These days, the average watch just doesn't cut it anymore - it should also be smart. The small device you wear on your wrist has become essential for any profession, and as a nurse, you may find yourself glancing at the clock or your watch most of the time. As proper time management plays a key role in how we perform our work efficiently, a device that simply tells the time just isn't enough to keep up with the modern professional. Hence, we've put together this guide for the best smartwatches for nurses.
What Kind of Watch do Nurses Need?
Smartwatches are the next best accessory to nurses nowadays. These watches are not just for time-keeping but also for communication and health functions as well, with a lot of smartwatches in the market.
So, whether you are replacing your old nurse watch or buying a more advanced smartwatch, we are here to give you a guided roundup. Ultimately this will help you make the right decision in finding the best smartwatch for you.
Can Nurses Use Smartwatches?
You may have heard some people say that smartwatches are just an immense waste of money. Sure, they may be expensive. But when you look at how they add value to your life, you will know why they are a must-have item.
A smartwatch may be essential for time-keeping and schedule management purposes. Nurses have a lot on their hands most of the time. A smart watch for nurses can be handy in time-sensitive tasks by sending alerts or reminders for these crucial tasks.
Nurses can also be stressed and strained from constant calls from doctors and patients. With these gadgets, nurses could also keep a check of their health. Most smartwatches have fitness and health trackers that may help them monitor blood pressure rate, pulse rate, heart rate, and even calories.
Also, most hospitals nowadays allow nurses to wear watches as they have seen that it can be a vital accessory to healthcare providers like them. And, if you are still interested and want to know the pros and cons of having a smartwatch, go and check out our guide below.
Benefits of Having a Smartwatch
Before buying the smartwatch that you deem best suits your lifestyle and work, read on. Here are some of the reasons why getting a smartwatch for nurses can be a worthy investment. Smartwatches do not just tell time, it brings a whole lot more, and these include the following functions:
1. Travel Guide
It can act as your invisible guide when visiting new places. It can also keep your connection even when doing activities like biking, running, or even swimming. This function can even provide weather updates on important dates and meetings.
2. Phone Finder
The Find Phone feature makes it easy to locate your smartphone.
3. Fitness Tracker
It can keep track of your fitness activities by counting your steps, heart rate, pulse rate, calories, distance traveled, and even your sleep quality.
4. Reply to Messages and Calls Instantly
Yes, you don't need to take your smartphone out of your pocket to take important calls and make urgent replies. With voice recognition and voice commands, you can easily send out instructions without lifting a finger.
5. Social Media Notifications
You won't get left behind on important social media updates from a family with your smartwatch.
6. Entertainment Buddy
You are a few clicks away from playing a variety of music and videos on this small gadget. Having a few minutes of walk or run will not be that boring anymore.
7. Electronic Wallet
These days, it is ideal to go cashless when paying bills, shopping, and other urgent financial transactions. Like smartphones, these watches can also make these possible with the help of the right application.
8. Other
The benefits of smartwatches can also extend to other professions like law enforcement as it can accurately provide a location with its GPS functions. Or medical professionals, as it can measure vital signs and other health statistics.
Features to Consider in Finding the Best Smartwatch for Nurses
The competition for smartwatches online and in retail stores grow because of massive potential buyers for smartwatches. For a first-time shopper, this idea leads to confusion as you will need to check for qualities that are crucial to your personality, lifestyle, and profession.
Also, nurses do not have the luxury of wasting time and money on different brands. Hence, in this guide, we will help you address that problem and find the best smartwatch for nurses.
1. Compatibility
If you are an Apple device user, it is best to choose an Apple smartwatch that can sync your current devices. Otherwise, if you are an Android user, go for a watch that integrates smoothly with devices like Samsung, Fossil, Huawei, and other brands.
A good rule of thumb is not to buy a smartwatch unless you know that it will work with your current smartphone.
