What pen for a doctor?

[niksch]

They came through all the labs and collected and got rid of all of the mercury thermometers remaining. If they find any when we're inspected, we get a deficiency.

 

 

Uh. My wife says mercury is really bad. Something about poisonous.

[yachtsilverswan]

Uh. My wife says mercury is really bad. Something about poisonous.

 

Since "Alice in Wonderland" is now back in theaters (stupendous family movie), it's worth remembering that the Mad Hatter was "mad" because hatters used mercury in the curing of animal pelts and the inhaled mercury vapors led over time to irreversible neurologic damage.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mad_Hatter#Mad_as_a_hatter

 

Your wife, like her better half, seems like a smart cookie.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LjMkNrX60mA

Edited March 13, 2010 by yachtsilverswan

[TWRDO]

Nah, you've got it all wrong. A doctor pen, a true doctor's pen, has a thermometer integrated into it, or a set with a thermometer in a matching housing. Here.

I got this Waterman set on eBay recently. They are often called "nurse sets", but I think anyone in the medical profession can enjoy them!

 

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2621/4159779314_041ab45a60_o.jpg

 

I also have an Esterbrook nurse set, but no thermometer holder. (they exist, but are difficult to find!)

--Stephen

 

That's right about a traditional vintage doctor's pen. From what I've read, nurse's pens actually came in sets of 3, each with a different colored jewel, which matched the color of ink used by the 3 8-hour shifts in a day.

[Ondina]

Any pen you think the recipient would like will be a good one. Stainless steel cleans wonderfully and can go into the autoclave if c/c. Docs normally have no much free time to go around refilling, cleaning, etc., so large ink capacity is convenient (and rules out the VP). If the pen is not to be used in a hospital but in a private practice, buy whatever would be enjoyed the most. There are hundreds of pens that will be worth. Just think on the user. The Agatha C. is fabulous, but so is a C.S. Plumage, a Visconti Skeleton, a Sheaffer Balance II in Amber Glow, a Pelikan M400 White Tortoise.... Whenever I gift, I think of the person tastes first, not my own, and then try to be practical -a practical gift gets to be used-. I like semiflex nibs for Doctors pens; the signature and writing gets so very genuine that makes them unique. Gift the pen with some matching adequate ink, it makes it even more personal.

http://i348.photobucket.com/albums/q347/Ondina_2008/k1607351173.jpg

Edited March 13, 2010 by Ondina

[jinmar]

I have never liked any of the "doctor" pens I have EVER seen (and I like a lot of different pens).

 

I don't like the OMAS.

The Conway Stewart seems nice.

Can you point others please?

[hrjunior]

My Neurosurgeon is a fp user, and in addition to a couple of ballpoints in his pocket, he also carries a Pilot Vanishing Point. While writing notes for patient records, he uses a tablet device of some sort, he uses his Vanishing point to hand write prescriptions.

 

I'm a physician and I write a lot. If your wife work at particular office I advise a gorgeous FP, as Montblanc Marlene Dietrich. If she works more at hospital, give her a less attractive and more practical, as Pilot Vanish Pont, specially Décimo - it is lighter that traditional. And there are in several colors! Give her a white (I've one) and others various colors!

Edited March 13, 2010 by hrjunior

[jinmar]

For standard versions, I like the Pelikan M400 Tortoise and the VP.

For pens with something more or less related to medicine, I like the Conway Stewart and the Agatha Christy.

 

She's working at office, so I can choose a real gorgeous FP related to medicine, but a simple one, not too bling-bling.

[tm3]

my interest in FP took off when i worked with a cardiology fellow who carried an MB 149, and used it to write all of his progress notes in the charts. i'm still attracted to that pen but have yet to own one.

 

from a standpoint of practicality, you might consider a matching FP/BP set as paper charts contain a variety of paper qualities as well as pages with carbons.

[Jeff E]

You might want to consider starting with something rock solid reliable that doesn't scream "Look at me!". The Lamy 2000 comes to mind. Of course, so people don't want to fill from a bottle. Another possibility is a Sheaffer Prelude.

[churl]

Someone mentioned autoclaving. That is a bad idea. Autoclaving would deform any plastic elements, including a feed.

 

I think how your wife will use the pen would be important. If she is rounding in the hospital, she might like the VP Decimo for its functionality. It's a very practical pen for going from room to room. If not the VP, then a pen without a screw on cap would be nice too.

 

If she is in clinic or has other responsibilities, then she would likely be able to use any FP without problems. But I would make sure it's a reliable writer. All my hard starters or dry writers never come to work with me because it has to write the first try. Medical records and scripts are legal documents, after all.

 

As far as ink capacity, there's not a lot of writing to be done for medical documentation. It is becoming more and more electronic. We are also encouraged to use dictation services for longer items. So I think any filling system would be fine.

[Ondina]

Someone mentioned autoclaving. That is a bad idea. Autoclaving would deform any plastic elements, including a feed.

