Can You Correctly ID These Common Pieces of Nursing Equipment?

Nearly every medical professional uses a stethoscope. As a matter of fact, it is one of the most recognizable pieces of medical equipment. Nurses usually have these on hand in case patients complain of chest pains or breathing issues.

Monitoring a patient's blood pressure is important for a lot of reasons. It can help a nurse determine if more medication is necessary or safe. It can also give the nurse insight into a patient's symptoms and general health.

Hand sanitizer is necessary in the medical field. Nurses see many patients with varying degrees of illness, and it is important not to spread germs around the hospital wing or doctor's office.

Hypodermic needles allow nurses to administer medications or draw blood. Though they are a great way for nurses to get the job done quickly, they can be a little dangerous, especially if the patient doesn't stop moving during the procedure.

Any nurse who uses intravenous needles needs a tourniquet on hand. It's a small band that restricts blood flow, making the veins in a patient's arm bulge. This helps the nurse find the vein faster, causing less stress and pain for the patient.

Body temperature can be an important indicator of a health problem, whether the temperature is too high or too low. Several types of thermometer are available, and it's rare these days to see a nurse using one that actually goes in the patient's mouth.

A nurse uses an otoscope for a lot of different things. When a patient complains of ear pain, a nurse will check out the ear canal to see if anything is lodged in there or if inflammation indicates an infection.

A mask is important protective equipment. Not only does it protect the nurse from infectious disease and fluid particles from people who cough, but it also protects patients from any germs that the nurse may carry.

The computer has become one of the most important pieces of equipment that a nurse can use. It is used to record the patient's symptoms and history; this information is immediately available to other medical staff on the network.

Medical clipboards can be found in nearly every patient's room. They are durable and give nurses and medical staff the ability to share notes with doctors. However, these clipboards are rapidly being replaced by computers and tablets.

When a patient opens their mouth so that a nurse can examine their throat, their tongue might get in the way. For this reason, the nurse will use a tongue depressor to hold the tongue down while they take a look back there.

Scrubs are loose-fitting, lightweight clothing that allows nurses and other health professionals to move quickly and efficiently. They also promote cleanliness, for the protection of both staff and patients.

A medical penlight is used to help a nurse gauge a patient's pupil response or dilation. It can also help medical professionals see into the throat (with the help of a tongue depressor). A penlight is a very common tool that nurses generally carry on them at all times.

Trauma shears are also known as dressing scissors. They have a rounded tip, to avoid puncturing or hurting the patient while they cut through either bandages or clothing. These shears are strong enough to cut through a penny.

A pulse oximeter uses light to measure oxygen saturation in the patient's blood. This helps a nurse determine if any additional measures are necessary to stabilize the patient. The device can be attached to a finger, toe, forehead, ear or nose.

A nurse can wear pretty much any watch they please. However, some professional and medical watches offer useful features, such as a red second hand to make taking a patient's pulse a bit easier. Some are designed to hang from a pocket or collar, with the face oriented upside-down for easy viewing.

Nervousness, dizziness and a rapid heartbeat are all symptoms of low blood sugar. If a patient complains of these symptoms, a nurse would most likely want to test their blood sugar. The nurse would then report back to a doctor regarding what could be wrong with the patient.

A rolling vital signs cart holds all of the equipment a nurse might need. It is portable and hands-free. It contains items that monitor blood pressure, temperature and heart rates.

If you've spent time in the hospital, chances are you've had one of these in your arm. It is a simple tube that doctors and nurses use to administer various fluids and medications to patients.

Health professionals use gurneys for a variety of reasons. They are generally used to transport a patient from one ward to another or take them to and from an operating room if they need surgery.

A patient-controlled analgesia pump (PCA pump) is designed to help patients who have chronic or intense pain. The device ensures that the patient can't overdose, but allows them to administer a pain reliever as needed. This helps nurses avoid repeated trips to a patient's room.

A bassinet cart is a great piece of equipment for new parents and hospital staff. It is stocked with everything the child needs, and it provides a cozy place for the baby to sleep.

A peak flow meter is used to measure the force at which air is released from a patient's lungs. The patient must blow into the device as hard as they can to get an accurate result. Nurses who work with asthma patients usually have these on hand.

A cardiopulmonary monitor allows nurses to monitor the heart rate, cardiac rhythm and respiratory rate of a patient. This is especially necessary for patients who can't discuss their symptoms with the nurse.

A suture tray is an organized set of tools for doctors and nurses to use when giving a patient stitches. It usually includes suture materials, gauze and various other tools that are necessary to ensure a successful procedure.

A blood gas analyzer tells medical professionals a great deal about a patient's blood. While certain devices only tell them about oxygen levels, a blood gas analyzer can reveal the levels of blood oxygen, carbon dioxide, pH, potassium and more.

An arterial line is also known as an art-line. It is a catheter for the artery. With this device, a medical professional can get blood pressure readings as well as draw blood samples from a patient under anesthesia or in intensive care.

Foley catheters are used for a variety of reasons. If a patient is bedridden, a catheter is often necessary for proper waste disposal. It can also be used to monitor urine production or to collect urine samples for testing.

There are two types of tubes that can be inserted and lead to the stomach. The nasogastric tube goes through the nose to the stomach, and the orogastric tube goes through the mouth to the stomach. Both tubes allow nurses to remove contents from the stomach or add contents to the stomach.

While most older children and adults can stand on a scale and remain still until their weight is determined, infants aren't able to do so. A pediatric scale allows the nurse to lay the infant down to determine an accurate weight, without disturbing the baby.

Restraints are usually made of soft but strong cloth or nylon, allowing medical professionals to keep a patient still while they administer medication or perform a procedure. Restraints are also necessary for patients who do not cooperate with staff, who may harm themselves or who are disoriented.

A nebulizer helps a patient breathe. The device is used to add or remove humidity for the patient as well as administer medication through a vaporizer. A tube connects the base unit to a mouthpiece or mask.

An oxygen concentrator pulls oxygen from ambient air and filters out nitrogen, creating concentrated oxygen for the patient to breathe. This helps raise blood oxygen levels for patients with asthma, pneumonia or other conditions.

Warming cabinets or blanket warmers do what the name implies — they heat linens and blankets to help keep patients warm. Studies show that patients who are kept warm before and after surgery often recover faster.

Phototherapy blankets are often called biliblankets in the nursing world. Infants with jaundice are wrapped in these blankets. They provide UV light to help reduce bilirubin levels.

Disposable resuscitators are most often used in emergency response vehicles to help patients who are not breathing. However, these devices are also used in hospital settings, for emergencies, for transporting patients who need a ventilator, or in case a mechanical ventilator malfunctions.

Medical tape is used to hold IVs in place and apply bandages. This essential tool is available in a variety of types. Depending on the situation, the ideal tape should be waterproof, easy to tear or easy to remove from skin.

A saline flush is used to clear out an IV, or intravenous line. Without this device, a hospital patient would have to endure more discomfort — their IV would have to be replaced every time it got clogged.

A ventilator, also called a respirator, keeps oxygen flowing through a patient's lungs when they cannot breathe on their own. Nurses in hospitals work with these quite a bit, monitoring airflow and patient progress.