Engagement Ring help!

[a_nurses_bf]

Hello online nursing community!

I have a very important question that I'm hoping to get some help with:

My girlfriend is an RN and we've been dating for a couple years now. I've been saving up for an engagement ring (although buying one is still about a year away), and I'm pretty sure I have the design and what-not down but a thought occurred to me recently: what will she do with the ring while at work?

Something tells me that a diamond ring would get in the way of her day-to-day operations, and while I know she'd want to wear it, I wouldn't want it to impede her duties (which she obviously takes seriously).

So my question is this: what are some of the solutions you all have come up with regarding similar situations? Do you have a less expensive secondary ring you wear? Or do you just go ringless when you're on' shift?

[RNsRWe, ASN, RN]

Opened can, worms.....everywhere

Some wear their rings, some do not. Depending on the setting, it can be hazardous to the patient (high setting getting caught on things/humans). You also don't want to lose a rock in the laundry chute. And they've been known to tear up gloves, defeating the purpose.

When I worked the floor I NEVER wore my rings, period. I take infection control pretty seriously, and there's absolutely no way you're gonna get the creeping cruddies out from the crevices between stone and metals. I wore a plain gold band in nursing school because we weren't allowed to wear anything with engravings or stones period, for all the reasons I stated above. Later on, I didn't wear even that: MUCH easier to disinfect one's hands without a ring in the way.

Other people will have done other things; a lot depends on the job itself (ie: I work in an office/clinic setting now and I can wash my hands of normal wear/tear/debris :) )

Frankly, if you're looking at a ring that's expensive enough to be saving for a year or two....do you really want her to wear it at work and risk damage or loss? Or tearing a glove, or tearing someone's skin?

Finally...ask HER what she wants :)

[LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN]

I recall many moons ago a nurse who had a HUGE engagement rock accidentally throw her ring away in the same receptacle that a broken jaw pt's bloody fluids were in.

She fished it out.

A great reminder that I maintain and choose NOT to wear any rings where I work, especially since my care can be VERY involved...even though it catches me a few unwanted reminders, I always share the story above.

[a_nurses_bf]

You and my girlfriend seem to have sanitation and cleanliness in common! I would imagine that she wouldn't wear a ring like that to work for fear of MRSA, c-diff and the like getting around. I'm just fishing for ideas and planning waaaaaaaaay ahead, but you're right: a talk with her and her preferences is a must! Thanks for your help!!!!

[a_nurses_bf]

Opened can, worms.....everywhere

Some wear their rings, some do not. Depending on the setting, it can be hazardous to the patient (high setting getting caught on things/humans). You also don't want to lose a rock in the laundry chute. And they've been known to tear up gloves, defeating the purpose.

When I worked the floor I NEVER wore my rings, period. I take infection control pretty seriously, and there's absolutely no way you're gonna get the creeping cruddies out from the crevices between stone and metals. I wore a plain gold band in nursing school because we weren't allowed to wear anything with engravings or stones period, for all the reasons I stated above. Later on, I didn't wear even that: MUCH easier to disinfect one's hands without a ring in the way.

Other people will have done other things; a lot depends on the job itself (ie: I work in an office/clinic setting now and I can wash my hands of normal wear/tear/debris :) )

Frankly, if you're looking at a ring that's expensive enough to be saving for a year or two....do you really want her to wear it at work and risk damage or loss? Or tearing a glove, or tearing someone's skin?

Finally...ask HER what she wants :)

You and my girlfriend seem to have sanitation and cleanliness in common! I would imagine that she wouldn't wear a ring like that to work for fear of MRSA, c-diff and the like getting around. I'm just fishing for ideas and planning waaaaaaaaay ahead, but you're right: a talk with her and her preferences is a must! Thanks for your help!!!!

[CT Pixie, BSN, RN]

I only wear my plain gold wedding ring..no stones..flat surface.

My engagement ring stays home for many reasons. The setting isn't very high but its still high enough that it bulges out of the glove (thats IF I can manage to get the glove on without ripping a whole in it.) Since the ring isn't flush I could very easily hurt a patient accidently giving a nasty skin tear or scratch. The ickies that can get a lovely rent free home in it..nope..don't want those free loaders living in my ring. Also, I don't want to risk losing a stone if it were to fall out OR have the ring get thrown out.

I've accidently left my engagement ring on going to work. I pulled off my glove and felt a tug...looked down and no ring on my finger. I realized then, it was the engagement ring that was being pulled off into the glove that caused the tugging feeling. Luckily I realized it before I threw my gloves out and walked away.

I had a good friend who got engaged and want to show off the ring. She wore it to work. First time wearing it to work and her last day. she lost it somewhere. She hadn't noticed until almost the end of the shift the ring was gone. We were all digging around the garbages looking for it..never did find it.

Another nurse I worked with got engaged..she was insistant she was going to wear her ring all the time. One night I looked at her ring and the stone was gone! We had no idea when it was lost in the shift or even where to start looking. We searched high and low and didn't find it. She was devestated. Later on I was helping her turn and position a patient. while doing this, something shiney caught my eye...yup..her diamond..in the belly button of an obese patient (one that we had been positioning all night)...the light from the overbed light happened to shine down just right that it caused the stone to 'shine'. Yeah..needless to say she NEVER wore it to work again.

[mindofmidwifery, ADN]

If anything, I wouldn't get something that's raised. Skin tears :/

[jamisaurus]

So I wear a plain diamond band. I don't wear my engagement ring because it pokes through gloves and is generally in the way and uncomfortable at work. If I could do it all over I would just pick out a fancy, intricate band and skip the engagement ring all together.

[llg, PhD, RN]

Some units don't even allow plain gold bands. They are an infection hazard.

Also, if your finances are such that you have to save up for several months to buy the ring, then you shouldn't be buying it. It is too expensive for you. Be sensible and start your marriage off with something you can well-afford. Later, when you are rich, you can buy her a fancy diamond wedding ring for a significant anniversary. I know that wasn't what you were asking, but I can't watch a train happen without saying at something to try to prevent it.

[Swellz]

What about getting her a chain to go along with it. A very short necklace shouldn't interfere with anything... provided she doesn't get doused in something.

[littlepeopleRNICU]

You can still buy her the engagement ring she wants/you wanna give. If it's got a diamond, she can leave it at home during work, or wear it on a necklace. I have also seen some nurses pen them to their scrubs with a safety pen.

In my unit, the only jewelry, including a watch, we can wear is a plan band. You can also purchase this for cheaper and she can wear it to work in the real ring's place.

[loriangel14, RN]

Where I work no rings of any kind are allowed. She could just leave the ring at home. She doesn't need to wear it all the time.