Nurses have a hectic work life, which means that they often don’t have time to replace a pen. With much of their work being done on paper documents, they need to ensure that they can rely on their pens.
This doesn’t mean that it should be difficult to find the best writing pens for nurses. We’ve talked to countless professionals in the niche to determine what their needs are in a pen and what the most important features should be.
Much of this focuses on whether it’s easy to clean if it’s water-resistant, how long the ink lasts, and much more. Based on this, there were a variety of pens that stuck out from the crowd.
While they all have their benefits, there are also a few drawbacks. As these can be one of the most important things to have on the job, finding the best accessories for nurses can be mandatory.
10 Best Pens for Nurses on the Market:
1. Pilot G2 Retractable Premium Gel Ink Roller Ball Pens, Fine Pt, Black 10 Pack
Writing with this Pilot G2 can be a breeze, as it provides a significant amount of comfort despite being relatively lightweight. Much of this is driven by a rubber grip that’s been contoured to improve the effect.
Alongside this is that it’s an extra-long pen, which could make it much easier to write with. It’s also both refillable, which means that you shouldn’t need to buy a whole new pen the next time you run out of ink.
The retractable aspect of the pen also means that the ink shouldn’t dry out anytime soon.
People who have bought the pen have like these features, but they’ve also noted that it can take much more pressure to write than many other pens.
- Extra-long ink pen provides a smooth writing experience.
- Contoured grip provides extra comfort.
- Refillable & retractable.
- Needs much more pressure to apply ink.
Finding high-quality retractable pens for nurses can often be difficult. While there are a few that stand out, this should be at the top of your list if you’re considering one.
2. Pilot The Better Retractable Ballpoint Pens
This can be an excellent decision for people who need to take a large number of notes quickly, making it a wise choice for nursing schools. This Pilot the Better pen is lightweight, which means that it can be used quickly and without much effort.
The pen’s ease of use is further enhanced by its fine point, which offers a smooth and fine line when someone’s writing with it. Comfort in use is also on show here with its ribbed grip, which helps to make it easier to use.
Being retractable, it also shouldn’t cause a problem with leaving ink stains in a pocket or wherever it’s kept.
People who’ve bought the pen have noted that these can all be beneficial, though there are drawbacks. One of the more common problems that buyers seem to have was that the pens were too narrow, which may make them more challenging to use for people with big hands. 
- Ribbed grip makes it easier to hold.
- Fine point makes it great for quick note writing.
- Barrell may be too narrow for many people.
As this is so lightweight and easy to use, it can be a great choice for taking down notes. As such, it’s worth a look as one of the best pens for nursing school.
3. Paper Mate InkJoy 300RT Retractable Ballpoint Pens
Color choice is something that matters to a lot of us, especially when it comes to differentiating notes. Many options that provide this may have a significant number of drawbacks, although this Paper Mate isn’t the case.
One of the defining features of this is that it produces smooth, clean lines with ease and without the need for much pressure. Being retractable with a click means that you also shouldn’t have to worry about the pen drying out.
A grip also means that you’ll be able to use it comfortably without placing any strain on your hand.
Buyers of the pen have noted that the color can become patchier and less even with more use, despite how much ink is left inside. This can become progressively worse. 
- Produces clean and smooth lines.
- Comfortable grip for writing with.
- Retractable and clickable design.
- Color can become increasingly patchier with use.
For a variety of colors to choose from, and a clean, smooth line, this should be near the top of your list of buys.
4. Zebra F-301 Ballpoint Stainless Steel Retractable Pen
Style isn’t something that you’ll have to give up when choosing a practical pen. Instead, you may be able to find a few that have a great blend of the two qualities, with this being one of the more notable. Alongside this are a few prominent features to capitalize on.
With the stainless-steel design making it durable, many people would expect that the pen is heavy, although it’s much more lightweight than many people would imagine. Alongside this is the retractability, which means that it shouldn’t dry out quickly.
The pen is also refillable, so you shouldn’t need to keep buying new pens.
People who have bought the pen before have noted that there are a few minor issues with this, however. The most notable of these is that it doesn’t offer too smooth a writing experience, which means that it can be harder to write with than some other pens. 
- Stylish stainless-steel design.
- Durable yet lightweight.
- Refillable and retractable.
- Don’t offer the smoothest writing experience.
If you’re look for functionality combined with a certain amount of style, then this is the choice for you.
5. Pilot Acroball PureWhite Retractable Advanced Ink Ball Point Pens
These can be one of the more stylish pens on the market, as they feature a variety of accents to choose from. The accents are placed on the grip, which means that it both looks and feels great when it’s being used.
This grip is also contoured, with this helping to enhance the comfort levels, which is one of the pen’s better features. These benefits don’t stop there, however, as the pens are refillable, so you shouldn’t have to worry about replacing the pens.
Add in the fact that they’re retractable, and these pens shouldn’t dry out soon.
Buyers of this Pilot pen have noted that they may develop the habit of leaking while you write, although this may be caused by using too much pressure on them. As such, you should handle with care. 
- Contoured grip makes it comfortable.
- More stylish than many other pens.
Who says nurse pens can’t be a little fun? If you’re looking for a refillable pen that has a nice design and comfortable grip, then this should top the list. You may also need a quality planner. Check out our list of the best planners.
6. Pentel Vicuna Advanced Ink Ballpoint Pen
While many pens will be stylish, a significant number of them can look similar, which leads to many people looking for something that’s somewhat more unique. This is where the Pentel Vicuna pen stands out, as it’s one of the more elegant options that people can choose from.
