Inside My Real Home Health Nurse Bag: What I Carry Every Day

You can tell a lot about a nurse by their bag, not because of the brand or the color, but because of what’s hidden inside. You'll see it by the supplies tucked into side pockets, the items that always seem to go missing, and the tools held together with duct tape even though they should have been replaced months ago.

In home health, the bag is far more than a container for supplies. It becomes a mobile office, a rolling stockroom, and a backup plan for every kind of curveball a visit can throw. Over time, the packing list shifts away from what looks polished and settles into what truly works in practice. What I carry has earned its place through trial and error, and each piece serves a purpose that makes the bag worth its weight.

Essentials That Always Come Along

Stethoscope
A reliable stethoscope is the single item I could never do without. I use a Littmann because it has stood up to rain, cold, and more than one backseat spill, and I keep spare ear tips stashed in the front pocket for the days when the unexpected happens.

BP Cuff (Manual and Automatic)
Carrying both versions gives me flexibility. The automatic cuff speeds things up during routine visits, but the manual one becomes indispensable when batteries die or when I need extra accuracy, especially with patients who have irregular heart rhythms. Plus when you're taking vitals and the auto-bp cuff is being funky, you can do manual one so that you ensure you're entering the right numbers into the home health software.

Thermometers
A forehead scanner is quick and convenient, but it isn’t always the most reliable, which is why I also keep a simple digital oral thermometer for times when precision matters or when a client prefers something familiar.

Gloves and Hand Sanitizer
At least two glove sizes are always packed, along with a bottle of sanitizer clipped to the strap and another hidden deeper in the bag so I never run out halfway through the day.

Basic Wound Care Supplies
I keep everything separated into labeled zip bags—gauze, tape, tegaderm, ABD pads, skin prep, and alcohol wipes—so they’re easy to grab quickly without digging through the entire bag.

Blank Forms
Even though most documentation lives on software, I carry paper copies of consent forms, visit logs, and patient instructions, because technology fails, printers jam, and sometimes the fastest solution is still pen and paper.

Tools I Don’t Use Every Day, But Keep Anyway

Backup Batteries and a Power Bank
They rarely come out, but when my tablet dies mid-note in the middle of nowhere, they become priceless.

Paper Measuring Tape

Light, flat, and surprisingly useful for tracking wound size, swelling, or skin changes over time.

Two Clipboards with Storage
One holds the paperwork I need that day, and the other collects whatever patients hand me—medication cards, handwritten notes, lists they want faxed to the doctor. Having a second clipboard keeps things from becoming a mess. Always print out some templates from your home care software to make sure you have it on hand in case you don't have service, that way you can still document from the point of care.Emergency Snack

Protein bars, almonds, or jerky are my standbys. They survive the car, don’t melt, and can be eaten without putting everything down.

Things I Stopped Carrying

Lotion Bottles
Everyone said I’d want it, but it leaked, went unused, and just took up space. Hand sanitizer covers me when I need something quick.

Drug Reference Book
It was too heavy, outdated too fast, and unnecessary when everything I need is on my phone.

Extra Suture Removal Kits
One is plenty. If I ever need more than that in a single day, the problem is bigger than my bag.

Odd Items That Prove Themselves Useful

Doorstop
It solves problems I didn’t expect, like keeping air moving, holding pets back, or simply propping a tricky door open.

Cheap Reading Glasses
Not for me, but for clients who forget theirs. Being able to hand them a pair so they can read instructions or sign a form makes a difference.

Safety Pins and Hair Ties
They’ve held gowns together, tied Foley bags, patched scrubs, and worked as makeshift bandage helpers.

Sharpies
I use them constantly to label med boxes, mark dressings, and keep track of equipment, and they often do the job better than a regular pen.

Conclusion

My bag is far from pretty. It’s heavy, scuffed, and stained, but every item inside has earned its place through actual visits and real moments with patients, not just theory or training. For anyone stepping into the field, don’t make the mistake of overpacking. Begin with the basics, let your experience guide the rest, and choose a bag with wheels or a padded strap, you’ll be grateful for the support by the end of your second week.