Which type of watch do you reccomend?

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I know this question has been asked before, but those threads are now a few years old.

I'm about to start my nursing program in August and I'm in the process of buying my supplies. We are instructed to have a watch that has a second hand, but that is the only requirement for the watch. I have read various post about the fact that wrist watches can harbor a lot of bacteria. Not to mention, considering the amount of times I will have to wash my hands, it seems as though wrist watches would be uncomfortable from the moisture.

That said, I really like the idea of a lapel watch, but I've never used one before, and I'm not sure how functional they are. Will a lapel watch serve me just fine, or am I better off with a wrist watch?

Which style of watch do you all recommend?

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Specializes in ED.

I hate things hanging off of me. In clinicals, you have to wear your badge and your stethoscope is usually worn around your neck too. In my facility you have to wear your badge above the waist so you are basically wearing your badge on a little clip. Adding a lapel watch or whatever would drive me nuts.

If you can afford it, try to get a stainless band and a watch that is pretty water resistant. A few of my classmates got leather (or faux leather) or plastic type band watches and they fell apart by the end of the semester. One friend got a decent looking Timex with a stainless band at Kohl's for under $40 or 50.

Just about everything can harbor some bacteria. It is impossible to avoid really. You are just going to have to be diligent in washing your hands and disinfecting your stuff. When I wash my hands, my watch does get a little wet underneath the band so I just have to dry it off and move on. It isn't really that big of a deal.

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Not sure what a lapel watch is. I got mine at wal-mart for like $20....works just fine. Mine has the stretchy band to it, not the one like a belt....so before you wash you just push it up your arm so it doesn't get wet. You can periodically wipe it with an alcohol wipe.

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I start Aug. as well and just went ahead and purchased at the nursing store. The watch was under 20.00. It is white and looks cheap (IMO) and not sure why it had to say nurse on it but it is water resistant and one piece easy to clean off. I thought I would give it a try since inexpensive.

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Specializes in Emergency/Cath Lab.

I bought a cheap as heck MECHANICAL second hand watch from walmart and threw it away after the first semester. I hate the lapel ones just because i have enough issue with my ID badge dipping into people, i dont want my watch doing it too.

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

Moved to the nursing gear forum

In the UK we call them fob watches and I love them, I have 2 and bought one for a US nurse friend and she loves it.

Amazon.co.uk: fob watches for nurses

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I got a watch from Fossil with a stainless steel band (no leather) for nursing school. It's unobtrusive, has a sweep second hand, and I wear it every day to work 4 years later.

It's water resistant, and the watch I got comes with removable links so I didn't have to get it resized for my small wrists.

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I strongly recommend fossil, I got mine from an outlet, (fossil outlet) I paid $35 for it. I've had it over 6 years now and I work both in a hospital as well as EMS use it every day. It's taken a beating and still works really well! ( got a 2nd one about a year ago, equal price, so far equal quality.)

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I have a stainless steel Timex. I keep the bracelet part really loose, which lets me wash under it each time I wash my hands. I've had it 2+ years with no problems.

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Specializes in Med-Swing/Rehab.

I have an Auburn University Fossil watch. (= Love it. Wear it always for work.

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I have a digital waterproof watch. It has the date, military time and the seconds ticking away. It ends up in my pocket most of the time because of the germ factor but I love it. The best part is not having to second guess myself with the military time. I'm guessing it gets easier but as a new nurse I'm always having to double check the 1500 to 1900. If I don't have to use brainpower for that, I can use it somewhere else!

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I like the lapel watches too and they are just as good. i got mine through prestige medical for like $30 - it's waterproof and does the job just fine.

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