Fitbit Force Band - good for ICU environment

Specialties MICU

Published

Please tell me your opinion, do you think the Fitbit Force would be appropriate to be used as a watch for a new graduate ICU RN? Displays the time digitally (hour and minutes), and has a stopwatch. Thank you very much!!!

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Had no idea what a Fitbit even was.

I don't understand the question though, you want to know if a watch would be appropriate to be used as a watch in the ICU?

If it tells the time and date (yes, after 2-3 shifts in a row you forget the date) and is waterproof then yes, it is appropriate.

I have a $20 Casio that I have had for over 7 years; 2 years on an ambulance, 4 years working in a clinic, 1 year in the ER and 4 months in the ICU.

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Specializes in Emergency/ICU.

Not sure what this watch is, but I love my Timex Indiglo. It is submersible, has military time in big digits, 3 alarms, and a stopwatch. (And a bunch of other functions I'm not sure about.) I don't use the gadgets at work, though, like I thought I might as a new grad in the ED. I just use it to tell the time. I love being able to soap it up and wash it at work. I wish you well in your new job!

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Nalon1 RN/EMT-P, I apologize, looks like one of the administrators with best intentions changed the title of my topic. Fitbit Force is not a watch though, it is a wristband that tracks your daily activity, calories burned, sleep, weight... Besides tracking all these, it also displays the time, and has a stopwatch. I was not sure if the time and stopwatch options would suffice in ICU, or if a second hand watch for be better. I am sorry for the confusion!

LakeEmerald, thank you very much for your suggestion and for your wishes! I will definitely put Timex Indiglo on my list. have been looking for the 'perfect' watch for a long time now, and I wanted something that shows the time and date digitally, and also has a second hand. Plus, I wanted rubber or plastic band, and to be water resistant. The few models that match these criteria are are very big, and mostly men watches. I have a very small wrist.

Therefore, I was wondering if instead of looking for this watch I cannot seem to find, would I be ok with using this Fitbit Force wristband? Thank you!!!

Thank you very much for your help!

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Not sure what this watch is, but I love my Timex Indiglo. It is submersible, has military time in big digits, 3 alarms, and a stopwatch. (And a bunch of other functions I'm not sure about.) I don't use the gadgets at work, though, like I thought I might as a new grad in the ED. I just use it to tell the time. I love being able to soap it up and wash it at work. I wish you well in your new job!

I forgot about that, having military time makes it so much easier when writing times.

I guess if I had been in the military it would be easier, but being able to look at your watch and see it is 15:42 and seeing on the computer you have tasks due at 16:00 makes it easier for me.

Nalon1 RN/EMT-P, I apologize, looks like one of the administrators with best intentions changed the title of my topic. Fitbit Force is not a watch though, it is a wristband that tracks your daily activity, calories burned, sleep, weight... Besides tracking all these, it also displays the time, and has a stopwatch. I was not sure if the time and stopwatch options would suffice in ICU, or if a second hand watch for be better. I am sorry for the confusion!

...

Ahh, OK, I see.

I know some nurses that don't wear watches at all. I could get by for the most part without one for telling time since every room has a clock and I can see one from most any point in the unit, but I really need the date and the military time (as I said above) is very helpful to me.

I know what you mean about watch sizes, big is the new thing and I can't stand it. I was looking for a watch for my 8 yr old son and it was hard to find one that fit him. Even though I am a big guy I find even smaller watches uncomfortable, so that is why I like my Casio (no idea on the model), it is small and thin. I have replaced the band twice and the battery once.

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Thank you LakeEmerald and Nalon1 RN/EMT-P, I added military time to my list of criteria :) Great point!

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I saw a ton of reviews for this watch that say it pops off very easily. You might want to look into that.

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

I use a Nike Fuelband. I did have a Fitbit but not really useable as a watch...I would just go with the Timex Indiglo - I have one too and they are durable, cheap and dependable.

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

I changed the title and here is a link to the product: Fitbit® Force™

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Thank you very much traumaRUs!!! :)

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