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 Ortho Rehab, LTC, Med-Surg, Telemetry.

I've never had an issue with wearing jewelry to work. I tend to wear less now than I did when I was younger, but generally rings get left at home anymore. As previously stated, they can carry germs around with them and if I don't dry my hands and the rings well enough my skin under the ring tends to get irritated.

I do wear my earrings though. They're all pretty small and harmless though. And my nose is pierced as well with a tiny silver stud. Never had any issues with that either, though people like to ask me about the safety of it being pierced or having it "ripped out". Not likely.

I think whether you wear jewelry or not is entirely up to your own personal preference. My wedding set is a custom nearly 3 tcw engagement ring and it stays at home in my jewelry box. Even though it's insured, I'd rather not lose a stone or the whole thing at work.

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Specializes in NICU, Telephone Triage.

I don't wear any jewelry to work since i work in NICU or PICU. I know all jewelry can harbor germs. I just keep my rings in my jewelry box at home.

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Specializes in IM/Critical Care/Cardiology.

One time I wore my mothers ring to work by mistake. It's diamonds ans Australian Black Gold and one of my stones fell out after removing gloves. I had it repaired but it took me by surprise. Never did find the missing part. Just an FYI.

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Specializes in Home Health, Hospice.

I always wear my wedding ring...and I clean it daily with alcohol and peroxide. If I'm going to touch "icky" stuff, I remove it. I work in home hospice, so most of the direct contact is done by the caregivers, I touch for vital signs only (usually) and wash or use hand disinfectant between patient contact. I suppose that makes the whole subject moot in my case.

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Specializes in Geriatrics, LTC.
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 too wear my wedding rings...one I wash them frequently (as well as my hands) and alcohol gel them. Two if you are concerned with damage/losing them put them on your hoouse insurance, that's what I did with mine, god forbid I lose a diamond or whatever my insurance will take care of it.

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

To me it's more of a sentimental (sp) issue than financial. That's the reason my rings won't go to work with me.

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Specializes in ER, ICU, Infection Control.

As an ex-Infection Control Coordinator - No, No, No. NOT acceptable for any reason - leave them at HOME where they belong. Jewelry at work is a no no. Also wearing stethoscopes around the neck - I worked in the ER and saw nurses strangled by patients with stethoscopes and necklaces. Also long hair - put it UP. IC hazard and safety hazard in ICU saw many long haired nurses grabbed by pts and pulled into the bed where they got scratched! Ring harbor germs under and on them - you can not clean appropriately under them (don't tell me EVERY nurse is going to take a brush to them - I will never believe it - you may, but what if YOUR nurse doesn't?) Lead by example, and they (and long nails) do tear gloves - it might have not happened to you YET but I saw a number of blood exposures from torn gloves (one to an AIDS pt.) due to rings and long nails and also nurses with broken skin and shouldn't have been doing that kind of work anyway - do you WANT blood in your cut? (LAZY head nurse for NOT supervising her/his nurses AND aides or assigning them properly). Also saw every incident report in hospital - too many pts. scratched by rings - and as a patient I've been scratched TWICE (once by a ring and once by nails) - and it really hurts - they did not do it deliberately, but it happened anyway. And don't get me started on beards - just in case the men were feeling virtuous - sorry, but a N95 respirator or equivalent just WILL not seal - Do you WANT to be exposed to TB?. I'll get off my soap box now. Be glad I'm retired and don't work for your facility (I can't put the names I've been called on this forum!!!!) - but I hope my brothers and sisters are on the outlook for bling. You are not at work to look pretty, but to protect YOURSELF and the PATIENT as well. Think on this - how well would you want your nurse and aide and resp tech, etc. to follow infection control and safety standards? Personally I WANT mine to follow EVERY rule and reg the is.

:balloons::balloons::balloons::balloons::balloons::balloons::balloons::balloons::balloons::balloons::balloons::balloons::balloons::balloons:

AND a big bouquet of balloons and kudos to the nurses, etc. who do follow these rules - more power to you baby!

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Specializes in ER, ICU, Infection Control.
I wear two rings when i work. One is a plain hematite band and the othe is my mothers ring. I have the prongs checked regular like. I also have checked every facility policy as i work as a traveler. I would not dream of taking either one of them off. I use a scrub brush on my hands and make sure I scrub the rings as well. I have also had a lot of compliments on them. I would walk a contract before either ring comes off my hand. That is what they mean to me. Most facilities have rules about the jewelry you can wear. I check with my manager before i take a job. My mothers ring is insured against stone loss so I really do not worry about it. I have never scratched anyone with it either.

If your attitude is " would walk a contract before either ring comes off my hand.". Many facilities would be better off if you did - no matter what you say or feel about your ring - it is and will always be a safety hazard. You can not rationalize that away with the sentiment of your ring. I not only didn't wear my ring in the ER and ICU but also when I was in Infection Control (for 13 years). As to the people who will say they'll do it when everyone else does it the saying mothers have used for centuries leaps to mind - If everyone else jumped off a bridge would you do it too? If you're upset because someone else isn't following the rules - go to the Infection Control person - they can handle it discretely and WITHOUT bringing your name into the picture - believe me I did it MANY, MANY times. I am just really wondering where ethics in Nursing is going. I've been out of the game for 5 years due to medical reasons which means I've been in the hospital A LOT! I want MY HCW's to follow the rules - don't you? And yes I have a wedding ring and band - but I don't need it to prove I'm married or to show it off or just because I think the IC reason is a bunch of bull or because everyone else does it - my ethics were instilled in me a long time ago by my now deceased mother who always wanted to be a nurse, but was too busy raising 4 kids without a husband - she inspired my to go into Nursing and taught me more about IC than I learned in Nursing school. When it all boils down to it - what is the most important thing about your job? My answer is the safety of the patient - it doesn't matter where the hazard occurs - med error, etc. I WILL do everything in my power to insure the safety of my patient. I feel more strongly about this than I could ever care about material things like false fingernails, necklaces, watches, rings, etc. What matters most to you? I'm NOT addressing you alone, but every nurse who participates in this forum. I've seen all kinds of responses in this post and the people who make me the most proud to be a nurse are the ones who are concerned about their pts safety than how they look - for those ladies and gents I'd tip my nursing cap which I haven't worn since I graduated!

:smiley_abKeep battling infection!

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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?

I only wear my wedding band to work cos rings with stones or fanciful design are not allowed in my department ( I work in nicu ). However they always encourage us not to wear any jewelry if possible. I only wear my other diamond ring when I'm going out, I'm really worried if my diamond ring gets lost or if it hurts my patient. Another issue is the infection control part cos rings do harbour germs, once the infection control nurse instructed me to remove my wedding bang and took a swab from it and also the area of my finger where my ring is! Thank goodness everything was negative so you see how strict my department is.

Personally I do accept the idea of wearing just a simple wedding band but not anything more complex. To me the wedding band is of significance.

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