Do you wear rings to work?

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Specializes in Med/Surg, LTC/Geriatric.

Hi Everybody

I will be starting nursing school this September :monkeydance: and wondering if most nurses wear rings to work. Mainly wedding rings. I would think that with the constant putting on and taking off latex gloves, hand washing etc that wearing rings would be cumbersome and worrisome that the rings/s might come off in the gloves.

What do you do?

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When I am at work, I do like to have my wedding band on. It does not protrude (no big diamonds here!). However, as I look down at my hands now, I don't have any rings on. I run and bike a lot and I don't like the way the rings rub on my fingers.

I figure as long as I am using the PPE (gloves) appropriately and washing/drying appropriately (I slide my band up and wash under it) - than it is okay. For anything that I have to scrub for, the band comes off and gets safety pinned to my bra strap.

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Specializes in Cardiac Care.

My school limits the kind and number of rings their students can wear. One ring only, without a protruding stone. Band-type rings preferred.

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Specializes in CCRN.

Our hospital does not allow any jewelry below the elbow. No rings, bracelets or watches. I work ICU and we also leave our "work" shoes at work. Not a requirement, but when you think it over, it makes good sense to leave all of those germs in the locker room.

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Specializes in Flight, ER, Transport, ICU/Critical Care.

There was a thread on this not too long ago.

I'm trying to repost, but you can search Wedding, Rings, Work. Its about 7 pages - the topic is covered pretty well.

https://allnurses.com/forums/f8/wedding-rings-work-158276.html

I still say NO to rings at work, but EVERYONE needs to do what is right for them...so...

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Specializes in Hospice, Med/Surg, ICU, ER.

I wear a wedding band, a plain one, always.

I wash my hands carefully, and have no problems with gloves.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, LTC/Geriatric.
There was a thread on this not too long ago.

I'm trying to repost, but you can search Wedding, Rings, Work. Its about 7 pages - the topic is covered pretty well.

https://allnurses.com/forums/f8/wedding-rings-work-158276.html

I still say NO to rings at work, but EVERYONE needs to do what is right for them...so...

Thanks for the link! I just read that thread and have a feeling I will purchase a plain gold band before I start clinicals. :)

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I wear a wedding ring. It has diamonds but they're inlaid. Nothing sticks up. I told Hubs that because of my work I did not want an engagement ring and he understood.

My first marriage I had a solitaire and could not wear it at work because of the protrusion.

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Specializes in ER, Outpatient PACU and School Nursing.

my wedding band.

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In our NICU, we're supposed to wear nothing other than a wedding band. Bigger rings are an infection control concern and apparently a nurse on our unit inadvertently scratched a baby with a big diamond a while back.

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Specializes in FNP, Peds, Epilepsy, Mgt., Occ. Ed.

I've always been able to wear a wedding band (mine is plain). Now that I work outside the hospital, in a clinic, I usually wear one ring on my right hand, but I frequently take it off and slip it into a pocket if I have to glove. If a ring is at all loose, it would be very easy to lose it in a glove and not notice till much later.

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Specializes in Tele, ICU, ER.

I wear only my wedding band, not my engagement ring. Ever try to put on a pair of too-small sterile gloves with a protruding stone? Rips the gloves every time. Took me one time to learn that lesson and I've never worn any ring but my band, since.

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