Do nurses use their wristwatch in real life nursing?

Nurses General Nursing

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In class so far, we have used a watch for vitals and IV drip per minute counting.

Do real life nurses use their watches alot for stuff like that?

Thanks.

Specializes in pediatrics, public health.
This helps me pick out the watch I want to buy for nursing, its a citizen bm8180 and it had big dail with numbers, a red minute hand, and 24 time as well. A fellow student nurse showed me his and its perfect for nursing. Citizen Eco-Drive Mens Railroad Approved Watch - White Dial - Stainless Steel BM8180-54A if you want to see it. It's a "railroad watch" also.

I agree with others that this is too expensive for nursing. I had a watch with virtually the same dial but an easily-cleanable plastic wristband that I bought through allheart.com for about $25. Allheart has lots and lots of watches with the features you're looking for in the $25-$35 range.

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Specializes in ED.

Cheap and trashable is right! If you pay more than $12 at Target than you are spending too much. I gave up on classic face watches with second hands ages ago. I stick to digital watches with numbers that light up so I can take vitals in dimmer light and not squint to follow the second hand. Like the pp's said, if you get something icky in it you will never get it out and you'll walk around with vomit (or worse) in an expensive watch. I would have to take mine off a lot to move patients or do gross tasks so I recently wised up and got one of the digitals that are made to be attached to a zipper-pull and hang it from the lanyard with my ID badge. That has been a lifesaver!!!

I don't get why some people want to wear their pretty gold watches in a place where they will be giving bed baths and changing adult diapers? YUCK!!!

T

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Specializes in ED.

everyday, i don't go to work without it. (hr, lab draws, charting), i need the digital set to 24hr because i need every brain cell to do my job and doing the math to switch from 12hr to 24hr would put me over the edge.

i do not show up to my shift without:

name badge

my cheap 24hr digital timex watch -cheap enough that if it got involved in a code brown, i could trash it without a second thought.

my littmann

at least 4 inkpens- i lose one or two a shift.

shears

iphone with my drug guide on it

also bring a:

lightpen, kelly clamp, but if i left them at home, i could do without, lift one from someone else.

when i show up, i fill my pockets with alcohol pads, saline flushes, 4x4s, 1 10cc syringe (i was in a code when no one had a syringe to inflate the cuff after intubation luckily i had one in my pocket)and post it notes.

everything here plus a retractable black sharpie for initialling/dating iv's, dressings, foleys, etc. i could not function without a sharpie!!!!!

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[h=1]do nurses use their wristwatch in real life nursing?[/h]yes, and they have to work out a schedule where they have to share it.

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I use my fob watch daily. We were told WRIST watches harbour the nasties and need to be removed every time you wash your hands..

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If i wear one I use it,f not all the rooms where I work have clocks.

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Specializes in CICU.
[h=1]do nurses use their wristwatch in real life nursing?[/h]yes, and they have to work out a schedule where they have to share it.

i had to read this three times before i got the joke grntea... didn't get enough sleep today.

can i use the watch tonight? in addition to the things others have listed - i use it to note arrival/departure times as patients come and go from the unit...

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Specializes in ICU.

Personally, no. I don't like wearing a watch, and every single room in our unit has a clock conveniently placed for when we take manual vitals (which for our ICU is almost never). It is convenient in other areas though.

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i seriously did not understand this question.:confused:

a watch has always been a fundamental element of the nursing uniform.

what if, for any random reason, there were no pumps?

is being 'watchless' synonymous with not needing to know how to figure out a gtt rate? (because pumps do that, too.)

dang, i must be old...as i am sooo not getting this.

not sure i want to, either.

leslie

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Step-Down.

I feel lost without my watch whenever I forget it. Even when my patients are on full cardiac monitors, I still count the respiratory rate and apical heart rate manually. Often I find the respiratory rate is entirely different from what the monitor says. And if you don't have a patient on a full monitor, how else would you get the heart rate and respiratory rate? As for teaching you how to calculate drips with a watch, that's more of a learning experience than anything. I think there are very few places that don't using IV pumps nowadays. Don't get anything too expensive...I personally stick in the $20-30 range and just get a very simple non-flashy watch.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

Everyday.....pulse and respiration's, what time are the meds due, what time did they leave the floor , what time did they code, what time did you give that med, when is it time for a break...LOL Every single day and I agree with a cheaper watch that's water resistant so when it breaks and gets wet it's not a financial loss....Good Luck

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i've had my citizen's eco watch x 10 yrs now.

i was more than happy to pay for this never-needs-a-battery, accurate (and very purdy :)) source of time.

she has been indestructible (knocking on wood).

leslie

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