Wedding rings?

AnnaN5 · Feb 21, 2008

The only rotation where I was not allowed to wear my engagement ring was during peds. I have a princess cut stone that sits up pretty high and it hasn't been a problem. It sometimes pokes through gloves but not very often. I have seen a lot of nurses on the floors we have clinicals on that wear huge diamond rings. Once I am working full time I am going to get a cheaper band of some sort to wear to work and leave my expensive rings at home.

As far as harboring germs, I am sure that they are a haven for germs. I am always washing my hands but I make sure to take my rings in every couple months to get them steam cleaned. I am hoping that the hot steam gets rid of most of the germs but that is another reason why once I am working full time my nice rings will be left at home.

hikernurse · Feb 21, 2008

We can't wear rings at work, period; when I was a student, though, we had no rules about wedding/engagement rings unless we were in an area (nursery) that didn't allow them.

I had my wedding ring modified (before I worked in my unit) to be less likely to tear a glove, but I can see why some people wouldn't want to do that. Besides, if a glove tears, there's always another one to grab .

That ring is gorgeous !

nightmare, RN · Feb 21, 2008

My advise,either don't wear the rings or buy a plain or flat engraved ring.View it the same way you view your scrubs/uniform.You wear it for work,its not a fashion item,you won't walk about in the street with your scrubs now would you? What's more important,your patients skin integrity or fashion?!As for stones in rings and infection control.....don't get me started!

NoviceRN10 · Feb 21, 2008

You wear it for work,its not a fashion item,you won't walk about in the street with your scrubs now would you?

Actually I constantly see people out and about in their scrubs in public, don't you? I am married, proud of it, and want to wear a wedding ring to school/work. My ring is a fashion statement or reflection of my style, sorry to say!

nightmare, RN · Feb 21, 2008

Actually I constantly see people out and about in their scrubs in public, don't you? I am married, proud of it, and want to wear a wedding ring to school/work. My ring is a fashion statement or reflection of my style, sorry to say!

Perhaps once you start working on the wards you will see that a raised ring is dangerous to frail or damaged skin as is a wrist watch.How will you feel if you cause damage to someone with your ring? No to mention having to remove blood ,skin etc from the stones of your ring! Is it really worth it?

I am also married and proud of it but would not dream of wearing my engagement ring to work.Imagine how you will feel if you lose the stones out of your ring!

NoviceRN10 · Feb 21, 2008

Perhaps once you start working on the wards you will see that a raised ring is dangerous to frail or damaged skin as is a wrist watch.How will you feel if you cause damage to someone with your ring? No to mention having to remove blood ,skin etc from the stones of your ring! Is it really worth it?
I am also married and proud of it but would not dream of wearing my engagement ring to work.Imagine how you will feel if you lose the stones out of your ring!

I guess you didn't read my original note. I don't want to wear my engagement/wedding set to the hospital. I have a high set stone that WOULD potentially scratch someone or poke them. I don't think the photo of the ring I posted looks like it would hurt anyone. Does it look dangerous to you? The ring I posted is less than $100 ($69). I don't plan on buying anything extravagant to wear to the hospital :).

RNMom2010 · Feb 21, 2008

I purchased a plain white gold band to wear during clinicals. I hate the way my e-ring gets caught on gloves and I do not want to cut someone with my ring. Not to mention I am afraid that the constant washing and gloving could loosen a prong and I could lose my diamond!

nightmare, RN · Feb 21, 2008

I did see it,it is a beautiful ring,I quite fancy that myself but I would not wear it to work .It's open design and lots of little stones will made it difficult to keep clean and as I said in my other post the possibility of losing stones. I wore a stoned ring to work as a student and fell one day and lost two stones from my ring.I was devastated cost a lot of money(for a student)to have it repaired but I never wore it to work again.I had seen tears caused by rings.Now the ring you propose is not raised but,because of the stones it will have an uneven surface which could catch on skin.At the end of the day it is your choice but you also have to think of your hospital /uni policies.If it says 'plain' I would interpret that as a solid ,flat band,maybe with flat engraving but certainly without stones or open surfaces.

megykilo · Feb 21, 2008

i have a pretty high set oval stone as an engagement ring, and a simple wedding band with channel set diamonds. i've found it to be pretty gross after wearing it to work or clinicals, and the alcohol hand rub caused a nasty rash. so for now i'm not wearing anything, and i might revert back to a simple white gold band my dad gave me years ago to wear at the hospital instead.

IrishIzCPNP, MSN, RN, APRN, NP · Feb 21, 2008

So you are skipping the engagement ring. Good idea. Not worth it.

If you insist on wearing a band I would get something plain and simple.

My band isn't a flat band but no stones. It has some etching on the side and the center is curve rather then flat. I don't have to worry about anything falling out of it or something getting in it and not being able to get it out.

If you insist on wearing something I would go simple. If you don't like simple then get what you want just realize it might not be perfect.

I don't think it's a big deal.

bblueyes · Feb 21, 2008

That is a beautiful ring! My dh also bought me a plain band for school and clinicals which is not the prettiest but it still symbolizes our marriage. Maybe instead of something with stones, get a ring with an engraved design (different metals together) or design cut? Just an idea:D