What’s in Your Scrub Pocket? 15 Must-Have Items Nurses Swear By

It’s not just a uniform – it’s a mobile survival kit. Nurses are known for having everything you could possibly need tucked away in their scrub pockets. We asked around, and here’s what real nurses keep close at hand:

1. Trauma shears – For cutting anything from dressings to seatbelts.

2. Penlight – Because pupil checks don’t wait.

3. 3 pens (minimum!) – And you still end the shift with none.

4. Notebook or mini cheat sheet – For quick references on drug names or protocols.

5. Alcohol swabs – Not just for cleaning – they’re miracle fixes for marker stains too.

6. Hand cream – A lifesaver after endless sanitiser.

7. Energy bar or mint – When lunch is a distant dream.

8. Phone charger or power bank – For long night shifts.

9. Lip balm – Hospitals = dry air central.

10. Tiny hand sanitiser – Because you can never be too clean.

11. Safety pins – You’ll be the hero who saves a broken scrub top.

12. Name badge and ID – That one time you forget it? Never again.

13. Gloves (stashed spares) – Just in case.

14. A little good luck charm – A pebble, a bracelet, or a note from home.

15. That one weird item – A stethoscope cosy? A stress duck? A tiny bottle of Tabasco? We don’t judge.

Your pockets say a lot about you. Practical. Prepared. And always ready.