The 4 Best Watches for Nurses

Being a nurse is a very difficult job by definition. If you try to work without the proper tools, you can make your life even more difficult. One of the tools that will help you in different aspects of your work is a proper watch.

You've probably heard about the merits of a certain watch through a colleague or a family member. You know you want one,but with so many different models on the market, it can be easy to get lost. This article will give you the best watches for nurses in 4 different categories.

Best Smartwatch (iPhone users)

Apple Watch

Is it for me?

If you're an iPhone user and you want a smartwatch, your best bet is to get an Apple Watch. You could, in theory, buy a more affordable third-party watch, but we don't recommend it.

Since most apps and functionalities are optimized to work with the iOS system you would miss out on some key features. You can still use a third-party watch with your iPhone, but it won't perform up to its full potential.

Using an Apple watch with an Android phone is even less recommended. Apple doesn't allow the use of their watch with anything other than the selected list of iPhone models. The only way to connect to an Android Phone is through unapproved loopholes.

Specs

This article focuses on the Apple Watch 4 model, but you can get older models too and you will still get the most important functions for your nurse requirements.

Features

The Apple watch is filled with features that are useful for nurses. First of all the fluoroelastomer strap that comes with the watch is the perfect material for your needs. It provides a comfortable wear, while being very easy to clean, no matter what substances you get on it. 

The second benefit is the ability to send text messages and even make phone calls without touching your phone. On the job, most nurses are prohibited from using their cellphones, particularly in front of patients. 

Since hospitals usually don't prohibit nurses from wearing smart watches, the Apple watch is a great way to stay connected to your close ones.

The 18 hours estimated battery life will be plenty to go through your overtime shifts. You will need to charge it every night though. Be careful not to use high energy consumption apps such as GPS features to avoid running out of juice during the day.

The technological features, including the multiple apps available from the app store, will be the greatest benefits of the Apple Watch. For instance, the multiple alarms settings will help you with medicine administration.

An example of a great app is Calc Bot, which converts tons of different units, this is great when doing tasks such as dialysis. You can also find thousands  of other apps that will suite your particular use.

Design

The first great aspect of the Apple Watch's design if the fact that it is completely unisex. Both men and women nurses can wear this watch because they are offered in a wide selection of variations.

Your first choice will be between the normal or large case. The 40mm one is recommended for people with 5 to 8 inch wrists, while the 44mm is recommended for 8+ inch wrists.

You can then choose between a wide variety of bracelet, some in fluoroelastomer, others in mesh. Higher end models are even offered with leather straps, but we don't recommend them as they are overpriced and will get stained with bodily fluids.

The strap colors vary from light pink to black, with some sportier models featuring ''aeration'' holes. The case color matches the strap.

Best Smartwatch (Android users)

Samsung Galaxy Watch

Is it for me?

If you currently own an Android phone, and you are interested in a smartwatch, the Samsung Galaxy Watch is undoubtedly your best option. It provides an amazing package for a much cheaper price than the Apple watch.

This model is a runner's favorite,  but with all the walking, and sometimes running, you do in your workday, the Galaxy Watch will perfectly match your needs.

Specs

The specs below are for the 42mm version of the watch, since it will fit most women. I chose this iteration considering 91% of nurses in the U.S are women.

If you are a men, or you simply have larger wrists, you might prefer the 46mm model, just know that it is a bit more expensive.

Features

The first feature that separates the  Galaxy Watch from its competition is the exceptionally long battery life. The 42mm model has a 270 mAh battery, that lasts around 3 days according to user experience.

Of course, you mileage may vary depending on which apps and settings you use. The 46mm model has an even bigger 472 mAh battery that will easily last 4 days without charging.

Like the Apple Watch, the Galaxy Watch gives you the opportunity to send/receive texts, call people, set multiple alarms and use conversion tools, all for a much cheaper price.

The Samsung watch has plenty of built-in activity tracking apps, such as a pretty accurate pedometer and heart rate monitor. This will help you calculate all the movements you do everyday around the hospital.

source: digitaltrends.com

The gadget is equipped with a ''Exynos 9110 Dual Core 1.15 ghz'' processor that helps run multiple apps at the same time without any lag. This is a really fast processor for a watch. To put this in perspective, a low end laptop usually has around 1.10 ghz of processing power.

Every model comes with 4 gb of internal memory, which is plenty for the average user. A small hardware difference lies between the LTE and the Bluetooth models. The former has 1.5 gb of ram, while the latter has 768mb.

Design

Since it's only been released on August 9th 2018, the Galaxy Watch doesn't have that much choices when it comes to design.