One of the other prominent features includes a finger molded grip that makes it much more comfortable to use. The pen also makes use of a low-viscosity ink, which means that it should offer buyers a smooth writing experience.
People who’ve used this before have noted that the writing can be thinner than people might initially believe, which can be a problem for some.
- Smooth writing experience provided by low-viscosity ink.
- Finger molded grip.
- Elegant and unique design.
- Writing can be thinner than many would like.
If you’re searching for a pen that looks elegant when in use, then this should be one of the first products that you consider and test out.
7. BIC Soft Feel Ball Pen, Black, Fine Point, 12-Count (6)
BIC is one of the more practical brands on the market, which means that you shouldn’t go wrong by choosing one of its pens. Using this one can be quite easy, as it offers much more ease of use than many of its competitors.
This is driven by a few key features, with the most obvious being a wide grip that makes it easy to grasp and write with, which can also help to speed up writing time. Alongside this is the fact that it’s retractable, so there should be minimal ink drying in the chamber.
The largest issue that buyers have noted is that the ink doesn’t last too long, so you may have to replace it regularly. 
- Much easier to grasp and use than others.
- Quick to write with.
- Doesn’t last long.
If you’re looking for more practicality over looks, then this can be the best choice for you.
8. Paper Mate InkJoy 100RT Retractable Ballpoint Pens
Making extensive notes often means that many of us will want a variety of colors to pick from, which will then help us coordinate. The Paper Mate InkJoy set shines in this regard, although there are a few other features to enjoy.
The most notable here is that it produces a reliable flow of smooth ink, so you shouldn’t have to worry about uneven handwriting. Alongside this is an easy to use click-and-retract design.
One key drawback highlighted by customers is that the ink may not last as long as others, which is an issue to look out for. 
- Produces smooth ink reliably.
- Click-and-retract design.
- Variety of colors to choose from.
- Not as long-lasting as others.
When many of us consider the best pens for nurses, we may look for a certain amount of color coordination. If you fall into this category, then this is the choice for you. Also check out our list of best pens for planners.
9. Favourde 22 Pack 0.5mm 6-in-1 Multicolor Ballpoint Pen
Switching colors during note-taking can often be a hassle, although this pen is the easiest way around it, thanks to the fact that it can efficiently change between six colors. There are a variety of other benefits and features to take advantage of.
The first of these is that the ink is completely fade- and smudge-proof, so you shouldn’t have to worry about looking over notes later. Lastly is the smooth flow of ink to ensure that you can write evenly and quickly.
People who’ve bought these before have noted, though, that the design can be flimsier than many competitors. This means that it may break quite quickly, so you’ll have to replace them much more than you may have originally planned. 
- Fade-proof ink.
- Six colors available in one pen.
- Smooth flow of ink.
- Design isn’t as high-quality as others.
If you want to switch between different colors quickly and on-the-go, then this should be your first choice.
10. Jovitec Retractable Ballpoint Pens Multicolor Pens
Dropping pens can be a regular annoyance for many nurses and is something that everybody would like to avoid. This is one of the core benefits of these pens, which is further enhanced by a rubber grip that adds a certain amount of comfort.
Alongside this is the fact that there’s a large range of colors to choose from, which can help to make these a more versatile decision. One of the core benefits of this is that it can allow users to color coordinate their notes, making them much easier to understand.
What many buyers have noted previously, however, is that they tend to break quite easily, so you’ll have to be careful when you use them. This could be driven by a somewhat flimsy design, which means that they also shouldn’t last as long as many competitors. 
- Non-slip.
- Comfortable grip.
- Variety of colors.
- Can break quite easily.
Finding the right nurse pens often means looking for a large amount of convenience, which is why this should be near the top of your list.
Tips on Choosing the Best Nurse Pens
When picking a pen, there are a variety of things that you’ll need to consider, and possibly a few that you may have forgotten. If possible, you should aim to hold the pen and get a general idea of how it feels when in use. You should also try to use it a little before you buy it if this is possible.
When you’re picking one, regardless of whether it’s in-store or online, you should have a general idea of how big you want your pen to be compared to your hand.
Some pens may be too long or too short for some people, with this also applying to the thickness of the pens.
Another tip is to know what the weight of the pen is before you buy. While all pens are light, there are some differences here, which can make a significant impact if you use it a lot.
You can figure this out by knowing the rough weight of your previous pen and basing your decision on that.
It’s worth noting that this could affect how fast you write, as well as in how smooth the writing may be. Heavier pens may have slightly smoother lines, which is something that many people might want to consider.
Lastly, why not look for a little bit of style mixed in with practicality? Everybody wants cool nursing accessories, so you should also figure out whether you like how it looks.
While how easy to use and reliable it is will be vital, many pens now come with various design choices.
This isn’t something you’ll have to compromise on too much, but it will have to be one of the last things you think of when buying it. If you’re trying to pick between two or three pens, then this could be the icebreaker, so have an idea of how you want it to look before you go shopping.
Conclusion
While the above can easily be some of the best pens for nurses, choosing one can be a personal decision. While doing so, you should ensure that you know what your needs are during the workday, which will ensure that you can determine what the right choice for you will be.
That doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t have to pick just one of the pens. You can test out each of them and decide for yourself, which will be the perfect decision for you.
By putting the thought and effort into what you’re looking for, you’ll be able to make a choice, you could be saving from a considerable number of hand-aches.
