Engagement/Wedding Ring Question

OrganizedChaos, LVN · Jul 14, 2015

Just take into consideration that you will have germs on your ring often, you might lose the stone & you might rip through your glove & scratch a patient. So if you have an elderly patient you could give them a skin tear.

canigraduate · Jul 14, 2015

I think it depends on how much hands on care you are going to be doing. 7.5-8 on the MOHS isn't so bad, but you are more likely to have your stone chipped or scratched. I had a nice opal (around 7-7.5, depending) that I scratched the CRAP out of when I banged it up against a stapler. I was heartbroken because it was handed down for several generations and I was the first one to mess it up.

If you are willing to risk it and your employer allows it, go for it. But be sure you are willing to risk it, 'cause it's probably going to happen.

RNNPICU, BSN, RN · Jul 14, 2015

I used to wear my rings (wedding and engagement ) to work, however after so much use of hand sanitizer, it makes my hands and fingers so irritated that I can't. I wear the rings only at home/going out,/weekends,e tc.

KatieMI, BSN, MSN, RN · Jul 14, 2015

If you are one of the girls who "never" take off rings/earrings/cross, then there can be a moment for you of choosing between all that and your job.

Unless you work in something like nursing informatics or quality assurance, there will be infection control policies which you have to follow pretty much to the letter. Then there will be gloves torn at the least suitable moment. Then there are elderly patients with amazingly fragile skin that could be injured by the stone in the ring, and agitated ones who might at one moment deside to pull the beautiful thing off your finger.

I really side with the advice to have "double" ring, I.e. plain band you can wear almost everywhere and the beautiful one to show when it is safe for you and others. Wearing the chain necklace is another possibility, although in areas like acute psych, mental/elderly care, ER and peds it is definitely no-no.

Morning_runner · Jul 14, 2015

I start nursing school in the fall and plan on wearing my qalo ring. I wear it when I do CrossFit and it is awesome. I know several people wear them in lieu of an engagement ring when working out too.

KatieMI, BSN, MSN, RN · Jul 14, 2015

Not so long ago I had to care for a sweet LOL who happened to "find" a good size precious stone in her day bed (apparently, fallen from a piece of jewelry her home health care worker was wearing), thought it was a candy or something and swallowed it. The stone was quite large with piece of possibly sharp metal still attached to it, it was seen on Xray, moved in lower small bowel and got stuck there. The poor lady got opened up to retrieve it and relieve partial obstruction it caused and hardly made it after months in hospitals.

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Jul 14, 2015

OP, it sounds like you really have already made your decision, so not sure what else we can tell you...? You are certain you will be working in an office that allows the kind of ring you want, you are sure that the school you will attend will permit it....so....what do you want to know?

We can tell you that if you ever change jobs (and that is a resoundingly real possibility) then the new employer may have a policy in place that prevents you from wearing this ring. Or, may NOT have a clear policy but you may realize that the ring you desire is not appropriate in other work environments. I sure didn't have to be told "you can't wear that" to know that I SHOULD NOT wear it in certain jobs.

You are aware of the risks; an expensive ring that loses a stone in patient's bedding or belongings (and this you will experience in an office environment as well) is a total loss. A ring that injures someone because the stone or prongs were set too high or too sharp is a legal (and moral!) liability. A ring that brings home nasty little microorganisms is...well...just gross.

Choice is yours, and as long as you're ok with altering your choices to suit your job and lifestyle as the years go by, then it doesn't matter what we think :)

Farawyn · Jul 14, 2015

I wear my rings now, only wore my wedding band on the floors.

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN · Jul 14, 2015

I couldn't tell you about the metal as I don't wear any rings to work :)

But as others have said, consider that any jewelry you wear is a. an infection risk, b. a physical safety risk, and c. could be potentially damaged, lost or stolen.

adventure_rn, MSN, NP · Jul 14, 2015

I work in NICU, where we have a 'nothing below the elbows' policy to protect our tiny, vulnerable, immunocompromised patients. I don't have a man in the picture now, but I always thought it would be neat to do a really pretty engagement necklace, with a diamond wedding band worn only outside of work. Then again, my patients are itty-bitty and uncoordinated with almost zero risk of them pulling the necklace off (as opposed to, say, elderly dementia patients...)

It sounds as though you aren't all that concerned about the infection risk. In addition to the patient safety factor, I'd be concerned about bringing MRSA, VRE, or C Diff home to your hubby, and potentially to your future kids.

If you're going to work in an office and have zero risk for contamination/infection/harming patients, why are you asking us on this forum? Seems like a more appropriate question to post on "The Knot."

noelly10 · Jul 14, 2015

I work in NICU, where we have a 'nothing below the elbows' policy to protect our tiny, vulnerable, immunocompromised patients. I don't have a man in the picture now, but I always thought it would be neat to do a really pretty engagement necklace, with a diamond wedding band worn only outside of work.

That's a really good idea! Might have to mention this to my boyfriend. Thank you!

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Jul 14, 2015

If you're going to work in an office and have zero risk for contamination/infection/harming patients...

Honestly, considering some of the oozing, snotting things that drag themselves (or get wheeled) into clinics, I'm not so sure "zero risk" fits the bill! :wideyed: