6 Best Nurse Pocket Organizers For Nursing Shifts

6 Best Nurse Pocket Organizers For Nursing Shifts

How do you keep your nursing accessories organized during a nursing shift?

If you are like many busy nurses, you may be stuffing your pockets – which isn’t very organized at all. Not to mention, it looks very unprofessional for a nurse to be shuffling through their pockets for one of many nurse tools and accessories they need throughout the shift.  (I’ve been that nurse too, believe me!)

The reality is that nursing shifts are already insanely busy as they are. Do you want to keep making a dozen extra trips around the unit for things you keep forgetting?

How many times have you had to walk back to the nurse’s station, supply room, or med room for things such as:

I can’t tell you how many times I had to leave a patient’s room to go back and find something that I had forgotten.  Especially in my early nursing career days.

Until one day, it finally dawned on me that many of these supplies could be kept organized right within an arms reach at all times.  I can’t even tell you how much time that saved me!

I was never a fan of the “fanny pack” look (although, believe it or not, fanny packs are coming back into style here in Los Angeles!).  But my goal has always been to provide excellent care to may patients, so if a “fanny pack” helps me achieve that, then I was all for it!

Besides, as a new nurse grad, I needed all the help and support I could get.  And now, almost eight years into my nursing career, I still use a nurse pocket organizer just like #3 on this list!

Have you ever thought about using a nurse pocket organizer or a fanny pack?

These are simple solutions to preventing unnecessary trips back to the supply room for random things you forgot to grab.

Being a great nurse involves managing your time well.  Nurses already have enough on their plates when taking care of patients during their shifts. Less unnecessary trips for supplies = more time for patient care.

Nurse pocket organizers also help keep nursing shifts less stressful.  Knowing you have the supplies you need within your reach at all times will not only keep you calmer in stressful situations, but you will appear more professional as well.

(This post contains affiliate links.  You can find my disclosure page here.)

The best nurse pocket organizers for nurses:

1.  New Gear Medical – Hip Pack Organizer

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This product is one of the larger nurse pocket organizers on the market.  The nurses who have used this say they love it because they can keep everything need with them.

For those who want the extra space to carry more nurse accessories on them and even a small notebook, this one may be right for you.

More about this product:

  • Hands-free carrying system- keep key items at your fingertips
  • Dimensions: 14″ L x 7.5″ H, Weight: 1 lbs. – Fits up to a 44-inch waist
  • Antimicrobial technology
  • Water-resistant

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2.  Valencia Med 2 Sided – 9 Pocket Nurse Organizer Utility Belt

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This is product is also highly rated by customers for durability.  It is a more compact nurse pocket organizer – however, it still has nine pockets, including one zippered pocket (great for keeping cash & credit cards). You can see from the photo that it is still large enough to hold a cell phone.

More about this product:
  • Specifically designed for nurses
  • 9 Pockets (one zippered-two netted)
  • Belt length: can extend to 42 inches
  • Organizer size: 6 x 8 inches.
  • Double-Sided/Reversible- so you can wear on either side
  • (Items in the photo do not come with this product).
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3.  Prestige Medical Pink Belt Loop Organizer Kit

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Keep in mind that this product does not come with a belt, but it fits easily in most scrub top pockets or the cargo pocket of most scrub pants.  May work better for nurses who prefer not to have the traditional “fanny pack” appearance.  It does have a belt loop on the back that fits most belts.

This cute pink nurse pocket organizer is very compact- but just might be the right amount of space you need for your supplies.

This particular product also makes an excellent gift for a nursing student or new nurse graduate because it also comes with the products shown in the photo.

Also included in this nurse organizer:

  • 4 Pocket Pal with Belt Loop
  • Includes Scissors
  • Forceps
  • 3 Color Pen and Penlight

More about this product:

  • Product Dimensions: 6.2 x 4.5 x 0.5 inches

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4.  KangaPak Nursing Organizer Belt – 9 Pocket Utility Pouch

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For the nurse that wants a lot of storage – this is a nurse organizer, you may want to consider.  Many of the reviews mention that it can fit a cell phone as well as keys – along with other important nurse supplies needed during the workday.
Keep in mind that although it is made of durable material, the more you put in, the heavier it will get.   Also, it does not have skinny “pen-style” pockets – if that is important to you.   (Supplies in photo not included)
More about this product:
  • Sits on the waist
  • Has 9 mesh pockets so you can easily see everything inside
  • Elastic belt adjusts to most waistlines and moves with your body throughout the day -made of breathable, machine-washable canvas
  • Fits close to the body 
  • Dimensions: 9 × 8.5 × 2 inches, belt measures 24 inches at its shortest, 37 inches fully extended, weight 6.5 oz
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5.  Pocket Pal II Medical Instrument Organizer/Pocket Protector

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This product is a true pocket protector – it does not come with a belt, but it fits easily in most scrub top pockets or the cargo pocket of most scrub pants.

It also fits very well in lab coats – it is simple, and keeps your pockets clean and organized!  You won’t lose your pens with this nifty organizer.   It fits essential items that you need in your packets and makes them easy to find versus digging around in your pockets.

