Do you wear rings at work?

Published

I go ring-less at work (not even my wedding ring.) It grosses me out that some minute microbe could plant itself within the ring's crevasses. Does anyone know about any research articles pertaining to the hygiene of wearing rings in our profession?

yes i wear my wed ring and its very easy to wash mirobs after shift

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in CNA, Surgical, Pediatrics, SDS, ER.

I wear my wedding ring, my mothers ring, my watch, and my stud earrings. I just took my rings in to be cleaned and my wedding ring had 4 loose stones so I told my hubby I'd like to get a cheap band to wear so I can preserve my ring. Haven't got it yet but plan to, I wouldn't want to lose any stones!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I wear my watch, stud diamond earring, and my plain, gold, smooth wedding band. I wash my hands very well. dry them. Take off my wedding band, wipe that down with alcohol and my watch too. Then lotion my hands and slip the ring back on.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in NICU.

No jews in the NICU. It is a rule. Most ICU's and OR's have the same rule. I hate it but, you will be asked (forced) to remove your wedding and engagement rings as well.:o

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Heres an idea: get a necklace with a germophobe on it! Or dont be a nurse!!! Whats wrong with some of you people? Do you not wash your hands 500 times a day? Do you not wear gloves each and every single frigging time youre even near a patient? I hope so! So how are bugs, as you call them, doing to get into the crevices? So does that mean you dont wear your rings to the grocery store? And not to the park where God, forbid, you might touch the "bug" infested play structure? Ew!! Get a grip people!!Germs are EVERYWHERE!!!!! Didnt you learn that in school? And did you not learn that not all germs are necessarily bad? I think all you remember is what these stupid instructors drill into your head! Use some common sense, people! Live your life! Be realistic! Dont be a figging freak! Sheesh!!!!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC, Acute care.

I don't wear my wedding ring to work and I don't ever plan to unless I start working in an office in the future. My husband knows I'm married to him and that is alright with me, don't really care what anybody else thinks about my marital status. Why should people even ask your marital status at work? Guess they're just too nosy...:nurse:

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I learned the hard way.... I had a ring that wasn't particularly valuable, but I liked it, and wore it everywhere. I worked neuro- lots of total care, gomers, and variations on incontinence. One of their food groups was MOM..... one night, one of the MOM-saturated folks cut loose....like dripping off the END of the bed (not just the sides) and pooling on the floor. Think consistency of baby food... (sorry if you're feeding your kid anytime soon :)) SO, a coworker and I clean him up... A while later, I noticed my ring was gone (this was way before gloves were part of normal attire/care - so if you were into something gooey, you just got gooey...:eek: The only place that ring could have landed was in the poop flow. I looked everywhere, then decided if I did find it, I probably wouldn't want to wear it- and no amount of bleach solution was going to make me feel ok about it :D

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Well, real gold and real silver are antimicrobial in nature anyway. They actually repel germs. But if you have the big diamonds (oh, I miss wearing my engagement ring at work!)....and all the delicate etchings and crevices of the well designed engagement type ring.....that CAN be a vector! I still wear my wedding ring which is 19 K gold with silver with little area for germs to hide....also, rubbing that hand stuff on like crazy till my fingers are numb at the end of the shift! And..well, I've heard we wash our hands and use that gel or foam over 100 times a day! I will count some day. I DO wonder when I see lots of RNs these days wearing LOTS of jewelry. I don't think that is right. And I mean, they look like gypsys! I LOVE jewelery, but not if it is spreading stuff to everyone! Lots of people seem to get away with not adhering to this part of every hospitals dress code. Usually it is "one pair of stud earrings, and a wedding ring". I know we DO want all the staff to know WE ARE TAKEN....and it is tempting to wear the diamonds to show "how much we are loved"...or something silly like that!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

nursery nurse....FUNNY TYPO!!!! NO JEWS IN THE NICU! Oh my gosh!!! I know lots of jews in the NICU! But I do know you meant jewels!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in med/surg.

I don't wear any rings to work either...I can just imagine cleaning up a patient and my ring breaks through the glove and I get **** all in it....ewww....so I would rather not mess up my wedding rings....Plus when I admire my rings I don't wanna think they're **** Haha :bugeyes:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency Dept. Trauma. Pediatrics.

I only wear a watch now. But I was looking at it the other day underneath and didn't realize how gross it was getting. So now I make sure to clean it good. I used to wear my wedding ring but I don't anymore.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion