When you work in the O.R., there are a few items that you just have to have. Call them your “essentials” or maybe your “must-haves.” You use them (or wear them) every single day, and without them, you just feel naked at work. (OK, so hopefully you’re not really naked at work, because that would get awkward…) But, awkward thoughts about being naked at work aside, what are the essentials for working in the O.R.?

Here’s my top 6:

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#1. Shoes

When it comes to essentials for working in the O.R., shoes are at the top of the list. A good pair of shoes is an absolute MUST. Spend 12 hours (or more) on a bad pair of shoes, and you’ll be dying by the time you get home. We spend so much of our day standing or running around, that a good-quality, supportive, slip-resistant pair of shoes is essential to our success each day.

Currently, I’m wearing Hoka’s Clifton 6. It’s lightweight but supportive, and I’ve noticed an improvement in my foot pain at the end of my shift. It took a couple of weeks to get used to them, but I have noticed a difference since I started wearing them.

Other popular shoes among my co-workers are Dansko’s and Brooks Ghost tennis shoes.

The perfect pair of shoes will be different for everyone, but realize that quality shoes are an investment, so take the time to find the right pair of shoes for you. Even if they’re more expensive than you’d like, a good pair of shoes is worth the money.

To help you find the perfect shoe for you, you can check out this very thorough, and complete review of nursing shoes by Brittany Wilson at The Nerdy Nurse here.

#2. Scrub Hats

I love my scrub hats. In a work environment where everybody really looks the same, scrub hats are a great way to express your personality, show off your favorite sports team, or to dress to match the season – there are so many options!

Harmony Surgical Designs is absolutely my favorite scrub hat company. I purchased my first scrub hat from them back in 2011 and they are the only company I’ve ordered from since. I still wear that hat I purchased 8 years ago, and it looks as good as it did when I bought it! I’ve had friends give me hats made by other companies, but they haven’t held up as well as my Harmony hats have.

Because I love Harmony’s scrub hats so much, I’ve partnered with them to bring you all a great discount on their products. Woo-hoo! They’ve given me a special coupon code to share with all of you wonderful people! Just use code: PERRY at checkout and get 15% off anything in their store!

And, with the holidays coming up – I know, I shouldn’t bring it up, but…school is about to start, which means it will be Halloween before you know it, everything Fall and pumpkin spice, Thanksgiving, and then Christmas! So don’t stress, instead think about all of the seasonal prints you can get and enjoy wearing! How fun! Scrub hats also make great gifts for your friends, too. 🙂

#3. Notebooks

Taking notes on surgeon preferences and case specifics is fundamental to our success in the O.R. We can’t remember everything for every surgeon, and preference cards aren’t always up to date. So, we take notes. And having a notebook handy can be a real life saver when you just can’t remember exactly how Dr. OCD likes his room set up, or the way he wants the instruments on the mayo stand.

The best notebook is going to be one that is pocket-sized and lightweight. Anything too large or bulky will be difficult to keep up with. Here are a few good options:

Five Star Fat Lil’ Spiral Notebook – my personal favorite. It’s a little bigger than the others listed, but has 200 sheets of paper per book! You won’t run out of room for a long time! It may feel bulky due to its size.

Mead Small Spiral Memo Pad – very light and pocket-sized, 60 sheets of paper per book. Comes in a variety of colors.

Staples Top Bound Memo Book – fits well in your pocket, 75 sheets of paper per book. Comes in a variety of colors.

#4. Compression Socks

Compression socks are designed to provide pressure to your legs to improve blood flow, and reduce pain and swelling. They come in a variety of different brands, colors, designs, and amounts of compression. Which means you can really get the sock that is perfect for you.

If you aren’t wearing compression socks already, you don’t know what your legs have been missing! I started wearing them regularly about two years ago, and now I can’t go to work without them. I found that out the hard way the other day when I was running late for work. I had overslept and had 4 minutes to get out the door. So I skipped the compression socks and just wore regular socks. That was a bad idea – I MISSED my compression socks! I definitely noticed that I wasn’t wearing them. I really like wearing them because my legs aren’t as weary at the end of my shift and they don’t ache like they did before I started wearing compression socks regularly.

My favorite brand of compression sock is SB Sox. You can choose either 15-20mmHg or 20-30mmHg. They come in a variety of colors, and they aren’t difficult to put on – you won’t spend 15 minutes putting your socks on in the morning! – and I don’t get hot wearing them all day.

#5. Pens

If you’ve been around my blog or Facebook page for any length of time, you know I love my pens. Maybe I’m a little addicted and a little possessive, but a good pen is worth holding on to!

If you haven’t tried out Papermate’s Inkjoy Gel pen, you are missing out! I love these pens. They have a variety of colors (or you can just get them in black or blue), the gel doesn’t smear like some gel pens do, and they’re easy to hold while you write. It’s definitely a pen that makes you say, “That’s a nice pen!” whenever you use it.

In our profession, we have to have a pen at all times. So it may as well be one that you like and enjoy using!

#6. Scrubs

Some (maybe most) of you have to wear scrubs supplied by your facility. That’s the preferred practice in the O.R. But I had to include scrubs in this list, because scrubs are what we wear! And, some facilities (like mine) still allow scrubs to be worn in from home. If you are selecting your own scrubs for purchase, look for scrubs made from a good material (you don’t want a clingy material that will make you sweat!), that have plenty of pockets, and that stay in place whether you’re reaching for something on a top shelf, or bending over to pick something up off of the floor.

My favorite brand of scrubs to wear is MC2 by Med Couture. The material doesn’t make me hot – running around gets me hot enough, I don’t need my clothes making it worse! And they really do stay in place with all of the reaching up and down that I have to do every day. And, you can get a set (scrub top and pants) from Amazon for $44.98. That’s a great deal! Put these scrubs to the test, I’m sure you’ll love them as much as I do!

If you want more help finding your perfect pair of scrubs, you can read a detailed review guide of the best women’s scrubs for 2019 here.

That’s my top 6 essentials for working in the O.R.

Shoes and scrubs are definitely a must. Please don’t go to work without them! And while today’s list focused on things you can buy, there are plenty of other things that money can never buy. Stay tuned for Essentials for Working in the O.R. {Part 2}, where we’ll discuss the essentials necessary for a successful O.R. career that aren’t available on a shelf at a store. You can’t buy them – you either learn them, or you already have them.

Until next time,

Melanie

P.S. I never recommend anything that I don’t personally use and enjoy. If I haven’t tried it, I won’t tell you about it. I’ve also written a detailed review of my experience in a CNOR prep course and why I loved it here.

Hey! I like hearing from you! What is your one thing that you just HAVE to have every day at work? Share it!