Wedding rings?

AmericanRN · Feb 23, 2008

According to our nursing school guidelines, we are only allowed to wear plain wedding bands at the hospital. I have a wedding ring with a high set marquis shaped diamond that definately has the potential to poke or scratch a patient. I've been looking at plain wedding bands and I don't like the way they look on my hand (I have kind of mannish hands!). After wearing diamonds the simple band just doesn't look right to me. I'm wondering what other students or nurses are wearing? I have decided just to shop for a more simple style than I already have, but I think I want stones in the band. I noticed when I was doing an orientation at the hospital this week that students a year ahead of me were wearing their regular wedding sets. I guess our school doesn't police our jewelry after all.
Is this one "Too much?" Are stone settings really a concern for harboring germs? I didn't notice a lot of hand washing when I visited the hospital this week, but I sure washed my hands when I was supposed to.

Thats a very pretty ring and I know i'm off the topic but I was admiring it.

I hink the ring does appear flat enough to not cause injury however I do think some of the stones could loosen over time and fall out because of so much handwashing etc. Then again a jeweler could probably seal it in some way.

There is a site called propertyroom.com

It has jewelry that was seized from drug cases and stuff like that. It is where things that are unclaimed or were illegal for the owner to have in the first place go to from evidence rooms across the country. Don't fear there is no bio stuff on there. They don't auction off things that came off of someone who has died. I have ordered several things and have been happy with all of it. Most of the items are brand new in the box. Other things are overstock from stores around the countyr. It also has camera eqiupment, pdas, etc.

AmericanRN · Feb 23, 2008

My schools policy is >Plain wedding bands..period..I dont question it..i just dont wear my rings( they are a set)..besides, think of the germs!!! And I have to honestly say that most nurses I know no longer go shopping in their scrubs after work..we kinda see that as gross too. I wipe down my shoes before I leave my unit and change into different shoes in my car..20 years in health care and 1 semester of microbiology cured me of worrying about wearing my jewelery to work and my scrubs out of work..hubby is a firefighter and he was doing a rope rescue training and his ring got caught on the rope( even with his gloves on)..and he was stuck..that did it for him..no more wedding band to work...we are both proud to be married, but pride and vanity lost to logic....

Excellent point about your husbands job. Also many mechanics do not wear rings either much to their wives dismay. When I worked in that industry as a warranty clerk I explained to many wives as another woman that people should spend time acting married not looking it. We all know who the cheats are vs the flirts. Most mechanics and firemen are too dang tired to be cheaters. Its those with desk jobs that have the time for such things. Hahahah

I also politely explained that I have seen more then one man get hung up on something and nearly had their fingers severed. That is a sobering fact of life about some jobs.

My father is also mechanic and doesn't wear one ever. My mother is a massage therapist and no longer wears her, not becuase of the oils like everyone assumes. There is a percentage of the population who are very allergic to gold and silver and her boss will not risk that form of liability. As for my father's workplace rings are officially banned when a man was caught on a piece of the car when his ring snagged a part..at the same time he had pushed the button on the lift and as it was going up h and his ring hand went with it and and he ended up suspended by his ring. He could have died and no ring is worth that. His arm and hand were horribly wrenched and he lost a lot of time and money from work healing.

baby bluz · Feb 23, 2008

I wear a white gold plain band, and it is perfectly good for work. Most seem to prefer to wear their engagement sets. I can't do it, because once I had a scare. I felt like my ring caught on the back of a man's leg, right through the glove. The truth was that the glove had just broken open and the ring caught on the draw sheet. His skin was fine - not a mark. But I never ever wore my ring again. I felt like it was a warning sign. I love wearing it on my days off, though! :-)

MedicalNerd · Feb 23, 2008

When I was shopping for my wedding ring, I noticed that the ones I liked most were set higher and could potentially rip or tear holes in gloves or possibly thin skin. I decided to have mine handmade by my jeweler. It was exactly what I wanted but set lower with a protected setting. I love it, I have not had a problem with hurting anyone or tearing gloves.

I have a princess cut with trillions(triangle shaped diamonds) on each side so the shapes were naturally sharp. I am sure that if you see a professional jeweler then they could modify what you have or make you something to make it more glove-patient friendly.

Logos · Feb 23, 2008

I don't know -all this fuss over rings- I have been married 13 years and hardly ever even think to put on my wedding band, even before nursing school. That is not a reflection on my marriage- I'm just not big into the rings I guess. I do have a nice engagement ring, it is huge though and I actually feel self conscious wearing it.

I would not wear any ring with a stone at all in the hospital.

I also would not wear anything but a stud earing, and no long necklaces either.

Just skip the ring-

NoviceRN10 · Feb 23, 2008

I don't know -all this fuss over rings- I have been married 13 years and hardly ever even think to put on my wedding band, even before nursing school. That is not a reflection on my marriage- I'm just not big into the rings I guess. I do have a nice engagement ring, it is huge though and I actually feel self conscious wearing it.
I would not wear any ring with a stone at all in the hospital.
I also would not wear anything but a stud earing, and no long necklaces either.
Just skip the ring-

I plan on wearing one. I don't want anyone at the hospital to wonder if I'm available or not. I'm really cute :lghmky:! LOL!

phoenixfire · Feb 23, 2008

I have to echo some of the other posts here, I would not want to lose one of my stones, or risk hurting someone. Even though the stones on my wedding set are not set very high, they are still quite large, and I would be devastated if anything happened to that ring. For this reason, I wear a simple gold band to clinicals, and just make it part of getting ready to go. Wearing a different ring doesn't make me any less married, and if it makes my patients just a little bit safer, isn't it worth it? While I may eventually upgrade to a wider band, I think its less of a hassle for me and my patients to leave the fancy stuff at home.

AmericanRN · Feb 23, 2008

I plan on wearing one. I don't want anyone at the hospital to wonder if I'm available or not. I'm really cute :lghmky:! LOL!

LOL and you're modest too......joke. I was going to just say that some people are "challenged" by the idea of wedding rings. In other words they go after them. I hate to even bring that up but I have actually met people men and women who go after married people quite intentionally. It it isn't right but it does happen. Forewarned can be a better form of armor then the ring.

future L&Dnurse · Feb 23, 2008

LOL and you're modest too......joke. I was going to just say that some people are "challenged" by the idea of wedding rings. In other words they go after them. I hate to even bring that up but I have actually met people men and women who go after married people quite intentionally. It it isn't right but it does happen. Forewarned can be a better form of armor then the ring.

I've met this particular breed of jerk too (male and female). I don't know why people behave that way but they do. And if anyone approaches you, ring or not, it's not that hard to say "sorry, married" and they'll get the hint.

But I understand wanting to wear a ring, simply because I miss having one on my finger if I take mine off. :)

NoviceRN10 · Feb 23, 2008

I really was kidding! I'm an over-the- hill 36 yr old mother of four. I'm sure all the men I encounter will be falling at my feet :msk:! I like to kid my husband about it, though .

SparklyGirl · Feb 23, 2008

That's interesting...I never thought about that.

I have a big fat diamond engagement ring that I normally wear every day. It's pretty flashy plus could scratch someone so I think when I'm in class/working, I'll just wear my diamond eternity band (wedding band). Which I love anyway :)

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN · Feb 23, 2008

I don't wear any rings to clinical, flat or otherwise. Never mind the risk of hurting the patient: the risk to myself because of the potential break or tear in the gloves that the ring can cause just isn't worth it.