Wrist watches...what are the pros and cons?

mcknis · Jan 19, 2011

Wrist watch? Why would you need such a thing in nursing? I use a $10 wall clock from an exam room and used IV tubing to loop this around my neck, like Flavor Flav. Pro: always have bling, recycled goods/"Green", anyone can see the time during codes. Cons: uh none!

Seriously though, I use a cheap Timex with a plastic band that feels like it is formed to my wrist. I do not like trusting the cheap wall clocks in the patient rooms that are never checked and are far too often 10 minutes off from each other. Big no-no is cloth and the metal ones will rust! plastic is the best for watches, but hospitals seriously need to invest in atomic clocks. Not expensive anymore and can be hardwired so the batteries never die!

Streamline2010 · Jan 29, 2011

^ LOL @

I use a $10 wall clock from an exam room and used IV tubing to loop this around my neck, like Flavor Flav. Pro: always have bling, recycled goods/"Green", anyone can see the time during codes. Cons: uh none!

purplesteth · May 8, 2011

I love my fob!

Yay!!! Me too!! And there are so many cute ones around now. :heartbeat

Summers_Off · Jul 12, 2011

My hubby used to laugh at me for this behavior, so one day I took a swab of my watch (worn for exactly 24 hours while on duty), put it on a plate of agar, let it incubate for 48 hours and WHAMMO! More bacteria than you care to imagine. It was gross. I put some of the bacteria on slides to see exactly what was growing, and all of the natural flora showed, as expected. But surprisingly, after doing an acid fast staining of the bacteria, mycobacterium tuberculosis also showed up.

Did you do this just for kicks?!? If so, would you like to come help me with my Micro project?

estroud · Sep 30, 2011

The fob watch is available to buy and it is worn on the chest.

theantichick · Oct 10, 2011

I got a fob watch because I'm a germaphobe. I found it wasn't conducive to assessments like respiratory rate because I couldn't see the patient when I was looking down at my b00b.

So I ended up getting a watch that's waterproof and has a plastic band, and I wear it slightly loose. Every time I alcohol foam, I rub some on the watch & band (underneath too) and every time I wash my hands I scrub it with soap too.

I may be going overboard, but the thought of what's on my watch makes me shiver. Of course, I'm thinking about remodeling my house so my W/D are in the garage and I can strip my work scrubs before I actually enter the house. That's not the ONLY reason, but it's a consideration. :)

estroud · Apr 4, 2012

Plus, everytime you put it back on you re-contaminate your hands with whatever is on the watch.

estroud · Apr 4, 2012

Now why does the CDC not ban them...maybe they think nurses have enough smarts to ban them themselves. Wrist watches are so close to patients and do not get washed. They have to be contaminated.

Pneumothorax, BSN, RN · Apr 7, 2012

i constnatly clean my gear i have on like steth, watch even my ID tags when i leave a patients room with cavi-wipes. so i think as long as you keep yourself and your items clean you should be ok :)

danvis_65 · Oct 6, 2012

Hi All, in response to the wristwatch dilemma I thought I would pass this on. I found a great solution at www.thebracketwatch.com I have one and it works great.

danvis_65 · Oct 6, 2012

Hi All, in response to the wristwatch dilemma I thought I would pass this on. I found a great solution at www.thebracketwatch.com I have one and it works great.

Bendy nurse · Feb 8, 2018

I'm currently training to be a nurse in the UK. We have a bare below the elbows policy for infection control purposes so we're not allowed to wear wrist watches. To be honest, I prefer wearing a fob watch for work as it minimises the risk of unwanted bacteria hiding out on or under a wrist watch and spreading infection to patients, colleagues or family members at home. I find that using a fob allows you to have both hands free whilst timing a patients pulse or respiration rate