More about this product:

  • Snap open belt loop reinforced with hook and loop adhesive
  • Velcro restraining strap secures scissors
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6.  Cherokee Women’s Nurse Apron Organizer Belt

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This product had a lot of great reviews- and it comes in several other colors as well.   This apron-style nurse organizer easily helps to organize pens, highlighters, flushes, scissors, and alcohol pads right at your fingertips.  The belt is adjustable and fits unobtrusively on the hip.

More about this product:

  • Neoprene
  • Soft washable neoprene
  • Apron organizer belt
  • Has a 52-inch adjustable belt
  • Quick-release buckle
  • Has eight convenient pockets and one tape loop
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How do you keep your nurse accessories and supplies organized during nursing shifts?  We love hearing from readers – please leave a comment!

 

Additional articles you may be interested in:

The 7 Most Important Nurse Supplies You Need!

The 7 Most Important Nurse Supplies You Need!

(This post about important nurse supplies contains affiliate links. You can find our disclosure page here.)

What are the most important nurse supplies you need as a nurse?

I am a registered nurse who has worked all over the hospital, taking care of E.R., Med Surg, and ICU patients. As a result, I have seen it all and then some. And I still see new things that shock me every day! That is why it is so important to be prepared with the correct nurse supplies you need to succeed.

This list is excellent if you are looking for gifts for nurses (especially a new graduate nurse!). Or if you are looking to keep your professional nurse game on point!

The following items are linked directly to the product on Amazon.   I love purchasing my nurse supplies from Amazon for three reasons:  free shipping with Amazon prime, I can find the best-discounted price available, and, most importantly, the EASY return policy.

Here are are the seven most important nurse supplies you need:

 

#1. Stethoscope

Whether trying to obtain a manual blood pressure or listening to lung sounds, every nurse needs to have a stethoscope. I bought a 3M Littmann Classic in nursing school, and I have been using it ever since. They are available in many colors and have a “non-chill” rim, so you don’t shock your patients with a cold stethoscope.

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#2. Raptor Shears

The Raptor Shears look like a fancy pair of scissors. But they are one of the most practical and essential nurse supplies. These functional and handy shears are six tools wrapped into one:

  • medical shears
  • strap cutter
  • ring cutter
  • ruler
  • oxygen tank wrench
  • carbide glass breaker

Many nurses I work with in the emergency room have the Raptor Shears, and we use them frequently in emergencies. You can hook it to a belt or secure it using the pocket clip.   It also has a 25-year limited warranty and will last you throughout your nursing career or longer. This is high on my list of great gifts for nurses!

 

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#3. Fanny pack or Nurse Pocket Organizer

Otherwise known as the “medical gear hip pack,” the fanny pack is a staple of the nurse uniform. Every nurse needs a way to carry their most important nurse supplies with them at all times.

When I started working as a new graduate nurse, I used a fanny pack every day to carry syringes, alcohol swabs, pens, a penlight, my notes, and extra needles and syringes. But after about six months, I got comfortable on the unit and stopped using it (mostly because I felt a little dorky).

But just this past year, I pulled it out and started using it again. And you know what? I do a lot less walking back to the supply room because I can carry the items I need in my fanny pack. And I always have my supplies on me when I need them fast. Embrace your inner nurse dork with a fanny pack!

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Additional recommended reading:  The 6 Best Nursing Pocket Organizers and Fanny Packs

 

#4. Retractable 4 color pens

These retractable four-color pens are great if you need something to stand out in your work notes. Or use different colors for different patients when taking reports. These pens are also great for color-coding notes and flashcards when studying for certifications! I always have a few in my work bag and one on me while at work.

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#5. Penlight

It is essential to have a nurse penlight when assessing extraocular movements. And these are especially great because they have pupil sizes right on the pen for more accurate assessment!

I got used to carrying a penlight when working on a neurology/stroke unit and needed them to check my patient’s neurological status at least every 2 hours during my shift. You can’t complete a neurological exam correctly without them!

(If you are looking for great gifts for nurses, a fanny pack with a penlight and retractable color pens in it would be so perfect!)

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#6. Apple Watch

The Apple Watch was a big purchase for me, but I use it several times a day during my 12-hour shift, and it is so handy!

While working, I can use the Apple Watch as a stopwatch, a timer, and I can set the alarm to remind myself of tasks I might forget when my shift gets crazy busy. I can also receive and send text messages on it without carrying my cell phone with me.

But my favorite thing about the Apple Watch is that it records how much I stand, exercise, and move throughout my shift (it breaks them down into colorful rings)  and tells me how many total steps I get in a shift.

My record so far is 22,000 steps during a single shift! (Those who know me well know that I am a big advocate of nurses staying healthy and taking good care of themselves!)

 

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#7. Vein Finder

As an E.R. nurse, it is a regular practice for me to start several I.V.s a day. Sometimes up to 7 or 8 in a single shift! For patients who are a difficult “stick” (as we call it in nursing), it is so helpful to have a vein finder in my back pocket.

Patients need an IV stat to give them the proper medications and IV fluids they need.   You could look for a vein finder on the unit, but why waste that precious time when you can carry one with you?

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Additional Recommended Reading: