Tools of
the
Trade;Tools that nurses use
in day to day activities. Choose
one below to find out more!
Thermometer · Stethoscope · Computer · Blood Pressure Cuff · Watch · Tape Measure · Snellen Chart · Weight Scale · Height Bar · Pulse Oximeter · Glucometer · Otoscope · Ophthalmoscope
Remember all you can! There is a fun QUIZ you can
take at the bottom of the page.
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Measures body temperature. Two kinds of thermometers are glass and digital. Normal temperature is about 98.6 F. or 37 C. Things that make a person’s temperature change: time of day (lower in early morning); environmental temperature (temperature outdoors); exercise; illness; infection; prolonged exposure to cold
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Instrument to listen to
body sounds: blood pressure; abdominal sounds; breathing
sounds
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A watch that counts seconds is one of the nurse's most important tools. It is impossible to do many nursing activities without a watch, such as counting a person's pulse or respirations (breathing).
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A tape
measure is used for several health measurements: to learn
a babys length, head size, chest size; with adults to
check swelling in ankles; abdominal size.
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Snellen Chart (Eye Chart)
| This chart is used to
test how well you see (visual acuity). The chart you see
has letters. For little children who don’t read, charts
have pictures they can identify (such as a boat or a
star). Each eye is tested separately - one eye is covered
while the other reads the chart.
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Height Bar & Weight Scale
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Boys and
girls get taller every year. During their teenage years
they usually reach their full adult height.
The height bar is used to measure height. A scale shows how much a person weighs. The measurements from the height bar and scale are used to tell if a person weighs too much or too little for his/her height.
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This instrument does two
things: it counts the pulse rate (how fast the heart is
beating) and measures how much oxygen is in the blood.
Numbers appear on the face of the machine that tell the
nurse the pulse rate and the percent of oxygen in the
blood. |
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This is a very important tool for some diabetics to help keep their "sugar" levels normal and prevent serious illness. This tool measures the amount of glucose (a type of sugar) in the blood. Nurses take blood from a finger or vein, place a drop on a special paper-like "strip" and put it in the machine. In a few seconds a number appears on the face of the instrument that tells if the blood glucose is normal. Nurses teach diabetics how to do this at home and what to do if the blood glucose is too high or too low. |
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| This instrument is used to look in ears. A tiny light allows the nurse to see the ear canal " and the ear drum. |
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This instrument is used to see inside the eye. It has a small bright light to make the inside of the eye visible |
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