Bling on the job?

[Haunted]

I have a stunning 2 carat princess cut engagement ring set in hand cut platinum. I wear it every day of my life, including "on the job". I wash my hands between patient contact and wear gloves and have never considered taking it off when I work. I have had lot's of comments on it from patients and co workers alike and most ask if I am concerned about damaging or losing it. I always say that it is safer on my finger than anywhere else I could keep it. I don't wear a necklace and keep my earrings to a minimum. My question, do you have anything special that you wear on the job and do you ever get any flack for it?

[UM Review RN, ASN, RN]

I wear my wedding band, that's it. It has small stones set into it. Nothing sharp.

I don't even wear earrings to work any more because they tend to get caught on my hair or my stethoscope and pull out and get lost.

[meownsmile, BSN, RN]

With the infection control committees trying to meet or exceed the national standards your facility will most likely write a new policy forbidding rings and braclets. Even facilities that have always allowed it is writing new policies due to all the national standards and infection comparisons. Noone wants to be the facilty at the top of the list for most infections. Standby for change.

[jmking]

I usually wear my rings to work. Nothing too big though. I wear a pair of simple earring but no necklaces ever!

Jennifer LPN

[Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN]

I never wear my rings - I have two. One is my wedding ring with a stone and the other is a tiny band that belonged to my grandmother that only fits on my pinkie. I can't stand the feeling of wearing them at work and it scares me to take them off at work to clean them - I'm afraid I'll lose them. One of our nurses lost her ring while helping to change bedding.

I've gotten so used to not wearing my rings that I rarely wear them period.

steph

[AliRae]

I was about to post that I don't wear any jewelry ever, when I looked down at my hands as I typed and noticed I was actually wearing a ring! It's a thin silver band on my middle finger that I've worn ever since I picked it up off the ground in 8th grade; I don't think I've ever taken it off. I guess I'm so used to seeing it there that it doesn't even register! I've been doing PD all summer on my little primary, complete with many many 3-minute hand scrubs, so this sucker is probably as clean as they come.

[Jo Dirt]

I don't like jewlery(at least, not on me, why would I want t draw attention to by stubby hands anyway?), I can't stand to wear a watch, even. Makes me feel restrained.

I did see a nurse in home health wearing these super long nails with all these designs on them. I don't see how she could even hold a pen to write.

[Hybridatomsk]

I thought you aren't suppose to wear jewelry when you're around patients? Sorry,I'm new here. >

[DeeAngel]

I have a stunning 2 carat princess cut engagement ring set in hand cut platinum. I wear it every day of my life, including "on the job". I wash my hands between patient contact and wear gloves and have never considered taking it off when I work. I have had lot's of comments on it from patients and co workers alike and most ask if I am concerned about damaging or losing it. I always say that it is safer on my finger than anywhere else I could keep it. I don't wear a necklace and keep my earrings to a minimum. My question, do you have anything special that you wear on the job and do you ever get any flack for it?

I worked in ICU with a woman who also had a beautiful ring with a large stone. Changing the sheets one day the stone was somehow lost out of the setting. We scoured that floor in the ICU but we never were able to find that stone. If you really love it leave it at home and then you will never have to worry about it. Stones are dislodged more easily than people realize.

[crysobrn]

I wear my wedding set all the time. I do make sure to scrub with a toothbrush everyday and I get it cleaned at the jeweler and checked for loose stones etc regularly. I don't like to take it off ever. I like people to know I'm married. People already think I'm too young to be a nurse, too young to have kids, it's nice to at least be able to prove I'm old enough to make a life long commitment. When I was about 8.5 mos preggers for my second baby I had to take it off because I was so swollen, I hated NOT having it on.

Our hospital policy is that there are to be no rings worn, other than a wedding ring/band. I'm sure it's because it's sentimental and not because they think it doesn't harbor bacteria.

[Jolie, BSN]

I wear my engagement ring only, and I'll wear my band with it when I get married. I wash my hands between all patients too, taking off the ring to do so,

You take your ring off every time you wash your hands at work? I can't imagine having the time to do that, and am certain that I would get distracted and lose my ring eventually.

[EDValerieRN, ASN, RN]

I have a cheap band I wear to work, and I keep my platinum and diamonds at home. The last thing I need is to lose my stone, or cover it with bacteria...

[RNperdiem, RN]

You probably aren't getting any more bacteria in your ring at work than you would get outside work unless you are plunging ungloved hands into bodily fluids. I wear my rings to work. Taking them off increases chances of losing rings.

A large stone may get more of a beating, so have your ring insured and it would be worth your while to get the prongs inspected annually by a jeweler.