wedding rings at work

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · May 23, 2006

I don't get it!!!!! Nurses are so programmed to "follow the rules" laid out by old school instuctors instead of doing their research and also using some common sense! First of all, if nurses (and by the way , what about doctors?????) can't wear any scents, why are visitors allowed to bring flowers into the hospital??? What the hell do ya think perfume is made from?
here are 1 or 2 doctors on my med/surg. unit that wear strong cologne and not many people at all complain, but as soon as a nurse does, it's an issue. WHY? Secondly, not once in my 5 years of nursing, have I seen one patient or staff member have a reaction or asthma attack etc. from any of the scents or chemicals in the air at the hospital. The day that happens is the day every single person should stop using deodorant, scented soaps, lotions, scented shampoos and flowers ought not be allowed in . I don't doubt people have allergies. BUT I think the issue is one that is more of a problem to those who just want something to ***** about. If common sense was used, one would know it isn't such a huge issue to wear a light scent or body spray and nobody is going to die or have an anaphylactic reaction to a few flowers. If that was the case, I'm sure enforcing this no scents policy or "rule" would be much stricter.
As for wearing rings...I and many other nurses wear our wedding rings, all 10 of them ,(kidding) and neither I nor they, have ever caused a scratch or skin tear. Again, the day that happens is the day we would stop wearing them. Why take a chance? There is no chance of that happening unless you are doing personal care or any kind of contact bare handed!!!!!!! Common sense to ALWAYS wear gloves no matter what it is you're doing, right? Unless you're wearing a high setting with hub-cap sized diamonds .....how can a patient get scratched, etc.? Furthermore, bacteria is just as likely to get on watched, name tags, not to mention stethoscopes and every other object imaginable! Did anyone know that doctors are the biggest culprits for MRSA??? (don;t say "mersa".....annoying...it's simply M.R.S.A.!). I've seen many , if not most, who touch a patients leg, for example, after tearing off a drsg, and then leave the room without handwashing. Then they carry on to the next patients room. Doctors don't always dryclean their ties and that is where most of the bacteria was found. Think about it. Anyway, I'm done. Tired of typing. Have a great day all............

I thought this thread was about wearing wedding rings to work.

royr · May 23, 2006

I do not wear my wedding ring to work for the simple reason that I don't want to cause harm to my patients. I know I am married, and so does my wife of 11 years. Better to keep it home and wear it when I take my wife out for happy occasions.

sassy7cassy · May 23, 2006

I thought this thread was about wearing wedding rings to work.

There was a post at the top of page 2 that briefly touched on wearing perfume at work.

care.inc · May 25, 2006

Wearing rings are ok- I guess. As long as they are plain and dont cause damage to the patients , you , or your family . They protect you too from corny patients, their family, or their guests. One love.:monkeydance:

teeituptom, BSN, RN · May 25, 2006

I dont wear rings at all, they interfere with my Golf Grip. Now I do have my wedding ring tattooed on my finger.

Otessa, BSN, RN · May 26, 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

I have been an RN 14 years. Have had a wedding ring for 12 years. I have a bezel set(no prongs) also known as a channel set. smooth all of the way around, my diamond doesn't stick out at all-flush with setting.

Mommy TeleRN, RN · May 27, 2006

ITA Sassy. I am one who is very allergic to most any scent. I hate that because I find they smell good and would love to personally wear them but I just can't. Last semester I sat next to a student who would rub on lotion during class.. it was a bath and body works and it smelled great...but I would get so nauseous, stuffed up and get a pounding headache. I can't even walk near a perfume department in a store. I would hate for a patient who is predisposed to being nauseous getting sick...hey the less vomit to clean up the better for me anyway lol

Both my parents wear WAY too much cologne, ugh....

Wow, you're riled up.
RE: perfume and cologne, not everyone knows how to well scents correctly. (like wearing WAY too much) Also, some people DO wear cheap, offensive scents. Even if they aren't cheap, they may still be offensive. For example, there is a certain type of old lady Estee Lauder perfume that makes me sick EVERY TIME I am around someone who wears it. I'll have an allergic reaction and be a mess for a few days.
I think you need a vacation.

anonymurse · May 28, 2006

I wear my ring at work. It's a very thin 4mm band, flat inside, and fits tightly enough there are no gaps between the ring and finger.Very low profile. It has never threatened to damage gloves. I get Purell under it, rotate it and slide it up and down my finger while washing. I mean I deliberately get under it, and the space underneath is as dry as the rest of my hands when I'm through (I even ventilate the space a little as needed). As we are authorized three rings at work, I never take it off. My wife appreciates that.

mandaleigh · May 28, 2006

In our clinicals, the rules are very specific about the kind of jewelry that we can wear. My sweet husband went and bought me a plain gold band so I don't have to worry about my 'good' ones. I'm not 'germophobic' but the idea of the spaces between the stones.....eww.

Annabelle57 · May 28, 2006

I specifically chose my wedding band knowing that I would be a nurse (and likely one that worked with vulnerable populations - elderly, neonates, ICU, etc) - it's a "comfort fit" style white-gold, very thin band. I never take it off, and I even did one of those bacteria tests where you rub the powder all over your hands after you have washed them and then hold it under a black light - nothing around my ring. My engagement ring is a solitaire, not a huge one, but I never wear it to work or clinicals. On top of all the other stated reasons people have said, I think I'd just be too dang worried about it.

On our secondary topic, I am also someone who will end up nauseous and with a pounding headache if anything flower-scented goes by my nose. I've rarely come across pungent flowers in the hospital - I'd have to get up close and stick my nose in them - but I do come across many people who either wear granny perfume or even a Bath & Body Works scent, and it will immediately clog up my head. It's real easy to say "use common sense" and pretend the rest of us allergic ones get our panties in a bunch when we come around perfume, and no, I don't think anyone will go into anaphylactic shock... but when your head starts pounding, feels like it's too small for your brain and your stomach starts churning, see how quickly your faith in other peoples' "common sense" disappears! People really don't know when they are marinating themselves, and a no-perfume rule is just common sense, IMHO, as well as common courtesy.

I would imagine anyone with a pollen allergy might have a problem with hospital flowers, as well as the potential critters that come with plants, but I've never encountered either problem myself.

banditrn · May 28, 2006

I wear an anniversary ring to work. I've been married a long time, so I have two wedding sets, but both have diamonds that stick up.

When I didn't wear any ring - the oldsters would 'hit' on me!:chuckle

Mommy TeleRN, RN · May 29, 2006

I had the funniest thing happen last week. I haven't worn my wedding rings in weeks because I always forget to put them back on after clinical days. Well I finally put them back on last week when I went for an interview. I guess I wanted to feel my husband's support with me (call me a sap!)

I went to a bookstore to read for awhile to see if I heard back from the job as it is a drive from my home. This older man kept making conversation with me and finally hit on me...suggesting I come stay with him if I want to stay overnight instead of commuting! :rotfl: But I thought it was so ironic..the one day I FINALLY put my rings back on I get hit on! haha... he knew I was a nursing student and I guess it's the same deal you get when you waitress, it's just a stereotype men seem to like.

Anyway, my husband thought it was funny. :chuckle I imagine when I do get a real job in a real hospital I'll probably invest in a simple band to wear to work.