There’s something strangely intimate and telling about what you carry in your work bag—especially when you’re a nurse. After all, our days (or nights) are spent balancing urgent care, documentation, emotional support, and moments of breathless multitasking. What you bring with you says a lot about how you prepare, how you cope, and yes—how you survive.

Today, I’m sharing what’s currently inside my nursing bag. It’s a mix of essentials, quirks, and quiet comforts—curated through trial and error, endless shifts, and self-care learned the hard way. This is a peek into a nurse’s portable universe. Minus my lunch bag, here’s what I never leave home without:

Nursing is half preparation, half improvisation. These are the non-negotiables that help me feel just a little more ready for whatever a shift throws at me.

Cambridge Pocket Clinician: Acute Stroke Care – A vital quick-reference, especially in stroke units where every second counts. Mine is worn from use, tabs sticking out like tiny flags of survival.

A variety of pens – Because you never know which one the ward will eat next. I carry a silver one (smooth flow), a pink one (because why not?), and even a heart-topped pen that adds a spark of joy to charting.

STABILO Highlighter – My go-to for fast-tracking key info on printed notes or patient summaries.

Medical scissors – Classic yellow-handled, safety tip, always borrowed by colleagues. It’s like a rite of passage.

Sticky tabs & page markers – My books and printouts are never without them. It’s how I turn chaos into something manageable.

Cheeky Panda Bamboo Wipes – Biodegradable, fragrance-free, and surprisingly durable. A small luxury for midday wipe-downs when the shift has been… a lot.

Hygienix Hand Sanitizer Spray – With 99.99% germ kill, this is basically holy water in a hospital setting.

Tucked inside a pearly pouch that says “WISH U HAVE A COLORFUL LIFE”—because honestly, I need that reminder too—is a humble yet hardworking selection of beauty and comfort items.

Pixi On-the-Glow Bronze Stick – Easy swipe and go. Just enough warmth to bring life back to my face on a 13-hour shift.

Vitress Hair Cuticle Coat – Because helmet hair is real (hello, scrub caps). E.L.F. Poreless Putty Primer – One of the best budget finds for keeping my skin from looking too tired.

MISSHA BB Cream – Lightweight, with just the right coverage to make me look alive.

Lip balm, lipstick, deodorant (Boots) – For when I need to feel human again during break time.

Mini comb and extra ponytail holder – Hair maintenance = mental reset.

Oral-B Black Mega Pack toothbrushes – Always stocked. Always necessary. Toothpaste (Comvita Manuka Honey) – Yes, it’s fancy. Yes, it’s worth it. That minty + honey hit is such a comfort after long hours.

Stanley tumbler (white) – Adorned with magnets, stickers, and a dangling charm—hydration with personality. Pink & yellow glitter Starbucks tumbler – For days when I need both caffeine and cuteness in my life.

iPad with anatomical stickers – My pink iPad is my mini workstation. Decorated with brain and heart stickers because, well, I’m both a nurse and a nerd. Pink tablet stand and charger – Always plugged in, always ready—just like me (or so I try).

The Backpack That Carries It All

My current work bag is a bright orange SuperDry backpack, hard to miss in any staff room. I love it. It’s sturdy, roomy, and full of personality—just like the charm hanging on it (a soft pink bear keychain that’s been with me through many shifts). Inside, everything has a home. Organized chaos. Comfort within the clinical.

Why It Matters

These things may look ordinary to someone else, but to me, they’re tools, comfort, and small pieces of sanity.

Having these with me is more than being prepared—it’s about creating a kind of ritual around care. I care for others, yes. But with this bag, I also remind myself to care for me.

Whether it’s a quick spritz of Victoria’s Secret body mist to refresh, or the tiny act of highlighting a sentence that might just save a life—everything in this bag has a purpose.

And if you’re a fellow nurse reading this—what’s in your work bag? What comforts do you carry in between the chaos? What makes you feel more like you in the middle of 12-hour shifts?

Note: This post is not sponsored.

Every item mentioned here is something I genuinely use and personally carry with me on shift. No promotions—just the honest contents of a nurse’s real-life work bag.