🎒10 Essential items for Medical School Clinical Rotations

When I got to medical school, I bought a lot of unnecessary things that I never ended up using. So I thought I would put together a list of things that I actually use every day as a student in my clinical years, so hopefully you don't waste money like I did.

Check out my updated list here: https://kit.co/ChrisQuelch/clinical-rotations

🎒 My current bag:

My current daily driver is the Nordace Siena backpack. Besides being the most comfortable backpack I have ever owned, it has a few smart features that I have found useful, including a built in retractable key fob and charge port. I also love that it opens up wide like a camera bag, and stands upright when you set it down. Make sure you check out this video where I take you through everything in detail.

⚡️ Power banks

In hospital the cell-service sucks, which will tank your battery life. Power banks are a must, but I hate carrying cables because they always get tangled or forgotten. That's why I love my Anker Magsafe Battery Banks. They charge via USB-C, and no cables means they're really easy to wipe down and clean at the end of the day. If you're not on iphone I also use a standard Anker PowerCore inside my backpack.

📕 Notebook and pens

You will definitely need somewhere to quickly write a note without pulling out your phone or a big clipboard. During rounds I use them to write down my patient to-do list. I use Moleskine plain notebooks because they're cheap, and fit perfectly in a scrub pocket. Also strongly recommend you get some fine ball-point pens for charting, the most popular with physicians is the Pilot G2 0.5.

📋 Clipboard

You'll need a clipboard to take notes on the patients you're seeing to be able to present them to your Attending. Put a few sheets of blank paper and some lab values cheat sheets inside and you're set for success. I invested in a medical clipboard that folds in half to protect my patient notes, as well as fit in a scrub pocket!

🔦 Penlight

This is one of the easiest things you can buy to impress your Attending/Consultant. Most students overlook the importance of having a penlight. I use it to check light reflexes and look inside cavities. I would stay away from the cheap disposable ones, they never last.

🔑 Padlock

You definitely need a padlock in med school for your locker in anatomy labs, the hospital, or for the gym on the way home. I've done a lot of research over the years (yes I know I'm weird) and I've landed on ABUS. They make solid but affordable locks, go for the 30mm if you want to save a bit of money. Just don't buy a masterlock whatever you do ☠️

🩺 Stethoscope

A staple for every medical student. I always bring it to rotations - yes, even on psychiatry! You could go fancy with a Littmann Cardiology IV, but I've been well served by my Littmann Classic iii.

🎧 Noise cancelling headphones

My Bose noise cancelling headphones are easily the best investment I have made while in medical school. By cutting out distractions and focusing my mind, I have been able to study hundreds more hours than I would have without them. Mine have lasted 6 years and I still have all-day battery life.

👔 Quality lanyard and ID holder

I don't use the lanyards that go around your neck. If I'm bending over a patient trying to take bloods, the last thing I want is to have a lanyard in the way. I have a heavy duty retractable lanyard that goes on my hip, with a double sided holder for my ID and a credit card.

I hope you enjoyed reading this post, or found it useful in some way, and wish you the very best of luck on your journey. If you need a hand, you can always reach out to me via Twitter/YouTube or in the comments down below 👇