Nurses have one of the most demanding and stressful jobs. They work around the clock to provide quality patient care and manage a variety of responsibilities in high-pressure environments like hospitals and clinics. To ensure each one of these tasks is handled with care and professionalism, every nurse must be equipped with the right tools. Some of these tools are life-saving, while others serve to protect themselves and ensure their safety throughout their shift. Here are 3 must-have tools every nurse needs to stay ready and organised and confront any challenges in her workplace with confidence and ease.
Medical Thermometer
Each day nurses come in contact with sick patients who must be properly examined and receive the correct treatment. Among the other key tasks they need to complete, monitoring the patient’s body temperature is crucial for providing accurate care. By correctly measuring their body’s temperature they can get valuable insights into the patient’s health status and check if there are any undergoing inflammation or infection.
Yet without a high-quality thermometer, they won’t be able to detect early signs of fever, infection, or other health issues. This may lead to misdiagnosing the patient and providing an incorrect treatment. For this reason, investing in high-quality instruments for measuring the body’s temperature is of utmost importance. But how do you choose the right ones amidst the plethora of options available? To select the right tool, look for designs by reputable brands that produce a wide range of quality thermometers, such as digital, forehead, dual-mode, and infrared.
Each of these clinical thermometers is specifically designed to give you quick, accurate readings and make your job of accessing the patients’ temperature much easier and more efficient. For example, the Dual Mode Infrared thermometre by WellCare is TGA-approved and features a convenient 2-in-1 function, which allows you to measure accurately both ear and forehead temperature and gain accurate readings with ease.
In addition to these features, this device has a useful memory function that allows nurses and medical staff to recall up to 20 previous results. This feature makes it especially practical if you want to keep track of the patient’s previous temperature results and have a clear picture of how their health progresses over time. Besides this one, you can explore other models by the same brand that provide accurate temperature readings and quick results.
For example, you can opt for the Welcare Ultimate Digital thermometre which includes features such as a reliable memory function, a 5-second reading time, a large backlit jumbo screen that displays readings clearly in either °C or °F, and a useful fever alarm. Each of these features contributes to its outstanding design and exceptional performance. The fever alarm, for instance, can alert nurses if the temperature of their patient spikes to an abnormal height so they can take immediate action.
What’s best is that this device automatically shuts off after completing the measurement to help conserve battery life and ensure long-term use with one charge. By investing in a design from this reputable brand, you can rest assured you have a reliable, fast and high-quality medical tool always by your side. Besides, it’s your responsibility as a nurse to ensure you are well-equipped with the best tools to provide exceptional patient care and stay always ready and well-prepared for any situation that may arise.
Penlight
In addition to supplying yourself with a quality heat detection device, every nurse must keep a reliable penlight always in their pocket.
This small yet incredibly practical medical equipment can help you check the patients’ pupils’ responses with ease and perform quick neurological evaluations. While this is its main function, many nurses use a penlight to examine their patients’ oral health as well and check if there are any signs of infection or abnormalities in the mouth and throat.
Its compact size and ease of use make it practical and useful for storing in your bag and pocket or even attaching to your uniform with a clip. This feature allows nurses to have easy access to this useful tool whenever they need it the most and perform their duties with incredible precision and professionalism.
Gloves
Penlights are no doubt useful, but if you want to protect yourself while helping others when providing patient care, wearing protective gloves is a must. These useful tools will allow you to safeguard yourself from potential bacteria you may come in contact with daily when dealing with sick patients. For example, you can wear gloves when examining the patient’s mouth, cleaning wounds, or simply drawing blood for making diagnostic tests. This can help you reduce the risk of cross-contamination and protect yourself and the patient from potential contaminants that may cause infections or other health complications.
This will allow you to maintain a safe and sterile healthcare environment by wearing protective gloves as a reliable shield against bacteria and viruses when performing essential tasks such as administering injections or conducting examinations. After all, nurses must embody compassion, possess high attention to detail, and stay committed to maintaining the highest health standards of the hospital to ensure their patients’ well-being at all times.