The 42mm model is offered in two color schemes ; Midnight Black or Rose Gold. The 46mm version is currently available in a single color set ; Silver. 

source: pcmag.com

All the models come equipped with a silicone band, but there are plenty of third party companies out there that sell very good quality straps on the internet. For example, some people prefer their Galaxy watches with a custom stainless steel bracelet.

The round dial is beautiful, and pays homage to watchmaking traditions, rather than trying to reinvent the wheel. 

Best Digital Watch

Casio F-91W

Is it for me?

Smart watches are not for everybody : they cost a lot of money, and they might get very complicated if you are not technologically inclined. 

Digital watches are a good compromise between smartwatches and analog watches. They are cheap, easy to use, and have a very useful functions.

The Casio F-91W is the king of cost efficient digital watches. For under 15$, you get a very capable timepiece that is sturdy enough to go through just about anything. 

Specs

Features

The Casio F-91W is far from being a smart watch, but it does provide the basic functions you need. First of all, the time is very easy to read. The display is crisp, with large, contrasting numbers. You get all the info you need, such as date and time, at the first glance.

The F-91W is also equipped with a 1/100th second stopwatch, that counts up to an hour. This will allow you to calculate time-lapse in a very precise manner.

The alarm feature  allows you to set one daily alarm. There is also the possibility to get a beep at the strike of every hour.

For your night shifts, the Casio F-91W offers a faint LED backlight, that helps you read the time, without emitting too much light.

The CR2016 lithium battery is known to last at least 7 years, with the range extending upwards of 10 years if you don't use the daily alarm or hourly signal. The body of the watch will certainly outlast the battery.

Design

The sleek, simple design has been loved by Casio fans from day one. Since its inception in 1991, the Casio F-91W hasn't been redesigned even once.

The most popular model is the dark grey, which fits very well with the rugged look of the F-91W. Not only is it beautiful, it  also hides little scratches better.

The square dial is unconventional, but it has its own charm, and it allows for a bigger font size. Also, the blue outline gives a bit of life to the otherwise plain timepiece.

For those looking for more color on their wrist, Casio released theF-91WC line, with the six following neon colors: yellow, blue, green, beige, pink and orange. 

Over the years, Casio released multiple special editions, with minor tweaks such as : metallic-colored cases, stainless steel bracelets, more waterproofing, etc..

Best Analog Watch

Speidel Scrub

Is it for me?

Speidel is a relatively unknown company out of East Providence, RI. They used to specialize in watch bands manufacturing, but they recently ventured out in the world of watchmaking.

The Scrub is a watch specifically created for people in the medical field. They kept your needs in mind while making the watch, and it really shows. 

This timepiece is a very good model that is probably the best bang for your buck in this category. If you work in the medical field and want an analog watch, you can't go wrong with the Speidel Scrub.

Specs

Features

The Speidel Scrub was built specifically for healthcare workers. Every aspect of the watch is designed to make your job easier.

First of all, the big, bold numerals indicating the hour marks are very easy to read at a quick glance. You also get 24 hours reading in red font just below the 12 numerals. The same red font is used above the numerals, to indicate the 5 minute marks.

The bright red seconds hand was designed to be extremely easy to spot, making pulse readings effortless.

In addition, the Scrub's bracelet is made 100% of silicone, making it very easy to clean, no matter what substances gets on it.

It's important to note that the smallest wrist size on the bracelet is 6.7''. Since most women have smaller wrists than that, you might need to poke a few more holes, using a sharp object.

Design

Speidel really went all out with the medical theme. They offer the Scrub in 10 different colors, each one mimicking the color of most common scrubs. With this watch, you will get the basic functions you need, while making a fashion statement.

Every model has a white dial, which puts all the attention on the strap color. The styling itself is quite conservative, resembling well-loved watches such as the Timex Easy Reader.

The stainless steel case is plain on the back, but Speidel says that it is engravable, allowing you to personalize it at your will.

Caution

While the Scrub is a very good watch in and of itself, Speidel still has a lot to prove as a watchmaker. This means that you have more chance to get a lemon than you would if you bought a renowned brand, such as Seiko.

While this is very far from frequent, the most common malfunction is the timepiece losing time. Some users report losing several hours in the course of a day.

Fortunately, Speidel has an outstanding customer service. If you have the bad luck of getting a lemon example, simply send it back to Speidel and they will give you a new one free of charge.

Moreover, Speidel gives you a 2 year manufacturer's warranty with the purchase of any of their model.  

Conclusion

I hope you found the perfect watch for your needs. If not, please tell me in the comments why these models didn't fit your needs, so I can adapt my list accordingly.