2. Screen Size and Display
Choose a size that fits right on your wrist. An uncomfortable size will only lead to hindrance in performing some nursing tasks.
Also, check that the screen has a vibrant and crisp LCD, LED, or AMOLED display for media content and apps.
3. Apps
Pick a watch with apps that may be useful to your daily activities like GPS, heart rate monitor, or sleep-trackers.
4. Water-Resistant
Nurses wash their hands a lot of times during their shifts. It is wise to choose a water-resistant watch so that you won't have trouble putting it on and off your wrists.
5. Bluetooth Capabilities
At times, you may want to share some crucial media with colleague nurses. Even without a WiFi connection, you may still do this if you have a reliable Bluetooth function.
6. Battery Life
Some smartwatches may last for a day or two. Battery life may also depend on the watch's capabilities like GPS and other apps. So, if you are up for prolonged battery life, choose one with a black and white display. Otherwise, a colorful display will last you around 18-24 hours or so.
7. Style
As smartwatches improve in terms of processing power and technology, the style goes with it too. OLED displays make the watch as thin as possible. These smartwatches can also be personalized by having replaceable straps and customizable face watch designs.
8. Touch Screen and Voice Assistants
As nurses' hands are often full at work, it is good to get devices that can easily be operated with a touch, tap, or long-press if needed. You can also check for gesture-based devices that can help you navigate your watch even with swipes or wrist movements.
The Google assistant and other voice assistants will also help you control the smartwatch in one voice command.
9. Bands or Straps
Getting a watch with replaceable bands is ideal when working in an often chaotic environment where blood, medicines, and other fluids can easily mess up your things.
10. Comfort
Nurses already have a lot of things on their minds while performing their jobs. A comfortable watch will help ease the burden of these stressful things by not being a bother too. Choose a smartwatch that can be fastened with ease and avoid clasps that require too much force to open and close.
Now that you've seen all the great benefits of having a smartwatch, check out our top picks and find the one that will best suit you.
The 5 Best and Cheapest Smartwatches for Nurses
1. Apple Watch Series 6
The latest of the Apple Watch Series, this smartwatch comes with the introduction of blood oxygen monitoring (SpO2). This pulse oximetry sensor is an upgrade from the previous series. This app offers a thorough and accurate reading of your blood oxygen levels that may indicate underlying problems like sleep apnea, hypoxia, and others.
Another relevant addition to this watch is the sleep tracker. The watch's health features make the device very useful to nurses and other health care professionals. This feature may even be essential to health-conscious individuals who want to keep a check on their health.
Another feature we love is the always-on altimeter OLED display as you don't have to raise your hand to check the time. The display dims when the wrist is down for battery-saving purposes. The black ceramic and sapphire crystal backing is elegant, and the screen display is also easy to see even in bright sunlight.
Compared to the previous series, it is brighter, sharper, and always-on display as advertised. There are also twice as many LEDs on the bottom and four photodiodes to aid in the health monitoring sensors.
The improved brightness is also an ideal feature for nurses who work in dark areas during night shifts. This feature lets you check the time no matter what the light settings of your environment are.
With its trouble-free setup, even those who are new to using smartwatches will experience a smooth ride. And if you want a watch that can show your personality, then this could be the best smartwatch for you.
This series launched all-new watch face designs that could match anyone's mood, character, and style. An exclusive blue and red casing also comes with this package.
Apple Watch Series 6 models come in aluminum, stainless steel, and titanium models. The aluminum option, which is also the most affordable, comes in red and blue colors. The stainless steel comes in silver and dark gray, and the titanium models come in silver and space black colors.
There are also Nike designs for the aluminum model and Hermes designs for the stainless steel model. There are also three new watchband options - the solo loop, the braided solo loop, and the leather link.
These newly introduced straps can replace buckled and clasped bands that are harder to wear. Fashion and functionality in one, right?
