wedding rings at work

ICRN2008, BSN, RN · May 17, 2006

I bought a plain white gold band at Walmart for about $80- it is comfortable and it love it for clinicals. The only problem is that it is a lot lighter than my engagement and wedding bands (platinum), so I constantly feel like I am missing my ring :)

When I first got engaged, I wore my ring in the lab and had problems more than once with the prongs bending. Since I had the setting lowered, I have not had any more issues. I still wear my engagement and wedding rings in the lab, since I don't have direct patient contact.

rnmi2004 · May 17, 2006

I'm another one that has the plain gold band as a work wedding ring.

TazziRN, RN · May 17, 2006

I only wear a flat band with inlaid stones. I had an engagement ring with my first marriage and ended up taking it off because it got in the way. A flat band is much easier to deal with. As for gunk, I get it cleaned on a regular basis.

UM Review RN, ASN, RN · May 17, 2006

I only wear a flat band with inlaid stones. I had an engagement ring with my first marriage and ended up taking it off because it got in the way. A flat band is much easier to deal with. As for gunk, I get it cleaned on a regular basis.

Same here. I opted against the traditional ring because I once had an engagement ring nearly rip my finger off when it got caught on the bed frame as I was helping to change someone.

piscesgirl · May 17, 2006

even though im only a student and not even in the process of being married, ive always planned on getting a band tattooed on my ring finger. ive always thought wedding rings were expensive and i tend to lose things so its the best idea ive come up with. and my husband will have a tattoo as well so even if he does take the ring off, theres still the tattoo underneith that cant be removed lol

Rnandsoccermom · May 17, 2006

I rarely take off my wedding rings. In the 17 years I've been married, no matter what hand cleaning solution I've used at work they have been fine.

Now for my nails, that's another story-LOL.

lovemyjob · May 17, 2006

I work in an intensive care unit (NICU) and we are not allowed to wear anything below the elbows...no watch, no rings.

MissJoRN, RN · May 17, 2006

I wear a wedding ring only, not the engagement ring. I am on my second ring since the first was lost when we had an emergency in the OR and I had to scrub at the last minute and couldn't find a safety pin. Usually we pin rings, watches, etc to the fronts of our scrubs- but make sure to pin through the bra strap, too, then you can't take your shirt off without getting your rings first.

Even in homecare I have one family that forbids rings with stones since they've had them rip the wheelcahir pads and those are expensive to replace.

I wouldn't advise wearing good rings on a necklace chain- I've seen several (esp boys HS class rings that are often borrowed by girlfriends) that have grooves worn into the back from the chain. A safety pin or someother decorative pin might be kinder.

Medic/Nurse, BSN, RN · May 17, 2006

No. I do not wear any rings at work.

The gloves can be punctured so thats not worth the risk.

The "gunk" can cause eczema or a rash so thats not worth it.

My ring, however, does have a flat profile - so I guess I could. I can't say that wearing the ring at work was a consideration when we purchased it, but I could wear it - I just don't. You can check out the Furrer Jacot line of rings. That was what I choose - they have lots of styles (some are a bit intricate) that are flat or low profile!

Artis · May 18, 2006

Hi All,
I'm just curious if nurses even wear their wedding rings at work. Does it get in the way when you put gloves on, or get full of soap and lotion gunk?
Scratch people?
Do you wish you had a different style that worked better?
Just curious what most nurses do.
Tofutti

Hi, I guess common sense would tell me not to wear a big stones to work. I dont have that anyway. I would wear my gold band but even this I would hesitate. The worst thing I have is when I see many nurses with long nails. The last place I worked, I thought about how unacceptable it was and the managers do nothing. They do nothing because they are freinds with these nurses. Bacteria like long nails and do like hiding inbetween stones so use your common sense. Just look up some articles in the nursing journals, you will find tons of information on the topic and how dangerous it is for vulnerable patients such as infants, and the immune compromised.

nurse_wannabe · May 18, 2006

I do not wear any rings, not even my wedding band. I am not much of a jewelry person to begin with - I can't even stand to wear a watch.

However, I work with a nurse who wears at least 2 rings on every single finger. And these aren't just dainty bands... they have big stones and scratchy settings. She also wears bracelets and necklaces. I don't even want to think about the level of bacteria in them. And this is LTC where tearing skin is easier than tearing paper.

She's been an LPN for at least 10 years. You'd think she'd know better!

Antikigirl, ASN, RN · May 18, 2006

I damaged my wedding ring at work, and it can not be fixed ...so no wedding ring anymore.

Actually...ummmmm, when I was between nursing jobs I actually got my nose pierced with a small itsy bitsy diamond on the left (symbolizes marriage) instead. It is so small that I actually worked for 4 months before ANYONE realized I had it! LOL! That is my wedding ring per say. (my work allows piercings/tattoos as long as they are not too much!).

Many of my collegues wear theirs on a necklace, or have them made to hang from a nice broach.

Bands are the best...or set-in diamonds that do not scratch pts or get caught! No prong settings...that is where mine broke..one prong in a 13 diamond stacked ring...ruined it beyond repair (and believe me we tried to repair it...but to repair it was to redo the ring...that cost more than getting a whole new ring!!!).