Nurse pens: What are the best pens for nurses?

In the fast-paced world of nursing, every second counts. Nurses need reliable and efficient writing tools that enable them to focus on patient care without distraction. Imagine a scenario where a pen skips while taking critical notes or bleeds ink onto essential documents. It’s simply not an option.

To address these challenges, we embarked on a mission to uncover the needs and preferences of nurses when it comes to their most essential tool: the humble pen. Talking with local and national nurses gave us invaluable insights into the specific tasks where a reliable pen is indispensable. The demands on a nurse’s pen are diverse, from charting to lab work, medication updates, and patient-related documentation.

Armed with this knowledge, we’ve created a list of factors to consider when buying a pen for a nurse. We’ve also curated a selection of pens that meet and exceed the expectations of nurses in various healthcare settings, from bustling hospitals and surgeries to hospices and intimate nursing homes.

Join us as we delve into the world of the best pens for nurses to empower them in their vital work.

Considerations when buying a nurse pen

Several critical factors must be considered when selecting the perfect pen for a nurse. These include the type of pen, the ink colour, and the pen’s design.

Pen type

Nurses need an effortless pen to work swiftly without fear of smudging or streaking.

Fountain pens, while elegant, typically prove too time-consuming for the fast-paced demands of nursing. Additionally, their ink tends to be wet, posing the risk of smudging essential documents.

Similarly, rollerball pens, though smooth, often feature watery ink that can bleed or smudge.

For the practical needs of a nurse, a reliable ballpoint pen emerges as the optimal choice, offering simplicity and quick-drying ink for seamless documentation.

Ink colour

The choice of ink colour varies depending on the nurse and their workplace, but you can’t go wrong with black ink with quick-drying and fade-resistant properties.

Consider red, blue, and green pens alongside black for nurses needing colour-coded systems or differentiation.

Whether you choose classic black or embrace a spectrum of hues, the goal is to select pens that facilitate clear and efficient communication, aiding nurses in their daily responsibilities.

Capped vs retractable

Ballpoint pens come in two main styles: capped and retractable, each with advantages and drawbacks.

Retractable pens are typically ideal for nurses, eliminating concerns about lost or dropped caps and the inconvenience of retrieving them from places. With a simple click, the nib is concealed, saving time and effort, especially during busy shifts.

However, retractable pens have a potential downside for nurses who keep their pens in their top pockets or on lanyards. There’s a risk of forgetting to retract the nib before stowing the pen away, leading to leaks or ink stains — a hassle nurses can do without in their demanding schedules.

While most nurses prefer the convenience of retractable pens, some still opt for capped pens for the added safety measure they provide.

A pen clip

A sturdy clip is an essential feature of top-quality nurse pens, allowing them to be securely fastened to pockets or clipboards without slipping or falling.

A hole in the clip proves advantageous for nurses who prefer to wear their pens on lanyards, providing an additional option for secure attachment. Even without a hole, though, a strong clip often ensures reliable enough placement on lanyards, offering peace of mind during busy shifts where pens are constantly used.

General design

Comfort is paramount for any pen user, but it’s essential for nurses who jot down copious notes daily.

Nurses would benefit from the opportunity to test various pens to determine their weight, barrel width, and grip section shape preferences. However, nurses are busy, so it’s wise to err on the side of caution. Choose a pen with a heavier weight, wider barrel, and ergonomic grip — or at least one of these.

A weighty pen enhances comfort during prolonged use and contributes to legible handwriting — a valuable asset when nurses scribble hurriedly. A wide barrel and ergonomic grip can make handling the pen easier.

Choosing a brightly coloured pen can prove advantageous, ensuring it remains easily visible if dropped in a medical setting.

Personalisation adds another layer of practicality, making it clear whose pen it is within the team. Plus, who doesn’t love a personalised pen?

The best pens for nurses

Here’s a selection of our favourite nurse pens, chosen with real medical staff in mind.

