Watches

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Hi all,

I'm having a hard time finding a watch. I have read old threads on this topic as well, but still couldn't find what I'm looking for. For clinicals I am required to have a watch with a sweeping second hand (little to no ticking?). This is really the main reason I'm having a bit of trouble. I have looked online everywhere and it seems these types of watches are extremely expensive. I also want a watch that's analog, water resistant, glows in the dark, and has military time. The band I can buy separate because I prefer no rubber, leather, or latex (for allergy purposes & leather can stain skin). Any recommendations??? I don't know if I'm being too picky, but anything with a sweeping second hand would be perfect!!!

Thank you in advance

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Specializes in Oncology.

Why does the second hand have to be sweeping? Now you've got me looking at watches on Amazon and this is a question on all of them so clearly it matters and I'm curious.

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Specializes in Med Surg/ICU/Psych/Emergency/CEN/retired.
Hi all,

I'm having a hard time finding a watch. I have read old threads on this topic as well, but still couldn't find what I'm looking for. For clinicals I am required to have a watch with a sweeping second hand (little to no ticking?). This is really the main reason I'm having a bit of trouble. I have looked online everywhere and it seems these types of watches are extremely expensive. I also want a watch that's analog, water resistant, glows in the dark, and has military time. The band I can buy separate because I prefer no rubber, leather, or latex (for allergy purposes & leather can stain skin). Any recommendations??? I don't know if I'm being too picky, but anything with a sweeping second hand would be perfect!!!

Thank you in advance

After reading your post, I looked on Amazon and found some quite inexpensive watches with all kinds of bands that appeared to meet most of your criteria. I don't know what a "sweeping second hand" is. Wouldn't any second hand do? As far as a watch that shows military time, I have never heard of or seen one. But military time is easy to learn. If you are in nursing school, adapting to military time will not be a problem and will become second nature.

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It's a requirement for some reason. I've read because when you are counting a patient's pulse, some nurses mistakenly count the ticks instead of the beats.

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After reading your post, I looked on Amazon and found some quite inexpensive watches with all kinds of bands that appeared to meet most of your criteria. I don't know what a "sweeping second hand" is. Wouldn't any second hand do? As far as a watch that shows military time, I have never heard of or seen one. But military time is easy to learn. If you are in nursing school, adapting to military time will not be a problem and will become second nature.

Sweeping second hand means the watch has little to no ticking. And as for the military time, that's a good point!! I just thought it would be faster and easier if I have it right on the watch.

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Specializes in Oncology.

The sweeping second hand requirement is silly. If someone is always getting 60 for a heart rate you'll know quickly they're counting ticks not beats. Unless the patient has a pacemaker set at 60 :) And then what happens when you need to take a pulse with any other clock?

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The sweeping second hand requirement is silly. If someone is always getting 60 for a heart rate you'll know quickly they're counting ticks not beats. Unless the patient has a pacemaker set at 60 :) And then what happens when you need to take a pulse with any other clock?

I totally agree!! That was exactly my point when I read a "sweeping second hand" is required. It's very silly. I'm also not a watch person-- never owned one in my life (although I wouldn't mind wearing one). I guess it's just to rule out common errors!

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Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.

Disregard the "sweeping" second hand requirement. They won't care. If they do, they can spend the $5,000 to buy you a Rolex if they want.

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Specializes in Hospital medicine; NP precepting; staff education.

I've used a pendant watch and never heard the ticks.

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Specializes in Psychiatry, Community, Nurse Manager, hospice.

I got my watch for nursing school from walmart and it was $12 which was $7 more than I wanted to spend! It had the metal elastic type band which is great for pushing up your arm when you wash your hands one thousand times. The second hand did not sweep and I must admit it took some getting used to, to ignore the rhythm of the second hand while counting.

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I used a prestige medical watch $29 at Amazon. It has military time and a glow face. I used it during clinicals and as a night tech. I will probably wear it again when I get around to buying another band. (There was a slight mishap with a commode and I just can't convince myself that all of the products I used to sanitize the band were effective.)

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If you are counting the ticking and not the pulse, you should probably not be an RN or any job that actually requires thinking! I think that is the dumbest requirement I have seen for a nursing program. Realistically you move 90 degrees from where you start counting the pulse and then multiply by 4 you are not even looking or counting seconds. That is the whole reason behind a second hand vs a digital watch..

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