Apple IWatch and nursing

Nurses General Nursing

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Hello nurses,

My wife just became a nurse and he birthday is coming up. I wanted to get her a watch that she can wear everyday. I know she mentioned before that she need to constantly wash her hands. The iwatch is also not waterproof, rather water resistant. You can wash your hands without any problems. With that said, would it be okay for her to wear in the hospital? Do any of you wear one and can you reccomend it?

thank you!

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Specializes in NICU.
Hello nurses,

My wife just became a nurse and he birthday is coming up. I wanted to get her a watch that she can wear everyday. I know she mentioned before that she need to constantly wash her hands. The iwatch is also not waterproof, rather water resistant. You can wash your hands without any problems. With that said, would it be okay for her to wear in the hospital? Do any of you wear one and can you reccomend it?

thank you!

A lot of facilities have a "bare below the elbow" policy -- i.e. no watches, no rings with stones, only plain wedding bands allowed. This helps to cut down on the number of places that come into frequent contact with/proximity to patients and could harbor bacteria. If you really want to get her a watch, you might consider a lapel watch; it may or may not be her sort of thing but it is very traditionally "nursey." Example:

Amazon.com: Prestige Medical 1740 Nurse Nursing Medical Lapel Watch: Industrial & Scientific

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

Expensive gadget watches like the non water proof Apple Watch are not recommended to be worn at work as a nurse. Not only is there hand washing but body fluids including blood, vomit, urine... Cheap functional waterproof timex has always been my go to watch as a nurse. Save the fancy gadgets when off work

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Specializes in Fall prevention.

I wear my Apple Watch with no problems and even use it to tap me on the wrist when is time to call labs or turn suction back on to an NG tube, I have an app called clear that is a to do list which works great. I occasionally get a little water on it when I wash my hands but no problems. A lot of the nurses and doctors I work with wear an Apple Watch or moto 360. I bet she would love it. I know I love mine.

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Heck to the no. Do you have any idea what kind of disgusting stuff makes its way onto your wrist? You know, just above the point on your body protected by gloves. Lol. And, as a PP mentioned, she may not be allowed to wear a wristwatch at all. My unit is one of those that does not allow anything besides a wedding band below the elbows. I'm not telling you that I don't think you should get her an iWatch, but it wouldn't be an everyday watch. It would be a watch for her to wear on her days off. Now, if I could just convince my husband that I need an iWatch for my days off...

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Specializes in ED, Pedi Vasc access, Paramedic serving 6 towns.

I am also a nurse and just looked at the Iwatch, but decided not to since it looks way to fragile for work wear. Water and accidentally hitting it against a bed rail or something else. You may get her one, but I would strongly not recommend wearing it to her job.

Another idea is a dive watch. I wear a Citizen watch which is a woman's dive watch. It is VERY sturdy and also does not use a battery which is even better. It can go under water up to 30 feet so I never have to worry about washing it, I can run it under water and I know its not going to break. Also I have accidently hit it pretty hard against stuff while working on the ambulance and it doesn't even have a scratch on it.

Good luck!

Annie

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Specializes in ICU Stepdown.

I love wearing my Apple Watch to work! I'm not a nurse, I'm an aide who deals with bodily fluids and metal hazards on a daily basis. I have hit my wrist against a lift multiple times and my watch has survived. I wash my hands countless times a day and clean my watch with alcohol wipes. If you think your wife would be into it, I say go for it. It's really nice to get my notifications on my wrist.

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Specializes in Oncology.

I wear my Apple Watch to work without issue. I wash my hands vigorously with it on and just pat it dry with a paper towel afterward. When I'm doing patient care, I can easily pull the glove up over it.

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Specializes in ED, Pedi Vasc access, Paramedic serving 6 towns.

Did you guys buy the protective cover for it and what model? The apple folks said one model has stronger glass.

Annie

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Specializes in ICU Stepdown.
Did you guys buy the protective cover for it and what model? The apple folks said one model has stronger glass.

Annie

I have the cheapest one (sports), no cover. The one above that has stronger glass. I forget the name of it.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

I also have the cheapest model. Many people I work with have the watch. If I'm getting down and dirty, I tuck my gloves around it and double glove so its projected. I also like setting alarms for lab redraws, restarting tube feeding, etc. washing hands and it getting wet is a non issue, it's resilient!

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Specializes in Heme Onc.

I work with a few people that have them, wear them and love them for work. Two people I know just widened the wrist band and wear it above the elbow. I guess it depends on what kind of nursing your wife does. Some jobs are just "gooier" than others.

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