Some nurse practitioners may want the best and most complicated piece of equipment that comes out for patient care. Others may focus on sticking with the most essential pieces of equipment for their patient care. Neither way is incorrect and what type of practice a nurse practitioner is engaged in will probably determine what equipment he or she needs. In today’s blog post we are touching on the basic and most common pieces of medical equipment for nurse practitioners.
Professional Sphygmomanometer
Difficult to say, a sphygmomanometer (pronounced ‘sfig-mow-muh-naa-muh-tr’) is a blood pressure monitor device that also assesses a patient’s heart rate. This is critical in helping to identify heart health and any potential medical conditions of the patient. There are different types of blood pressure devices including standard sphygmomanometers and blood pressure monitors. Blood pressure monitors may be capable of taking blood pressure with the press of a button and maintain historical patient records for future analysis. Sphygmomanometers allow manual control on the pressure gauge precisely, while BPM’s do not allow for the use of a stethoscope when measuring blood pressure. More information on sphygmomanometers can be found here.
Premium Stethoscope
Probably the most recognizable piece of medical equipment on the planet is the stethoscope. It can be used separately to hear heartbeats, breathing and heart rhythm, or it can be used in conjunction with a sphygmomanometer. The first stethoscope was invented in France in 1816 by Rene Laennec. We have come a long way from the wooden piece of 1816. Most of the advancements on stethoscopes started in the 1960s. The stethoscope continues to be an invaluable tool for all medical professionals, especially nurse practitioners with new advancements. Recent advancements include tunable diaphragms, ambient noise reduction and even Bluetooth stethoscope connectivity.
Comfortable Footwear
The least flashy and possibly the most important of equipment for nurse practitioners, footwear is essential for those long 12-hour shifts. Medical care providers can spend a lot of time on their feet going from patient to patient. Failure to take care of your feet can lead to back problems, foot problems, and more medical problems than you need. Find the type of shoes that work for you regardless of aesthetics.
Pulse Oximeter
Pulse oximeters are used to monitor a patient’s blood oxygen levels. Just by clipping this small piece of medical equipment to a patient’s finger you can determine how well oxygen is binding to your patient’s red blood cells. Some medical professionals believe that a pulse oximeter may be helpful in early detection of COVID-19 in patients. While the jury is still out on pulse oximeters’ impact on COVID-19 detection, this piece of equipment is a quality option for any medical provider’s office.
Medical Books/medical Guides
I hope you did not think that reading ended in nursing school or studying for the Boards. With any profession comes the necessity to always learn. Keeping up with new medical techniques and training is important in order to offer the best care to your patients. While you will have opportunities to gain knowledge through CME courses, having a handy guide to reference will help when you need to look something up on the fly. In order to keep learning and keep growing your medical knowledge, you should have a strong medical library (either online or physical) filled with practical information along with guides for quick refreshers. If you are a nurse practitioner who is planning on opening a medical office with a primary physician or if you are considering expanding, you can always learn more about the business side of running a medical office. The objective as a professional, and as an intelligent person, is to always be learning. Medical books and medical guides are the tools to increase your knowledge, patient care, and profit.
If you are facing professional license discipline, make sure you know what steps you need to take to safeguard your livelihood. North State Law defends all types of professional licenses throughout the state of North Carolina. Call us today at 919-521-8810 if your professional license is in danger.
Nothing in this post is intended as legal advice and nothing herein establishes an attorney-client relationship.