Wedding rings at work

[studentnursemon86]

I just recently got engaged, and while I love my ring, I'm afraid to wear it to work. I'm an ER technician at a relatively busy ER. My nurse and doctor coworkers wear their rings but I am afraid. It will be insured by next week and I am considering wearing it then; but this ring was not cheap; my fiancé did a great job and scored a 1ct center diamond. Any advice on whether to wear my ring or not? I'm considering getting a costume ring or something to wear in it's place.

[akulahawkRN, ADN, RN, EMT-P]

Disclaimer: I'm clearly a guy...

I have been doing patient care for quite a long time, even before I was married. I've been married for quite a while and I do wear my wedding ring at work and while doing clinical at school. My ring is absolutely plain and has no sharp edges on it at all. I don't remove my ring except to ensure it's clean and when I do that, I also check my skin under the ring to ensure that it's still intact. I'm very familiar with problems that the "typical" wedding rings and bands that women wear and from "a guy's" perspective, knowing what a headache those things can be, if my wife was working in a similar occupation where she had to wear gloves for her own protection, I wouldn't feel at all slighted about her choosing to wear a "plain" ring while at work and the "nice" set elsewhere, or for that matter, taking the rings off and wearing them as a necklace. My wife doesn't work in healthcare, rather she works in childcare and only very rarely has to wear gloves. Fortunately, she has also never had her gloves tear...

[ShelbyaStar]

I don't take mine off. But my fiance knows me well enough to know that a monster that sticks way out was not going to work for me so mine lays pretty flat. As far as damage goes- well, that's why most rings have diamonds in them. They are hardy. There's a chance of a stone coming out but that really shouldn't happen if you keep up on it, and insurance will cover if that does happen.

If it does get in the way of gloves and stuff like that I wouldn't wear it. Wear it in a necklace and get a nice simple band to wear to work.

[studentnursemon86]

I decided not to wear my real ring to work. I actually found a web site that makes fake rings with CZ and sterling silver that are quite pretty. I got one that is amazingly similar to my real ring, except that the center stone doesn't stick out as far. This one is perfect for work. It came with a matching wedding band, so I may just wear the dummy wedding band to work once I'm married, just to be safe. It only cost me about $30, so it was well worth it since my engagement ring is extremely valuable and I don't want to risk losing it, since I know we cannot afford to replace it.

[FutureCRNA?, BSN, RN]

Back when we bought our wedding rings, about 15 years ago, we had a diamond of my grandmother's put into a setting. I specifically requested that the set the prongs low so they would be less likely to catch on things (I worked retail back then).

They set the diamond very low and I have little problem with it catching on anything. I do probably compensate a bit when sliding gloves on and off, but it's just habit and I don't really notice.

And besides, I can't get it off easily anyway. My ring is loose on my finger but apparently my knuckles are large because it doesn't slide over. I was taking it on and off (in the shower with lots of soap) for my first semester in nursing school and got a sore red nodule on my knuckle and I was afraid I was damaging myself, so I quit.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

DH designed my ring with a very low setting, and I have no trouble getting gloves on or off. I don't take off my rings unless I'm having surgery (had far too many of those the last two years) or having a jeweler check them.

[pfongk]

I don't wear my engagement ring any-more but that was a sapphire with 2 diamonds on it and they were all inset. My wedding ring is a plain 9ct gold band that never leaves my hand. My husband used to work in healthcare so he picked out my engagement ring knowing exactly what I needed to be able to wear it for work.

[verene, MSN]

I wear my wedding band at work, but it is a plain titanium and silver band with out any edges to catch on anything. If I had a ring with a stone or raised bits I'd probably wear it on a chain around my neck.

[aeris99]

I'm in the low set club. My fiancé spent over a year looking at rings and having the sales ladies help knowing that I work in healthcare. He picked out a beautiful platinum ring with a very low set diamond. It's fairly flat on my hand. Also has very large holes underneath the stone so when I wash my hands the soap gets in there too. I make sure to slide my ring and move it while washing. I bring it in once a month for cleaning and inspection. Never had it catch skin or gloves.

When I had it sized I went a half size smaller than suggested so it won't slip over my knuckle but has enough room to account for swelling in my hands.

I can't see how it could harbor grossness if you wash often and thorough? Anyway I can't easily take it off now if I tried.

[LaceElaine]

My finance bought me a "play ring" as he calls it. It's a cheapy (but still gorgeous. He's good!) ring that can get beat up without me having to worry too much about it. I'd suggest looking on etsy. They have some to-die-for cheapy rings that would work! Once you're married, you can just wear your wedding band to work (if it's not too extravagant, that is).