 

 

Hi, churl, that was me. There is a ss Papermate that endured a decade of it without a blink, but you're correct most plastics will not endure classic autoclaving. The latest generation low pressure autoclaves, and specially the microwave heated microautoclaves that the aerospace industry uses to makes possible to sterilize most plastics. Not very affordable yet, but they will get there....

[kushbaby]

They came through all the labs and collected and got rid of all of the mercury thermometers remaining. If they find any when we're inspected, we get a deficiency.

 

 

Uh. My wife says mercury is really bad. Something about poisonous.

 

Yup. That's why it's not allowed anymore, even in enclosed thermometers (because of the risk if broken). Which is why they took them all away...

 

 

I have never liked any of the "doctor" pens I have EVER seen (and I like a lot of different pens).

 

I don't like the OMAS.

The Conway Stewart seems nice.

Can you point others please?

 

I honestly can't list them for you, but I've run across a few over the years. I think the "Ugh!" reaction causes me to block out the names of the pens. They all seem really unattractive to me.

[Pfhorrest]

Why, the original OMAS doctor's pen in black hardened rubber!

[tanalasta]

I think choose whatever she thinks feels best in her hand and calls out to her. A fountain pen choice is a very personal decision when it comes to selecting a daily writer.

 

Practically, the VP's are nice from their one handed click operation. Their limited capacity and fiddly convertor (hard to see remaining ink) is an annoyance. If she uses cartridges and/or want to refill out of a syringe, it is a less of an issue.

 

To be honest, I flushed and put away my VP. The L2K was my daily writer before I sent it off to Binder. Never lend your pen to a patient to sign something.

 

I alternate between a Sailor 1911 or Professional Gear or Pelikan M600 (blue). Still thinking whether the MB146(plat trim) is too flash for work. The Pelikan is easier to unscrew/screw back on as it's only a 3/4 turn but the EF writes a bit more like a F/M. I think what I'm trying to say is 'pick a pen that calls to your wife' rather than 'pick a pen suitable for a doctor'.

Edited March 14, 2010 by tanalasta

[Michael R.]

Here is an image of the modern (c. 2000) Omas LE Doctor's pen:

 

http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn140/PENSnINKS/For%20Sale/OmasDoctorsclosed.jpg

 

The rather unusual shape follows the shape of Omas' early doctor's pens from the 1920's. The extra space in the barrel houses the thermometer.

 

The modern limited edition just uses the design elements and unusual shape but does not have a thermometer anymore but a silver barrel decorated with a medical theme.

 

Cheers

 

Michael

[jinmar]

It's not my prefered one. I would prefer a clip symbol instead of the whole pen.

[pinkscrubs]

I agree completely! I use the Vanishing Point at the hospital, it is a perfect work horse. The ability to click and retract the nib is important when you are writing many notes and have to move quickly. My husband uses a Namiki Falcon, but admits he regrets not getting a vanishing point because of convenience. If your wife will only use it to sign prescriptions or will not take it to work, it does not matter very much. Personally I would rather have something practical or classy looking (Montblanc or Krone sterling silver) than gimmicky.

 

 

My Neurosurgeon is a fp user, and in addition to a couple of ballpoints in his pocket, he also carries a Pilot Vanishing Point. While writing notes for patient records, he uses a tablet device of some sort, he uses his Vanishing point to hand write prescriptions.

 

I'm a physician and I write a lot. If your wife work at particular office I advise a gorgeous FP, as Montblanc Marlene Dietrich. If she works more at hospital, give her a less attractive and more practical, as Pilot Vanish Pont, specially Décimo - it is lighter that traditional. And there are in several colors! Give her a white (I've one) and others various colors!

[kaissa]

What pen related to medicine would you recommend for a present?

 

Do you have any advice? Can you share any information about a nice "doctor pen"?

 

Pelikan M205 White. http://www.estilograficas.org/imagenes/firmas/pelikan/pelikan-Classic-205/pelikan-Classic-205-1.jpg

[professionaldilettante]

What ever she likes. Take her shopping, and she'll be thrilled that you did. I wouldn't like a "doctor pen" just because I was a doctor. It would be the same as buying your husband/wife apple themed things just because they were a school teacher. I would rather have a pen, thought out that was just for me as who I am as a person, rather than my occupation. Get her something that she likes, and you can't go wrong there.

[jinmar]

What ever she likes. Take her shopping, and she'll be thrilled that you did. I wouldn't like a "doctor pen" just because I was a doctor. It would be the same as buying your husband/wife apple themed things just because they were a school teacher. I would rather have a pen, thought out that was just for me as who I am as a person, rather than my occupation. Get her something that she likes, and you can't go wrong there.

 

You're right. However, she likes his job and a nice pen and moreover connected to medicine will also be a good choice. However, as stated by Pinscrubs, the most important is to find a practical and/or classy pen.