Generic name for vitals machine?

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Does anyone know of a simple generic name for the vitals machines that roll around? We've been talking about different terms like the "COW" and I was curious if this device had a nickname like "computer on wheels"?

Specializes in Critical Care.
Out of curiosity did you witness that first hand?

I have heard variations of that story in every single place I have worked and have never heard of anyone having first hand knowledge. I am starting to think that is one of those nursing stories.

That same story exists at everyplace I've worked, it seems like an urban myth.

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Specializes in Critical Care.
Rosie was a brand of vitals machine.

I assumed "Rosie" referred to the Jetson's robot.

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Out of curiosity did you witness that first hand? I have heard variations of that story in every single place I have worked and have never heard of anyone having first hand knowledge. I am starting to think that is one of those nursing stories.

I was about to post about this too!! Pretty sure it's an urban legend bcuz I have heard it in many different places!

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Specializes in Hospice.
I thought COW = Computer on wheels?

I work on a stroke unit, COW = Circle of Willis :)

We also call it a dynamap

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Specializes in Ambulatory Surgery, Ophthalmology, Tele.

We called it a dynamap, vitals machine, or "Machine"

My medical term of choice for just about anything at the spur of the moment is a "thingamajig" or "thingamabob." And I usually follow that up with "that IS a medical term, you know...."

Oh, don't forget the "whatsamuhoozit" too. That is also something I need occasionally. ;)

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Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.

[h=3]Images for dynamap[/h] -

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Specializes in Surgical, quality,management.

Obs machine. We tend to refer to vitals as obs ie observations.

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Specializes in Med/surg, Quality & Risk.
Out of curiosity did you witness that first hand?

I have heard variations of that story in every single place I have worked and have never heard of anyone having first hand knowledge. I am starting to think that is one of those nursing stories.

No, sorry. Guess I'll stop repeating it! lol

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The first few times I called it a dynamap, the techs were like, "what?" Now I just call them vital sign machines. Lol!

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I call mine PITA when it has to re-fill the bp cuff, over and over and over.

Ironically it's only the patients who complain of ''how much this hurts'' that it happens to.

Just like the patient eating a big mac saying ''I never get sick after surgery''

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the hospitals in my area call them dynamaps, which is a brand name kinda like Kleenex.

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they are called dinamaps not COWS cows are used in places that are electronic charting is used and more staff than computers usually so they put the hallway nurses or the floats on a COW computer on wheels and she uses that as her desk the triage nurse as well. Some people prefer to take a cow in the room during assessment to remember all the questions and get complete answers but many studies have been done that state this affects the patient they feel like u are not really listening to them and they can't see what u are typing so its bad for rapport

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