With 18-hour of battery life, this watch is perfect for when you're working long hours. Another good thing is that the charging time also takes only 90 minutes to full life - a smart choice for a smart watch. With the release of WatchOS7 software, an even better experience awaits you.
The force-touch feature of previous versions is removed. However, the functionality of menus is enabled with its new swipe down gesture. The Apple Watch 6 and older versions will enjoy the newer network presets, watch faces, sleep-tracker, and also a hand-washing timer tool.
Other great features we love are automatic emergency calls on fall detection and heart rate monitor. It also introduced a family set-up that allows kids to use the smartwatch even without owning an iPhone device.
With these features, busy nurse parents will still be able to monitor their kid's internet activities with the safety features of this watch.
The slim design, smooth-operating software, and seamless connectivity to compatible Apple devices make it a winner. All these great features make the Apple Watch 6 one of the best smartwatches for nurses, overall.
2. Apple Watch SE
This Apple Watch version is a hybrid of the Apple Watch 3 and 5. Though it does not have all the features of the Apple 6, it contains a handful of useful ones like the LTE option. It is also cheaper than the Apple 6 and makes it an ideal purchase for those who are looking for an Apple smartwatch with better value.
It does not have an always-on display, but it comes complete with the fitness tracking features except the SpO2 monitor and heart rate or ECG reading. Nonetheless, it will still work fine as a fitness guide.
The SE has an identical design to the Apple Watch 6, though it does not have the U1 Chip and does not support 5G WiFi. The OLED technology gives the same sharpness and resolution as the other Apple watches.
This watch can probably be the best extension of your iPhone and easily integrate with your devices effortlessly and almost instantly.
Like the Apple 6, you can also bring your music along with you on your way to work. This smartwatch can be the best match for you if you want a watch that has Apple's basic fitness functions. It can be the best fitness companion if you are a nurse with an active lifestyle.
3. Samsung Galaxy Watch 3
This Samsung gear is a worthy Apple contender and may easily be the greatest watch for Android gadget users. Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 returns with its rotating slim bezel and some new tricks.
The bezel is useful and intuitive to use as an alternative to making swiping gestures. It is also thinner than the earlier versions and has a large 360 x 360-pixel always-on watch face display.
It also has an FDA-approved ECG tracker, a fall detection sensor, sleep tracker, and GPS. The great thing about the fall detection sensor is that it may save lives by calling the emergency numbers on your behalf.
Same as with the heart rate tracker that can detect early signs of atrial fibrillation. On the other hand, the sleep-tracker may provide wearers essential insight into their sleep cycles and sleep quality.
It can track a total of 40 activities, and 7 of these can be featured automatically. These life-saving features practically make this watch a great smartwatch for nurses who are Android device users.
With Samsung's Tizen software, you can also easily customize menus and various apps like Apple's WatchOS7. However, the latter offers a smoother and cleaner user- experience.
This Samsung gear comes in two display sizes and can either be 1.2-inch or 1.4-inch. The watch looks more like a traditional watch than a smartwatch but the sleek design makes it wearable even in more formal functions.
It also comes in different colors which can easily suit a nurse's scrubs or uniform with style. The genuine leather straps also add to the aesthetic style of this smartwatch. You can choose to replace the bands with a more suited water-resistant sporty silicone band if you are more of the athletic type nurse.
You can choose your device with the LTE feature for an added premium if you want your Samsung gear to be able to make calls and send messages. Google Assistant can also be installed on this watch. It is exceptional for saving your favorite playlists on-the-go as this smartwatch also boasts of its 8GB music storage.
A unique feature of this watch is its huge 80,000 watch face options. This watch face also come with 40 applications to choose from. It's either complicated, complex, or satisfying, depending on the user.
When it comes to battery life, Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 may last for up to two days. It lasts a few hours longer than the Apple Watch. This feature makes it an adequate reason for nurses who are Android users to consider.
This Samsung smartwatch is the most polished and powerful option against other Android competitors making it the best smartwatch for nurses.
