Top 10 Must-Haves for Newly Registered Nurses

10. Xerox copy of all important documents including Diploma, TOR, PRC License, Board Certificate, Board Rating, Certificates of Seminars/Trainings attended and resume.

9. White clinical uniform of your own choice. See: Uniform Designs for Nurses

8. ID pictures of all shapes, sizes and background colors. Whether it's 1x1, 2x2, passport size, 2x2 with green background, 1x1 with white background, corporate or casual attire, Matured Experienced Nurse or Enthusiastic Fresh Graduate look. You need them all.

7. Umbrella. The freak show that is our weather is certainly unpredictable. Whether you are avoiding the sun or trying hard not to get soaked, an umbrella is your best buddy while commuting. And let's face it, majority of nurses don't have their own cars. With non-existent salary, we can't afford one.

6. Your own personalized stamp bearing your Full Name, R.N and Lic. No.  Personal choices are Shiny Stamps and Trodat Stamps available in leading National Bookstore nationwide (P.S. Am not getting paid to advertise ff. brands. Although I should.)

5. Dedication. If you are lucky enough to use the stamp that you have just requested to be custom made, it probably means you are offering your services for free. Nobody will survive a week working in a hospital minus the proper compensation without a fairly high amount of dedication coursing through their selfless humanitarian veins.

4. Lightweight, non-tormenting shoes. Yes, they look butt ugly. But 'lo and behold, you will worship their hidden powers of comfort. Especially when you're working in a busy ward where sitting without doing anything is considered a mortal sin and there is a shortage in monoblock chairs. Cheap imitations are not only acceptable but v. wise buys indeed.

3. Hospital backers. It's not what you know but who you know. It's the absolute truth. Learn it, love it, live it. If you can.

2. Tons of trainings and seminars if unpaid work experience is not your thing. Fret not, young Florence Nightingales. There might be a non-existent demand for nurses in the country but there are endless opportunities in the land of Trainings and Seminars! From First Aid to BLS, ACLS, BST, ECG, PALS, ETC, WTF... You name it, they have it.

and the No. 1 Must-Have for a Newly Registered Nurse is..

1. SALARY. Twenty years and counting of being dependent on allowance given by parents. Is this ever going to end? Unfortunately, if you are a nurse, only time will tell.