What always makes it back into my pockets after I clean them every month or so:
1. PDA (Tungsten T), but if you're not a computer type, you can get most stuff in paper version. For PDA:
a. ePocrates
b. Harrison's for the Palm
c. Washington Manual
d. 5 Minute Clinical Consult
e. Sanford Guide to antimicrobial therapy
f. medical dictionary
g. med calc with more calucations that you'll ever use
e. other random stuff including my schedule, important phone numbers, locker combiantions, door codes, pager numbers, etc.
2. Maxwell's -- more because it's lightweight
3. Some sort of small notebook or scrap paper for jotting things down
4. pen light
5. favorite pen x2
6. free drug pen to "lend" (and not care if I get back)
7. GUM (I'm definitely a gum chewer, plus you'll be amazed how many friends you can make with gum
8. Cash/Credit card -- especially if you're a woman and probably don't carry your wallet with you. I keep cash in the back "folder" of my small note book. There's also my "lab coat credit card" which is a MC accepted at the subway and bagelmann's nearby, but which I also don't care that it's not in my wallet normally. This bugs my husband, and if it came to it, I'd probably open some extra credit card too simply keep in my lab coat. I like the idea of a cigarette holder. Or a business card thing might work, too.
9. Stethoscope (around my neck, not in my pocket).
10. chapstick
11. alcohol squares
Things that come and go depending on the rotation:
1. daily flow sheets for tracking daily labs, vitals, and problems for each patient. I ditched my clipboard and just started folding the papers lengthwise and stick then in my pocket, or the stack is just as easy to care as a clipboard if I want. I usually staple the flowsheets to copies of my admission H&P for the patient. It's easy to keep all the info together, but once the patient has been discharged, the file can go in my locker.
2. Other quick reference cards. I am particularly fond on the Medical Info Systems cards (
http://www.medicalinfosystems.com). They have a million different ones including peds normal values, abdominal pain, etc.
3. Current Clinical Strategeies for the appropriate rotation. The IM and surgery ones has admission orders and DDX for common chief complaints. The OB/Gyn one is great to read while you're sitting here and there. These are avaible in PDF format for your PDA, but I find this format extremely non user-friendly (very slow and can't search) that I buy the paper version.
4. gronola bars or peanutbutter/crackers
I've not had reason to carry my own oto-/opthalmoscope, but some places don't really have then available. I also lost my reflex hammer during my second month of medicine. I never replaced it, and use my stethoscope when necessary.
If you have an option about your coat, I highly suggest one with pockets on the inside, too.
