I will wear my goggles for protection. I will also wear these on days when I am not wearing my glasses, and am draining an abscess or repairing a laceration as an extra way to protect myself.
Eye chart- I have lent this chart to my nursing staff to perform visual acuities in the department.
Stethoscope- These are the only two stethoscopes I own. My first one is a Littman Cardiology III, (maroon one). This got me through PA school. At the end of PA school, my diaphragm kept falling off and I kept losing it, then miraculously finding it again. When there is no diaphragm on the bell of your stethoscope, you literally cannot hear anything. So, one day when I was in the middle of this predicament, I borrowed my preceptors Master Cardiology stethoscope and let's say, my mind was blown!! This is my stethoscope of choice, and don't know if I will ever go back! I was blessed enough to receive my all-black stethoscope with my name engraved into it as a graduation present from my boyfriend's mom. I carry both in my bag, just in case. (yes, I have accidentally misplaced my stethoscope at work. I also will lend my spare stethoscope for colleagues to borrow when they forget or misplace theirs.
Cup of coffee- Every shift I bring a freshly prepared cup of coffee! This is what I drink when I first arrive to my shift and gets me in the ready-to-see-patients mindset.
Reusable Water Bottle Filled with ice cold water- This is 1,000% a necessity. I use my Stanley. I like the type of Stanley I have because with this version, I put it in my bag and don't have to worry about leaking. It's also easy to clean!
Lunch Box- Possibly the most important thing that I bring! I keep snacks and pack meals to get me through the shift. I also bring electrolyte packets to drink on days that are crazy busy and I know I can't push water as much as I want to. I also don't forget to sneak in a little something sweet here and there as a little reward!
Some additional things I see colleagues bring that I personally don't keep in my bag are:
Dictaphone- We use dragon at my job, and some of my colleagues invested in their own microphone and bring it to work. Sometimes we have more providers than computers with microphones. Doing this spares your phone battery, and your sanity.
Travel Utensils- My hospital provides utensils in the ED, but it is nice to carry your own. This way, you never have to worry about needing to eat something that requires silverware, and you don't' have it.
Spare Clothes- This could be spare scrubs or even normal clothes to change into after the shift is done. This comes in handy when you unexpectedly run into bed-bugs, or simply don't want to track the germs of the ED in your home.
Jacket- Hospitals are known for being cold. If you are cold outside of the hospital, than bringing a jacket to keep you warm in the frigid temperatures is a good idea.
Personal Otoscope- This is a great tool to have if your department does not supply a lot of working otoscopes. However, these are expensive!! So if you bring it, make sure you label it, and stick it in your bag immediately after you sanitize it and are done using it.
Tuning Fork- I personally do not use this with my practice, but I do know PAs who cannot live without them to complete their neuro exam.
Trauma Shears- I really do need to invest in a pair of Raptors. Maybe I will add this to my Christmas list this year!
Reflex hammer- I use one we have in our department, or, if I cannot find it, I use the bell of my stethoscope!
Measuring tape/ruler- Essential for measuring lacerations, and accurately documenting wounds in your chart!
Whether you work in EM, Urgent Care, or, are a student on rotation, I hope this list helps keep you prepared for whatever your shift has in store for you. If you bring something in your work bag that you use each shift, and cannot live without, share in the comments below! I would love to see what you use!
XO,
Manny
❤️
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