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October 28, 2026

The CNA Starter Kit: Best Scrubs, Shoes, Watch & Stethoscope for Your First Shift

A budget pick and a step-up pick for every item a new CNA actually needs before day one — scrubs, non-slip shoes, a watch with a second hand, and a stethoscope — plus why a few of them are worth upgrading and most aren't.

What you actually need for your first shift

If you just passed your CNA exam, here's the short, honest list of what to buy before day one: scrubs, non-slip shoes, and a watch with a second hand. A stethoscope and compression socks are optional, but genuinely useful once you're working. That's it — nothing on this list is required for the exam itself. If you haven't tested yet, see our separate guide on what to bring to your CNA skills exam, which covers the official required-items list (it's shorter than people think). Below, we compare a budget pick and a step-up pick for each category, so you can see where it's worth spending more and where it genuinely isn't.

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Scrubs

Most facilities require scrubs on day one, and many have a specific color code — confirm it with your new employer before you buy, since returning the wrong color later is a hassle nobody wants mid-onboarding. Get at least two sets so you're not doing laundry every single night. For most new CNAs, a basic, inexpensive set is genuinely fine — scrubs take a beating in this job no matter what you spend. If you want something that holds up better over repeated washing and 12-hour shifts, a recognized healthcare uniform brand like Cherokee tends to keep its color and shape longer.
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Budget Pick

Nursing Scrubs

The basic, inexpensive option most new CNAs start with. Gets the job done for day one.

Shop →Step-Up Pick

Cherokee Workwear Scrubs Set

A well-known healthcare uniform brand — holds up better over repeated washing and long shifts.

Shop →

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Non-Slip Shoes

Non-slip shoes aren't optional — most facilities require them, and a few states' skills evaluations require them at the test itself too (check your own state's candidate handbook if you haven't tested yet). Comfort matters more here than almost anything else on this list: you'll be on your feet for 8–12 hours a shift. A basic non-slip shoe meets most facilities' policy without a big price tag. If your feet are your top concern — and after a few shifts, they usually are — a dedicated healthcare work-shoe line with real arch support, like Skechers' Work collection, is the upgrade most working CNAs say was worth it.
Budget Pick

Non-Slip Shoes

Meets most facilities' non-slip requirement without a big price tag.

Shop →Step-Up Pick

Skechers Work Arch Fit

A dedicated healthcare work-shoe line with real arch support — the upgrade most working CNAs say was worth it.

Shop →

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Watch with a Second Hand

A watch with a second hand is the one piece of equipment that's genuinely required — you need it to count a resident's pulse or respirations for a full 60 seconds, and most facilities expect you to have your own (a phone usually isn't an acceptable substitute on shift, same as during your exam). Most CNAs go with a simple clip-on "nurse watch" that pins to a lapel or pocket, since scrub tops don't always have a convenient spot for a wristwatch. If you'd rather wear something on your wrist, a basic analog watch with a visible second hand — like a Timex Easy Reader — works just as well.
Most Common Pick

Clip-On Nurse Watch

Clips to a lapel or pocket — the most common choice since it doesn't get in the way during hands-on care.

Shop →Wrist-Watch Alternative

Timex Easy Reader

A real wristwatch option if you'd rather not clip something to your scrubs — large numerals, visible second hand.

Shop →

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Stethoscope

A stethoscope isn't required for most CNA jobs — vitals like blood pressure are often taken with equipment the facility provides, and CNAs aren't always expected to auscultate. That said, plenty of CNAs buy one anyway, either because their facility prefers it or because it's genuinely useful for practicing blood pressure and heart/lung sounds before and after you're hired. A basic stethoscope is all you need starting out — there's no reason to spend premium money on something you may only use occasionally. If you're planning to go on to CMA, LPN, or RN later, a higher-end stethoscope like the 3M Littmann Classic III is a worthwhile one-time investment, since you'll likely still be using it years from now.
Budget Pick

MDF Acoustica Stethoscope

A basic, well-known entry-level stethoscope. Plenty for practicing vitals and occasional on-the-job use.

Shop →Step-Up Pick

3M Littmann Classic III

The industry-standard stethoscope many nurses and students upgrade to — worth it if you plan further training down the road.

Shop →

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Compression Socks (the one nobody tells you about)

Compression socks aren't required anywhere, and no one mentions them during training — but ask any CNA with a few months of 12-hour shifts behind them, and most will tell you to get a pair before your legs make the decision for you.
Worth Getting Early

Compression Socks

Most CNAs don't buy these until after a few rough shifts. Worth getting ahead of that.

Shop →

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Do I need to buy all of this before my first day?

No. Scrubs, non-slip shoes, and a watch with a second hand are the three things most facilities actually expect on day one. A stethoscope and compression socks are useful but optional — plenty of CNAs buy those a few weeks in, once they know what their specific job actually requires.

Can I wear regular sneakers instead of nursing shoes?

Most facilities specifically require non-slip soles, which most regular sneakers don't have — check the sole label or the manufacturer's listing before assuming a pair of sneakers qualifies. A few states' skills evaluations also require non-slip footwear at the test itself, not just on the job, so check your own state's candidate handbook if you haven't tested yet.

Do CNAs need their own stethoscope?

Not usually — most CNA roles don't require you to bring your own, and the facility typically provides what you need for vitals. It's a genuinely useful item to own for practice, though, and some CNAs end up using one on the job anyway. If you're asking because of your skills exam specifically: you can't bring your own clinical equipment to most states' CNA skills evaluations at all — see our guide on what to bring to the CNA skills exam for the full official list.

Related Pages

What to Bring to Your CNA Skills Exam

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Your CNA Career Checklist (First 7 Days)

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Free 35-Question CNA Practice Test

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