Bling on the job?

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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?

Specializes in ER, ICU, L&D, OR.

I wear 6 gold chains, have pierced ears, and a pierced nose. Gold studs and diamonds only for me. Doesnt bother me at work at all.

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My engagement ring is a pearl, rather than a diamond. Because they are no prongs, as the pearl is adhered with some kind of glue (I guess?), the jeweler recommended never submersing it in water. I never wear it to work because of that reason. I'm also afraid I'd knock the pearl off the band when tucking sheets under the mattress or patients or whatever.

With my wedding band (since the two aren't sautered together) I genereally pin it to my uniform with a safety pin. I don't like the feeling of necklaces around my neck, and so far, I've never had the safety pin come undone.

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Specializes in midwifery, NICU.
I rarely speak in 'absolutes', but I absolutely take my ring off everytime I wash my hands at work or at home. It's like anything else and becomes a habit. I'm actually the only one at work that does it, and the reason is I hate, hate, HATE the feeling of "wet" under my ring! Feels like it'll make my skin rot off my finger! lol Anyway, I used to be worried about forgetting to put it back on, and I did forget a couple of times in the beginning, but not anymore. So yes, I do take it off every time and it just doesn't take any more time than it would to wash my hands without taking it off...it's off before I even get to the sink and I put it back on as I'm walking away. :)

allele, I also hate the feeling of soap squidge if it gets under a ring! but, if you take it off at each handwash, then when does the ring get decontaminated between patients? if you scrub your hands, then put the ring back on, how much yuk is clinging to its surface? Why not just leave pretty, sparkly stuff at home and just go "bare" to work, (of jewellery that is!:lol2:)

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Specializes in midwifery, NICU.
I wear 6 gold chains, have pierced ears, and a pierced nose. Gold studs and diamonds only for me. Doesnt bother me at work at all.

:lol2::lol2::lol2: Bet they look fine on the golf course too Tom!:lol2: :lol2:

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Specializes in Gerontology.

We've had a couple of nurses lose their diamonds at work. They pulled off their gloves and the stone came off with the glove. One diamond was found, but only after we turned out several garbage bags and searched them. One diamond was never found.

I used to wear rings - now I leave them all at home. I know some people are saying the sentimental value is too great to not wear them - but I ask this - if you are that attached to them, how would you feel if you lost part of it? Even if you get the stone replaced, it will be a different stone and there fore, a different ring, won't it?? And if you want pts to know you are "off limit" simply introduce yourself as "Mrs Jones".

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Specializes in MS, Hospice, LTC.

I think that your ring is very special to you. In addition to pt. safety and infection control issues, I'd rather you leave your ring at home so it doesn't get damaged in any way or lost. My mother is nurse, once she lost a bracelet. It may have come off when she removed her gloves. Luckily, one of her coworkers checked the trash and found it, but what if the trash had been emptied? I'm not sure that the same thing could happen with a ring, but my concern is that you probably get so busy at work that you might not realize it until its too late.

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allele, I also hate the feeling of soap squidge if it gets under a ring! but, if you take it off at each handwash, then when does the ring get decontaminated between patients? if you scrub your hands, then put the ring back on, how much yuk is clinging to its surface? Why not just leave pretty, sparkly stuff at home and just go "bare" to work, (of jewellery that is!:lol2:)

Hi Danissa! I occasionally clean the ring with alcohol wipes....which I admit isn't EVERY time I wash my hands. It gets a good toothbrush cleaning at home daily. I'm reading all these stories of people losing their rings and stones and I know I'd feel awful if I did, but I think it all comes down to the way we think (as far as risking the loss of jewlery, I'm not debating the infection control issue, I know the rings can harbor bacteria under them, I just refuse to believe that a wedding band is considered okay by many but not an engagement ring)....anyway, my fiance and I designed this ring together, and we shopped for so long to find the perfect jewler and they did a fabulous job with the ring! I just can't bear to keep it off! I love the ring, when I don't wear it I panic...I'd be heartbroken if I lost it, but I'm willing to risk it. I'm very careful, and all I can do is hope! As much as I'd miss the sentimental value of the ring, I do have a pretty good head on my shoulders and I know if it got lost the world wouldn't end...it's a ring. I'm gonna wear it for all it's worth! lol Thanks for the comment! I may try to be more vigilant as far as cleaning it more often at work, though.

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

I leave the rings/bracelets at home. Not worth the infection risks for me or my patients. Bling is great, but not necessarily in clinical areas.

I have a stunning wedding ring/set myself, as well as a nice ruby/gold bracelet from the dh I treasure.....however, these things stay home when I am at work. Newborn babies' skin is too delicate and like I said, not worth the infection control issues that come about from bling on the hands/wrists at work.

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Specializes in Peds, ER/Trauma.

I wear my engagement ring and wedding band to work- I hardly ever take them off. A ring is no more of an infection risk than a watch (and a watch usually isn't covered up totally by gloves, while a ring is...), so why is it OK for most nurses to wear watches, but not a ring???

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I got poked once by a nurse's wedding ring; it broke the skin and bled enough we needed to hold pressure on it for a couple of secs and then apply a bandaid. I was on an antenatal ICU unit, and my skin was in good condition. The nurse was very apologetic, but one thing she said to me was "I can't believe it, I've NEVER scratched anyone before!" Well, nice to be your first, thank god it wasn't a frail old woman who would have a harder time healing. So in my opinion, if you haven't hurt anyone with your ring, it's only a matter of time. And maybe you HAVE hurt people, and you just don't know--spreading infection, etc.

Additionally, one of our nurses went to another hospital to work--the hospital orientation specifically included information about jewelery and their alcohol scrub. The manufacturer reported that frequent use over time will damage gold and silver, and that it will not be held responsible for any damaged or lost jewelery, no matter what the metal.

After my own personal experience, I've never worn any rings or watches to work. I recently stopped wearing earrings--my silver earrings were tarnishing. I couldn't figure it out--then, paying attention, I discovered that I compulsively touch my earrings several times a shift, in order to make sure I haven't lost one. The hand sanitizer was transfering from my fingers to my earrings, and was tarnishing them.

If it is so important to you, leave it at home.

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Additionally, one of our nurses went to another hospital to work--the hospital orientation specifically included information about jewelery and their alcohol scrub. The manufacturer reported that frequent use over time will damage gold and silver, and that it will not be held responsible for any damaged or lost jewelery, no matter what the metal.

Thanks for that post! I appreciated the entire post, although wanted to comment on this part I quoted here: I mentioned something like it in my post, how a co-worker never used the alcohol foamy stuff because she was told it would damage her rings. So she doesn't use it at all. :o She does wash her hands frequently, but NOT in between every single patient, because of course we don't have the time. That's WHY the foam is there, if you absolutely CAN'T wash up correctly in between! And that wasn't even the point: she didn't seem to "get" the idea that contaminents travel happily to and from home under those settings. :uhoh21:

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Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.

While infection control is important, the fact that i don't want to lose my wedding and engagement rings are the reason i never wear them to work. The ring that i pin on my shirt at work is a plain band, but not the 'real' wedding ring.

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