4. Fitbit Sense – The Best Fitbit for a Nurse
Fitbit Sense is another strong competitor for smartwatches in the market. Like the other brands, this Fitbit watch also offers health features like stress and oxygen level monitoring, temperature, fall detection, heart rate, and sleep tracker.
Like the Fitbit Versa, this smartwatch focuses more on the fitness and wellness area. The ECG or heart rate monitor is easy to use and can produce stats in 30 seconds. It can detect possible irregular heart rhythms, heart attacks, and other heart conditions.
Fitbit Sense uses a sweat sensor that the other featured smartwatches don't. It uses electrodermal activity or EDA sensor to determine stress levels in less than two minutes.
It also has a temperature tracker that only runs at night. The device promises to reflect temperature variations to predict fertility in menstrual cycles.
When it comes to fitness tracking, you will be able to achieve goal-based workouts guided by this smartwatch. You will receive real-time notifications and alerts to either push yourself harder or ease off.
The Fitbit Sense has a sleeker design compared to Fitbit Versa. The watch face has a stainless steel edge that makes it a bit thicker. Together with its touchscreen display, you also navigate through it with its haptic side button.
Same with Fitbit Versa, the Sense also has Google Assistant which can help you navigate easier through voice command.
Like other smartwatches, it also has a bright, always-on display and a good battery life of two days. You can turn the screen display off to help boost the battery life to a maximum of 4.5 days.
The Fitbit sense also uses a magnetic charger that can easily attach to the back of the watch.
The bands are also easier to replace with their quick-release buttons. This feature is perfect for nurses who want to wear another watch band outside work or hospital functions.
This smartwatch works with Android phones consistently and smoothly. If you have an iPhone device, you cannot send messages from the Sense to this device. But you can take calls from the watch with its built-in microphone and speaker.
The Fitbit Sense is ideal for health care professionals who want a smartwatch that can last longer. With its strong battery management, it is exemplary for nurses who work long continuous hours on shift - an ideal candidate for the best smartwatch for nurses.
5. Xiaomi Mi Band 3 - The Cheapest Smartwatch
Xiaomi offers most of the primary health features that the other brands have at a reasonable price. So if you want a smart watch on a tight budget, then this one is for you. It may lack some of the primary features of the more expensive brands. However, it comes with other useful features that nurses may need.
Its top features include water-resistance and slim design. This smart watch is comfortable to wear even when sweating because of its silicone material. It is also notably light on your wrists. This feature makes it ideal for those who don't generally wear watches.
It has a 0.78-inch OLED large screen display panel that sits lengthwise on your wrists. The black screen has a blue-tinged display and a screen resolution of 120 x 80 pixels.
However, when you are on the move on a sunny day, you may want to find a shady spot to read your stats easier. It also has a touchscreen face to navigate through the menus.
The design is not perfectly stylish as the other brands. Yet, it comes in three color options that can be matched to any scrub suit or uniform. The downside to this smart watch is that the bands are not replaceable as of this moment.
We certainly hope so that third-party retailers would offer band replacements in the future.
Our Verdict
A smartwatch makes a nurse's life easier in every way possible. Its tools and features make it possible to check a patient's vital signs and keep you connected with friends and family even with a hectic schedule.
As small as these gadgets are, you can easily keep them in your pocket when the situation would not allow you to wear a watch. The flexibility of a smartwatch for nurses extends way beyond anything that a traditional watch can offer.
With new advances in technology, these small gadgets only keep getting smarter. Smartwatches can help save you more time and a better tab on your health check. It acts as an extension of your phone and keeps you connected all the time.
Our top choice for the best smartwatch for nurses is the Apple Watch Series 6. The blood oxygen level tracker is a great addition and will benefit nurses who are always stressed. The S6 chip is also faster than the previous versions. There are many handy features packed in the one device and long battery life makes it one of the best smartwatches for nurses.