A fob or pendant watch, also known in the medical arena as a nursing
watch, has an upside-down face so it can be read when looking down and
is worn pinned to the chest. In some parts of the world they were an
element of the traditional nursing uniform, and as much a symbol of
nursing as the apron and cap; it's safe to say these are associated with
the profession. As it was likely the first time they were living away
from home, they were given as rite-of-passage gifts to young nurses when
they moved into nurses' quarters.
While almost all nurses in the United States have abandoned the original uniform, the fob watch continues to be in use, largely because there are utilitarian reasons for leaving the arms bare. These watches also have evolved over time to fit the needs of today’s nurses. There are several shapes, sizes and colors in addition to different materials such as metal and silicone. The most critical aspect of these watches, however, is their functionality.
While almost all nurses in the United States have abandoned the original uniform, the fob watch continues to be in use, largely because there are utilitarian reasons for leaving the arms bare. These watches also have evolved over time to fit the needs of today’s nurses. There are several shapes, sizes and colors in addition to different materials such as metal and silicone. The most critical aspect of these watches, however, is their functionality.
As part of their job, nurses are required to take blood pressure,
administer medication, supervise a patient’s progress and note time of
death; all these duties require them to keep an eye on time. Because
nurses are often multitasking, a hands-free watch option is practical.
There are several reasons that a wristwatch can be a problem. For both
the patients’ health and their own, nurses are constantly washing their
hands to be sure the environment remains clean. It is burdensome for
nurses to remove their watches every time they wash their hands, but if
left on, the wristbands could become vectors for disease. Additionally, a
wristwatch can snag IV tubes or scratch the patient’s skin, which,
depending upon the patient’s condition, can be really dangerous. Given
these risks, it is easy to see why many nurses opt to use fob watches,
and why some hospitals forbid wristwatches.
Because of their patients’ particular needs, specialist nurses may choose to use nursing watches rather than wristwatches The potential of bringing bacteria in the sterile environment of an immunocompromised individual, as an example, is too great a risk for the majority of health care providers to accept. HIV/AIDS, neonatal, and transplant nurses all encounter patients who could die from an introduction to an opportunistic infection that may not affect somebody with a working immune system.
There also is benefit in using fob watches for nurses that specialize in geriatrics, oncology or dialysis because their patients usually have delicate skin that damages easily. The elderly are taken care of by geriatric nurses. Because they are often physically weak, with fragile skin that is susceptible to tears and pressure ulcers, these patients can be exceptionally challenging. A geriatric patient's skin could be damaged for weeks from an accidental scratch from a wristband. Because of ongoing therapies which require intravenous drugs, individuals undergoing cancer and dialysis treatments may also have very sensitive skin. Because some of these treatments are prolonged, skin in areas that are regularly punctured can become very tender. Nurses providing care for these patients have to be careful about wearing wristwatches, given that they could scratch sensitive areas or snag on IV tubes, both of which could be very painful and dangerous for the patient.
It is apparent that nursing watches have a lots of benefits over wristwatches, and it is easy to understand why it is one of the few components of the traditional nurse uniform that has survived to this day. They offer practicality and functionality, as well as historical significance, to an especially valuable job.
Because of their patients’ particular needs, specialist nurses may choose to use nursing watches rather than wristwatches The potential of bringing bacteria in the sterile environment of an immunocompromised individual, as an example, is too great a risk for the majority of health care providers to accept. HIV/AIDS, neonatal, and transplant nurses all encounter patients who could die from an introduction to an opportunistic infection that may not affect somebody with a working immune system.
There also is benefit in using fob watches for nurses that specialize in geriatrics, oncology or dialysis because their patients usually have delicate skin that damages easily. The elderly are taken care of by geriatric nurses. Because they are often physically weak, with fragile skin that is susceptible to tears and pressure ulcers, these patients can be exceptionally challenging. A geriatric patient's skin could be damaged for weeks from an accidental scratch from a wristband. Because of ongoing therapies which require intravenous drugs, individuals undergoing cancer and dialysis treatments may also have very sensitive skin. Because some of these treatments are prolonged, skin in areas that are regularly punctured can become very tender. Nurses providing care for these patients have to be careful about wearing wristwatches, given that they could scratch sensitive areas or snag on IV tubes, both of which could be very painful and dangerous for the patient.
It is apparent that nursing watches have a lots of benefits over wristwatches, and it is easy to understand why it is one of the few components of the traditional nurse uniform that has survived to this day. They offer practicality and functionality, as well as historical significance, to an especially valuable job.
