Nursing and Jewelry

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Specializes in Med Surg & Peds.

this is not like a major thing to some..but wondered if others have this problem....my engagement ring is becoming discolored...i think it is from continious use of hand sanitizer. have recently married and dont want my ring ruined...:( my ring is white gold. does any one else have this problem or know a cure? thanks

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Specializes in DOU.

We are discouraged from wearing any rings at all because they harbor bacteria. Our school tolerates a plain gold band, but not the engagement rings. Personally, I just skip them both, but then again, I tend to be a bit of a germ freak.

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Is your white gold turing "yellowish?" If so the Rhodium finish on the white gold is wearing off. Every piece of white gold jewelry eventually has the rhodium wear away. The solution to this is to take it to your jeweler and have it "re-dipped" in rhodium. Just call them and they'll confirm and give you a cost estimate. Oh, I forgot- the rhodium dipping of white gold serves to make it brighter and stronger:0)

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Specializes in Med Surg & Peds.

Thanks...it is soo funny...I have worn my ring...I think I did..LOL..the last year...and got married in April and since about march have noticed it suddenly is getting yellow looking...hasnt hurt the diamond..but the band is getting more yellow looking everyday, and have tried cleaning it with everything I can think of..not sure what the problem was. Thanks again!

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Specializes in midwifery, NICU.

This comes up again and again.., just leave your pretty sparkly stuff at home, your job dictates that you will be immersed in lord knows what, and will wash your hands a Gazillion times per shift. When at work, it's not a fashion parade, it's a dirty job, don't waste your good rings etc, you have down time to out them on. AND..... carriers of germs???? These rings and sparkly things are among the worst. Iv'e taken to even leaving my wedding ring off when I work, if I don't, my finger gets sore with not getting dried right under the ring, and the babies sure don't notice if I am married or not!:D

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Specializes in LTC & Correctional Nursing.
Is your white gold turing "yellowish?" If so the Rhodium finish on the white gold is wearing off. Every piece of white gold jewelry eventually has the rhodium wear away. The solution to this is to take it to your jeweler and have it "re-dipped" in rhodium. Just call them and they'll confirm and give you a cost estimate. Oh, I forgot- the rhodium dipping of white gold serves to make it brighter and stronger:0)

:yeahthat:

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This comes up again and again.., just leave your pretty sparkly stuff at home, your job dictates that you will be immersed in lord knows what, and will wash your hands a Gazillion times per shift. When at work, it's not a fashion parade, it's a dirty job, don't waste your good rings etc, you have down time to out them on. AND..... carriers of germs???? These rings and sparkly things are among the worst. Iv'e taken to even leaving my wedding ring off when I work, if I don't, my finger gets sore with not getting dried right under the ring, and the babies sure don't notice if I am married or not!:D

I agree completely. A) you don't want to "endanger" your ring by putting it through all the wear and tear of work, and B) you don't want to carry around with you all the time all the nasty little critters that are building up in the nooks and crannies of the ring! If you feel strongly about wearing your wedding band at work, that's one thing, but there are so many reasons why it's much smarter to leave the "bling" at home when you're working.

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Specializes in Hospital Education Coordinator.

Another suggestion: Consider asking your husband to buy you a simple wedding band that is for work only.

I used to remove my rings and watch then use a safety pin and pin them to the inside of my pocket. They were available when I left the OR. Eventually I just left them off as any kind of management becomes a hassle.

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Specializes in Psych..
Another suggestion: Consider asking your husband to buy you a simple wedding band that is for work only.

This is what I did. I did not want to lose my diamond, carry critters home with it, or scratch patients with it. But when I would not wear it, I would constantly be having these moments of "oh no where is my ring I lost it oh yeah it's at home". So I bought a simple, thin band at a pawn shop.

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