The Tombow AirPress pen

True to its name, the Tombow AirPress pen revolutionises writing with its ingenious pressurised refill system. Each extension of the pen’s tip pressurises the ink refill, delivering an impressive 150 metres of continuous writing without skipping or faltering, regardless of the writing angle.

This innovative tool effortlessly tackles writing challenges like dust, wet paper, and plastic, ensuring uninterrupted writing performance in any environment.

Crafted for optimal comfort, the AirPress features a wide, rubberised grip that enhances writing ergonomics. Its robust clip securely attaches to pockets, while a convenient loop allows easy lanyard attachment. Available in sleek Black, vibrant Orange, crystal-clear Transparent, or pristine White, each pen boasts a transparent barrel window, offering a fascinating glimpse of the bolt moving in the pressure chamber.

Delivering rich black ink with every stroke, the Tombow AirPress pen offers exceptional value for money, catering to the diverse needs of nurses with its compact, retractable design and unparalleled performance.

The Lamy Safari ballpoint pen

Designed for comfort and functionality, the Lamy Safari boasts an ergonomic triangular grip that ensures a comfortable writing experience, even during extended use. Its robust metal clip adds versatility, allowing the pen to hang on a pocket or lanyard for quick access.

At an affordable price, the Safari features a durable resin body that offers excellent resilience against accidental drops, providing peace of mind for nurses on the go. Notably longer than the Tombow AirPress by a full 20mm, it caters to those seeking a slightly longer pen without compromising performance.

The Safari allows for self-expression and is available in various vibrant colours, including Red, Yellow, Green, Blue, Pink, White, Charcoal, and Gloss Black. Keep an eye out for annual limited edition releases for an extended collection of colours.

Supplied with a reliable black ink refill, the Lamy Safari ballpoint pen combines affordability, durability, and style, making it an ideal choice for any nurse.

The Waterman Allure ballpoint pen

Designed for those with a discerning taste and a bigger budget, the Waterman Allure ballpoint pen exudes elegance with its smooth, weighty metal body and choice of three exquisite pastel colours. These are complemented by chrome trims, ensuring the writing tool looks good and feels exceptional.

Crafted for practicality, the pen’s clip features a convenient slit, allowing nurses to securely store it in their pocket or attach it to their lanyard for easy access. The Allure’s retractable design eliminates the hassle of fiddly buttons, offering a simple solution for nurses on the move — press down the cap section for swift deployment.

The Allure is supplied with a blue refill, so for those seeking a classic black ink option, it’s advisable to add additional black refills to your shopping basket.

With its style, functionality, and effortless usability, the Waterman Allure Ballpoint Pen is a sophisticated choice for nurses seeking both form and function.

The Fisher Space AG7 Astronaut pen

The Fisher Space AG7 Astronaut pen symbolises innovation and reliability and is a real treat for any nurse. Crafted from chrome-coated solid brass, this ballpoint bullet pen is reassuringly weighty and durable.

Despite its sleek design, it doesn’t compromise on functionality. With a convenient retractable mechanism activated by a button on the barrel and a practical clip for easy accessibility, it’s a great companion for any nurse.

The pen features a narrow barrel but the AG7 compensates with its substantial weight and ribbed grip section, ensuring a comfortable writing experience.

What truly sets this pen apart is its unparalleled performance under extreme conditions — it writes flawlessly on plastics and coated papers, upside down, underwater, through grease, and in zero gravity. Its credentials speak volumes, having been used on the historic Apollo 7 space mission in 1968 after rigorous testing by NASA. Since then, it has been the exclusive writing instrument on all manned space flights.

Supplied with a black ink refill, the AG7 offers convenience straight out of the box, though additional refills are available for those seeking colour variation.

If you’re buying this pen as a gift or treating yourself, take advantage of our complimentary engraving service to add a personal touch and ensure it doesn’t get lost. Consider a name, nickname, or special message.

In summary, the Fisher Space AG7 Astronaut Pen transcends ordinary writing instruments, offering something most can’t —historical significance. It’s an exceptional choice for those who appreciate the extraordinary. Some might say it’s out of this world!