Wedding rings that sit "high" up vs. gloves

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Question: What do y'all do about wedding rings that sit kind of high up and tend to snag on gloves? Any tricks from you veterans? I've heard some cover them up with bandaids, others just take them off and wear them around their neck.... what's your solution?

Specializes in floor to ICU.
my love and my marriage aren't based upon a piece of metal. but that "piece of metal" does have both religious and personal significance. i've worn it for years without it being an issue at work, and now it doesn't come off. if i were to have it cut off, it would be ruined. (it's a tension setting, and once you remove the tension, the stone falls out. i can't even have it resized!) frankly, i don't see the point in doing that. i like wearing it, and my husband likes me to wear it. this started out as a friendly conversation about the best solution to rings poking through gloves. it didn't start out as a debate as whether or not rings should be worn. i'm not even complaining about my stone sitting high up -- it doesn't. it's never been a problem at work by poking through gloves, or, because the stone is completely surrounded by gold, by scratching anyone.

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[color=#4b0082]i guess i'm rather saddened by how nasty and judgemental some people are being towards those of us who choose to wear our rings. especially since some of us -- me included -- have taken precautions so that the rings we wear don't scratch anyone or poke through gloves.

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[color=#4b0082]ruby

i never take my wedding ring off. i don't have trouble with gloves, either.

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I see a wide difference of opinion here, but the truth remains that any rings will harbor bacteria. It's a fact, and I also found-without name calling-one nurse's post self-righteous, and rude. She states that she has worn her ring for years, and it's never been an issue, but "As far as I know" should be added-who knows how much bacteria she may have spread; i had a patient tell me once that a previous nurse had scratched him three times with her wedding ring, once while wearing gloves, but he never said anything to her, and she didn't notice. I'd also be worried about her finger if her ring is so tight that it has to be "cut off" (yikes)-To the people who say, "well, I always wear gloves, and nothing seems to happen, so my ring doesn't harbor anything" is naive-there are hundreds of times a day that nurses touch patients, their bedding, and things in their room without gloves; to think that you are not "collecting" bacteria is foolish; and to think that you'll not take it home to share is even more foolish. I don't even bring my nursing shoes inside.

The people I work with know that I am married, I know that I am married, so it's not an issue for me.

And to "CUTECNA"-wow, you should re-read your post, but pretend it is someone else's; you need an ego check, sweetie!

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

With all the increasingly virulent and resistant microbes being found everywhere, but particularly in hospitals and LTC's, I agree with those saying jewelry and/or long nails have NO place in direct patient care whatsoever. We all knew what we were entering into when we became bedside nurses. If we want to wear jewelry and/or long nails, we can always elect to practice away from direct, bedside nursing care. It's only best for our patients, families and ourselves.

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

I feel I should remind:

Please, keep the focus on the original topic, and be careful to avoid attacking/deriding posts to fellow board members, when addressing the subject.

Thanks so much!

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And to "CUTECNA"-wow, you should re-read your post, but pretend it is someone else's; you need an ego check, sweetie!

I don't get what's wrong w/ her post. Maybe she's just a very attractive lady! :confused:

Back on topic...do plain gold bands cause/spread infection also? I have to admit the thought of not wearing mine troubles me,though I wouldn't wear it if it could harm pts. I like to wear it, I like to honor my hubby that way and yes, it eliminates questions...I haven't ever left home w/o it in the 8 yrs I've been married...are necklaces permitted? I care less about the engagement ring than the gold band...just curious...

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well, i stand by my comment. perhaps i am a naive and new to the nursing world though. what is it, if not selfish, to put your personal needs above those of the people in your care, those who are literally in your hands? rings carry nasty bacteria, so why is it even an issue? my rings are very special to me too. but, i would not want to unwittingly introduce vre, mrsa, or whatever else is floating around the unit, to a sick person, and possibly make them sicker.

can you, or someone else, please clearly explain, in light of infection control, spread of disease, and the proliferation of drug resistant bacteria in health care settings, why you wear rings, which are known resevoirs of bacteria?

hi ruby and everyone,

your religious feelings toward your jewelry should take second place to your professional obligation as a nurse, which to is protect patients. i think it is very selfish of you to prioritize your need to wear rings, versus the patient's right to bacteria-free care.

this is your opinion -- that i'm selfish. and so is everyone else who chooses to wear their wedding ring to work. there are some areas of the hospital -- nicu and or come immediately to mind -- where rings aren't worn. if i worked in one of those areas, i'd have to have my ring cut off, thus ruining it forever (it's handmade by a former patient of mine, and in a tension setting). but i've worked in icu for 23 years and hematology and oncology before that -- it's never been an issue.

let's keep the debate friendly, and leave the namecalling out of it. if you don't want to wear rings to work -- for whatever reason -- i won't criticize you. but i take exception to anyone telling me i'm wrong or selfish to wear my ring to work.

ruby

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My husband bought me a gold band to wear while working. I wore my ring the first few days of my clinicals and I have a 1.5 car. emerald cut and it sits really high. It was so uncomfortable with gloves so I just quit wearing it. I now wear my band and don't even realize it's there, very comfortable.

Sandy

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My husband bought me a gold band to wear while working. I wore my ring the first few days of my clinicals and I have a 1.5 car. emerald cut and it sits really high. It was so uncomfortable with gloves so I just quit wearing it. I now wear my band and don't even realize it's there, very comfortable.

Sandy

I agree with above and many of the other posters. i wear a band to work and save my "stone" ring for everywhere else. I had a friend who lost a 1.75 car. center stone at work, didn't realize it until she got home and never did find it. She was heartbroken!

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