Best Smartwatch for Nurses (2022)

When you’re shopping for the very best smartwatches for nurses, there are a few factors you need to consider and keep in mind.

First of all, you’ll probably want to purchase a waterproof watch, because nurses end up washing their hands quite often during the course of a shift.

You’ll probably also want to avoid a smartwatch with a large case, since something that’s a little oversized might cause you to bump into equipment fairly often and feel heavy on your wrist as well.

You’ll also need to consider the functionality of the smartwatch and whether it provides hands-free support, so that you don’t have to constantly consult your phone while dealing with patients.

Lastly, you should probably look for a smartwatch with a very long battery life, because nurses tend to work long shifts at least occasionally, so you’ll need a battery that can last a while between charges.

After considering these criteria and a few others, we have come up with a number of smartwatches that are ideal for nurses, and these are the ones we have described below.

I personally know several nurses, including my wife, and most of them heartily endorse the picks we have included in this article.

In fact, two of these nurses have actually purchased smartwatches from our list after learning about some of their operating features.

1. Fitbit Versa Smartwatch

With this smartwatch, all your daily activities can be tracked 24/7, including your heart rate, sleep stages, and any of fifteen different exercise modes like running or swimming.

That means you can record your workouts and connect to a smartphone to download the workout information.

The Fitbit versa is water resistant up to 50 meters deep, although it may not be advisable to wear it in a sauna or hot tub.

The battery will last for a full four days, depending on how the watch is used, and when you need to charge it, the charge time will be approximately two hours.

It’s very slim and comfortable on your wrist, so it won’t interfere with your nursing duties, and it won’t get caught on any of the equipment you use during your shift.

If you want to use your Fitbit Versa for entertainment, you can store as many as 300 songs or more for playback at your convenience.

When doing workouts, you can have them playing right on your wrist, and guiding you through every motion relative to the workout.

You can also track the number of laps you’re swimming and record the number of stair flights you climb. All in all, this is an excellent smartwatch that can be used in quite a few different modes, and it’s excellent at all of them.

2. Apple Watch Series 6 Smartwatch

This is one of the best smartwatches for nurses who wish to use it with their iPhone, and it supports Wi-Fi and cellular use.

It also allows for sleep tracking and fitness tracking and it’s water-resistant up to 50 meters. If there’s a drawback to this watch, it’s that it’s only compatible with Apple devices, and it has a lower battery life than some of the other selections on our list.

For anyone who regularly uses an iPhone, the Apple Watch Series 6 may be the best possible smartwatch you can buy.

Series 6 is the current most functional model from Apple, and it can be purchased in two sizes, which are 40 mm and 44 mm cases.

If you have a small wrist and don’t want to feel like your smartwatch is over-sized, the smaller version of this smartwatch will be ideal.

In addition to tracking sleep and fitness, it provides advanced health metrics like continuous heart monitoring, blood oxygen levels, your pulse rate, and even ECG readings.

You can also use it to make contactless payments when using the proprietary Apple pay functionality.

The water resistance feature will allow you to safely expose the Series 6 watch to water throughout your nursing shift without sustaining any damage.

With Wi-Fi data and cellular support, you’ll be able to associate a separate cell line with your watch, and that will allow you to go completely hands-free during your entire nursing shift.

It also has a very useful feature called Fall Detection, which automatically sends a notification to anyone you have listed in your emergency contacts when you sustain a fall.

3. Samsung Galaxy Watch 3

The thing that makes this smartwatch one of the best on the market, is its stunning design, and it’s superior specifications.

The Samsung Galaxy 3 can operate seamlessly and is completely reliable in functioning without any glitches.

Probably the lone drawback to this smartwatch is its average battery life, and if that’s not a deal-breaker for you, this is definitely a smartwatch to keep in mind.

It has a classic circular display design that includes a rotating raised bezel which permits the user to cycle quickly and easily between menus.

It has a large screen that provides excellent visibility so you can see everything at a glance, and it’s waterproof, so you won’t hurt it during all those hand-washings.

It’s capable of providing advanced health monitoring, providing access to blood pressure readings and EKG readings.

Some of its newer fitness capabilities allow you to track daily activities, workout sessions, and additional monitoring of a number of health factors, so that you don’t unknowingly start to slip into some kind of medical condition.

4. Fossil Gen 4 Explorist HR Smartwatch

This sleek smartwatch is available with a wide array of watch faces, so you’ll definitely be able to find one that fits your wrist and doesn’t get in the way of your daily nursing duties.

It provides Wear OS support for Google integration, and it also has untethered GPS support. You can use it for text notifications, phone calls, and updates to your calendar.

The smartwatch is powered by Google’s Wear OS operating system, and it can be paired with both Android and Apple devices.

Since it has the Wear OS interface, you’ll be able to have an immersive experience with any Google-backed apps, including Google Play, Google Pay, Google Calendar, Google Assistant, and Gmail. There is less functionality available for iPhone users, but the compatibility factor is still there.

You’ll be able to continuously track your heart rate, do fitness tracking, and also select a number of different activity profiles.

It’s water-resistant up to 30 meters, but it should not be used during a swimming session or a hot tub session. You can manage your music selections on the watch and play them back at any time.

It has a decent battery life that will last for at least 24 hours, depending on how the smartwatch is used, and you might be able to boost that up to two days.

It only takes one hour to accomplish a full recharge of your smartwatch, so it won’t require a great deal of charging time.

5. Samsung Gear Sport

Some of the best features about this smartwatch include its accurate 24/7 fitness tracking, personal coaching during workouts, and its easy recording of calories and workout data.

The Gear Sport is water-resistant up to 50 meters and can even be worn in a swimming pool or during a hot tub session. You’ll be able to check updates and receive replies to text and calls simply by turning the bezel.

This is obviously a support device for Samsung phones, so if you already own a Samsung phone, you’ll be able to have connectivity between your two devices.

The Gear Sport smartwatch functions with all Android phones as well as all Apple phones, and it can control a number of different smart devices.

It can even interface with your Samsung television and any other smart appliances you might have at home, such as door locks or lighting.

Of course, it also includes all the standard health tracking and fitness tools.

The software included with the smartwatch features Samsung Pay, which you can use as a payment method at any retailer that has a compatible system.

This is a smartwatch that has excellent durability, so if you happen to bang it up a bit on your nursing shift, it will still keep ticking.

It’s available in several different colors and some models even include Bluetooth connectivity, which is effective up to a range of about 30 ft with any paired device.

Summary

All the devices that made our Best Of list supply you with health tracking features as well as fitness tracking capability.

Some are compatible with both Android and iPhone devices, so you can establish connectivity between both devices, which many nurses find very handy.

The smartwatches described above are all fairly durable too, so they’ll be able to withstand the rigors of your nursing shift without being damaged.

If you like a watch with loads of features, the watches on our list will keep you happy as you check out all the included capabilities.

It may be that your biggest issue will be to find a smartwatch which provides a good fit for your wrist, and does not get in the way of your daily nursing duties.