Clinical Survival Bundle, 150 Nursing Reference Cards, Badge + Pocket

The Clinical Survival Bundle is the complete RN Ascend reference system: all 54 badge cards plus all 96 pocket cards, 150 double-sided cards and 300 printed references in one purchase. Badge cards clip to your reel for the number you need in two seconds. Pocket cards ride in your scrub pocket for the full table, diagram, and reasoning behind it. Both sets share one color system, so a cardiac badge card and a cardiac pocket card cross-reference without you having to think about it. Designed by Clinical Instructors.

• 150 double-sided cards, 300 references. 54 badge cards (108 references) and 96 pocket cards (192 references).
• Two sizes, two jobs. 3.3 x 2.1 in on your badge for quick answers; 3.7 x 4.9 in in your pocket for depth.
• One color system across both sets. Same system colors on every header, so the two formats cross-reference.
• Ten clinical systems covered. General Medical, Neuro, Cardiac, Respiratory, Endocrine, OB & L&D, Pediatrics, Pharmacology, Labs, and English/Spanish.
• Waterproof and wipeable. Both sets are printed on waterproof PVC, not paper or laminated cardstock.
• Free RN Ascend Clinical Calculator. Scan the QR code on the pocket card cover to unlock it. No subscription required.
• Designed by Clinical Instructors. Written and reviewed by nurses who teach at the bedside.

What is in the Clinical Survival Bundle?

Every card from both RN Ascend reference sets, split across the two formats.

The badge set also ships with an index card, a Velcro strap, and a storage box.

Why buy both sets instead of one?

Because clinical asks you two different kinds of question, sometimes within the same hour. "What is the normal range" is a badge card question: you need it now, one-handed, without leaving the bedside. "Why does this rhythm look like that, and what do I do about it" is a pocket card question: you need the whole table and five minutes.

Buying one set means answering half your questions well and the other half by pulling out your phone. Buying both means the reference matches the question.

Who is the Clinical Survival Bundle for?

Nursing students starting clinicals who want the full system from day one, students moving into med-surg and specialty rotations, and new graduate nurses in orientation. It is also the version most people give as a gift, because it covers a student's whole program rather than one rotation.

How do the two sets work together?

Both sets carry the same system color on the card header. Cardiac is the same red on a badge card and a pocket card, respiratory is the same green, and so on. In practice that means you can clip the cardiac badge cards to your reel for a cardiac rotation, keep the matching 18 cardiac pocket cards in your scrub pocket, and move between them without re-orienting.

Prefer to start with one? Shop badge cards or pocket cards on their own.

Does the bundle help with NCLEX prep?

Indirectly, and usefully. This is a clinical reference system, not a question bank, but every card moves from finding to interpretation to nursing action. That is the reasoning chain NCLEX questions are built on, and the pocket cards in particular work well as a study reference alongside practice questions.

NCLEX Tip: Prioritization questions are rarely about which diagnosis sounds worst. Look for the patient whose change is most acute and least explained. The assessment cards in this set are ordered the same way, most urgent finding first.

What makes RN Ascend clinical reference cards different?

Two decisions shape every card. First, large print: fewer facts per card, in a type size a tired nurse can read at arm's length under hallway light. Second, reasoning: the card does not stop at the number, it tells you what the nurse does with it.

Every card is written and reviewed by a working clinical instructor, then checked against how the work actually happens on a unit.

"Nursing school teaches information. Clinicals demand judgment. These cards are built for the second one."

Chelsey Rodgers, BSN, RN. Founder, RN Ascend. Clinical instructor, 20+ years in nursing.

Frequently asked questions

How many cards come in the Clinical Survival Bundle?

150 double-sided cards: 54 badge cards and 96 pocket cards. Because every card is printed on both sides, that is 300 printed references.

What is the difference between the badge cards and the pocket cards?

Badge cards are 3.3 x 2.1 inches and clip to your badge reel for quick reference. Pocket cards are 3.7 x 4.9 inches and ride in your scrub pocket for full tables, diagrams, and clinical reasoning. Both use the same system colors, so they cross-reference.

Is the bundle cheaper than buying the sets separately?

Yes, the bundle is priced below the two sets purchased individually, and it ships as one order.

What clinical systems are covered?

Ten: General Medical, Neuro, Cardiac, Respiratory, Endocrine, OB & L&D, Pediatrics, Pharmacology, Labs, and English/Spanish. Endocrine appears in the pocket set.

Are the cards waterproof?

Yes. Both sets are printed on waterproof PVC rather than paper or laminated cardstock, so they wipe clean with alcohol wipes and hold up through a full clinical rotation.

Is this a good gift for a nursing student?

It is the version most people give. It covers a student's whole program rather than a single rotation, and it arrives boxed.

Do the cards replace facility policy?

No. The cards are a clinical reference. Always follow your facility's policies, your provider's orders, and your instructor's direction.

Get yours before clinical. One purchase, both formats, the whole system.