Nursing Graduate Essentials

Do you have plans to attend grad school? Only 17.3% of postsecondary students are enrolled in graduate school. While this still amounts to millions of students every year, chances are there aren’t many graduate students in your immediate circle of family and friends. Going on to complete a graduate degree can be an incredibly rewarding experience, but you may not know what to expect. If you plan on going to graduate school, are you ready for what graduate school has in store?

Get ready by knowing the essential tools for it!  How do you get ready? Most students and graduates will tell you that preparation is key. Be prepared to have all the things or tools you need before starting graduate school. Graduate school is a challenging yet rewarding journey and having the right tools and supplies can make a significant difference in your productivity and overall experience.

The academe is full of external and unspoken pressures. When you’re well-prepared for school, those external and unspoken pressures will lessen. As a Herzing graduate who finished my master’s degree in the Summer of 2024, here’s the list of your graduate school essentials that helped me!

Laptop

A reliable computer is a must-have for all online discussions, exams, quizzes and homework that you may encounter in your academic journey. It makes all the difference to having a reliable computer. It makes it necessary for efficient multitasking, smooth processing of various applications, and easy handling of academic tasks.

An iPad or a tablet can be used in conjunction with your laptop. An iPad or a tablet can be helpful for those who prefer a lighter and more portable device for their studies. If you prefer e-books, having an iPad or a tablet makes a lot of sense.

Microsoft Office

Writing papers is a significant part of graduate school. Every graduate program is slightly different in its writing requirements, but most graduate programs require students to write substantial research papers, often including a thesis or dissertation. Although you may not have all that work for your nursing graduate program, you will still need to write papers.

While the Microsoft Office suite is helpful for your graduate studies, Microsoft Word and Microsoft PowerPoint are crucial! You’ll need some computer programming to help you write your papers, presentations and all other types of homework!

Chargers and Power Banks

Do you remember all the papers I talked about in the previous step? Well, to do all that work, you will need to keep your chargers and power banks with you at all times. You’re going to need them in your daily life as a graduate student. You never know when your phone, tablet or laptop will suddenly run out of charge.

Flash Drives

Having a flash drive on hand just saves the day! It is useful for sharing larger files with your classmates, colleagues and instructors. It is also helpful for carrying out presentations – you can literally have your presentations in your hands before class or an important meeting. These days preferably having a USB-C compatible flash drive is helpful.

All-In-One Printer

Having your own printer is a must especially if you have to submit anything in hard copy format. It is so convenient to be able to print off what you need immediately when you need it. While it may be a substantial cost upfront, it is an investment that is worth it in the end!

Stethoscope

I bet you were wondering when the nursing-specific essentials would show up on this list. There is a reason why this is the first nursing item that I brought up. A stethoscope is important for graduate students in the healthcare field such as MSN in the nurse practitioner track or Master of Public Health.

First Aid Kit

This is also essential for graduate students in the healthcare field. You never know when either you or a patient will need something. While you are working, you probably will have items on-site, but if I have learned anything, it is ‘rather be safe than sorry’. You would rather have something on hand and not need it than need it and not have it.

If you have to attend live classes on-campus or go to clinical sites, save yourself the trouble of getting sick from the cold and flu viruses all around you. Wear a face mask and use hand sanitizers!

Noise-Cancelling Headphones

Whether you’re at home or school, and you need some quiet time, trying to block out your classmate or family who’s on a call, or just want to work with white noise in the background, noise-canceling headphones definitely come in handy during grad school.

Planner

Whether it’s physical or digital, having a planner helps you stay organized. Personally, I prefer physically writing down my schedule and appointments. For those who like typing or tapping into their laptops, tablets, or smartphones, different calendar apps are abundant. It was (and still is) a lifesaver having a calendar with my important classes and deadlines.

Water Bottle

You need a good and reusable water bottle to stay hydrated because grad school classes can be long at times. Being dehydrated can cause headaches, dizziness and/or tiredness so make sure that you drink plenty during the day.

Blue Light-Blocking Glasses

If you spend a lot of time using your computers or tablets, having a blue light-blocking pair of glasses is an important investment for the protection of your own eyes. According to the Mayo Clinic, blue light exposure at night can potentially cause sleep issues by shifting your circadian rhythm. This same article says that research has suggested that up to 69% of computer users report eyestrain, also known as computer vision syndrome.

Business Casual and Professional Clothes

You’re a professional. You need your 9-5 styled business casual and professional clothes in your wardrobe to wear for classes and sometimes work. Make sure that you dress according to your role.