Engagement ring necklace

[jackal307]

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Hi all, I have a random not class related question. I just got engaged this past weekend, and am wondering what others have done with their rings. I obviously can't wear it when with patients (or gross lab, which is the most pressing problem), and I am terrified that a necklace clasp will break and I will lose it. Any ideas? Good necklaces where the clasp/chain breaking isn't a problem?
thanks
Jackie

 

[Sangria17]

The necklace is your best bet. I work in a lab and I have had no problems with my clasp breaking to date. If you haven't already you need to have your ring insured, there are a lot of good companies, and policies are generally inexpensive. You can either add a rider to your renters/homeowners policy or buy separate jewelry insurance. This will most likely decrease your paranoia. Just my 2 cents from one Cornellian to another!

Good Luck and Congratulations!

 

[Jolie South]

I always wear my ring. I wear it with patients at preceptor and never took it off for gross lab. I just put gloves over it and have never had a problem with them breaking.

I've been married almost 3 years, so I feel weird without it. I just make due. When I get to clinics, I might consider going to a necklace.

 

[jackal307]

any idea on good brands that I can count on to not break? I don't know that I trust the kohls jewlery counter with my ring 🙂

 

[Sangria17]

I rock a diamond heart pendant/chain from Macy's . . . . still truckin' . . . . .

 

[colbgw02]

I just got engaged this past weekend, and am wondering what others have done with their rings. I obviously can't wear it when with patients

Why not? You still shopping around? 'Cause there are rules against that. Besides, most people are right-handed and use their index finger for DREs, so that shouldn't be much of an issue.

 

[RoyBasch]

Isn't there concern that the area under a ring would trap bacteria making it harder for them to be cleaned out with foam or hand washing?
-Roy

 

[jackal307]

Haha, not still shopping around, its just a very high sitting ring, and a glove won't fit over it without tearing. As long as I'm doing stuff that only req. one glove it'll be fine, but I'm figuring that during some of the rotations two gloves are req. for some of the stuff, and I don't want to be taking it off and putting it my pocket or anything like that

 

[colbgw02]

Isn't there concern that the area under a ring would trap bacteria making it harder for them to be cleaned out with foam or hand washing?
-Roy

When you're in a sterile environment (operating room), then you remove all rings or bracelets. Maybe that's what you're referring to. For just everyday patient encounters, I've never heard of rings or other jewelry being a significant source of transmission. It's possible, I've just never heard of it, and I know that removing rings is not routinely done.

Haha, not still shopping around, its just a very high sitting ring, and a glove won't fit over it without tearing. As long as I'm doing stuff that only req. one glove it'll be fine, but I'm figuring that during some of the rotations two gloves are req. for some of the stuff, and I don't want to be taking it off and putting it my pocket or anything like that

Ahhh, so he's loaded. Well done.

 

[The Angriest Bird]

You can wear your ring when seeing patients. I don't see why that's not appropriate.

In gross anatomy lab, it's your choice. That place looks nasty but it's really "clean." No bacteria can grow in formaldehyde.

The only place where you absolutely have to take off your ring is in the operating room.

If you are really afraid of losing the ring, consider buying a long necklace, maybe an 18" one, and ask a jewelry to take off the clasp and simply linking the two ends permanently. This way, it won't break unless the metal breaks, which is very unlikely. The necklace will be kinda long but you know it's safe. And IMO that's actually quite unique and fashionable.

A sterling silver one will be nice, because sterling silver is tougher than white gold and platinum. Plus, it's also 1000x cheaper.

Gratz on the engagement. Remember, your guy is infinitely more important than the ring.

 

[jackal307]

are you allowed to wear necklaces in the operating room? I hope so, especially since you can wear glasses and those def. arn't sterile

 

[The Angriest Bird]

are you allowed to wear necklaces in the operating room? I hope so, especially since you can wear glasses and those def. arn't sterile

Yes.

The only sterile part of your body is the front part of your trunk up to your neck, your hands, and arms up to 2 inches above the elbow. Below your waist, your face, and everywhere else is consider non-sterile and it's ok.

 

[WellWornLad]

any idea on good brands that I can count on to not break? I don't know that I trust the kohls jewlery counter with my ring 🙂

Whatever's holding that clock probably has the sort of tensile strength you're looking for...

 

[Tiger26]

Whatever's holding that clock probably has the sort of tensile strength you're looking for...

well, i was gonna recommend a 2 ft long gold chain with a dollar sign on it, but this would probably work

 

[quiz]

I have the same problem. It's a fatty 😀. If you go to a jeweler they sometimes carry or can make you a necklace with a screw clasp. This helps prevent it from coming undone. No problems so far. I have worn gloves over it and they sometimes break, but not too often. It works better when I turn my ring around so the stone faces inward. I also got a lower setting.

My problem is I'd like to work with low income groups and worry about what they will think.

 

[fahimaz7]

Wear your engagement ring whenever you are not in the operating room. Unless, you happen to be wearing a 2 carot diamond...If that's the case, leave it at home if you are so worried about it.

The other option is getting a different setting. Think about it, you're going to be in training for a long time (and possibly a surgeon thereafter), do you really want to worry about this for the next 30 years? It's just a ring...

(Disclosure: I'm a married male)

 

[deleted77919]

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[quiz]

i think she means to have the jeweler insert the ring and then seal the ends together. although i think that kinda sucks in case you ever want to wear it on your finger. plus long chains that can go over your head will also fall off.

it's fun to look at the shiny on my hand, but i intend to leave the rock at home and wear a simple plain band. yeah it's fun to show off to your girlfriends and aunts, but eh, they only really care to see it once, maybe twice to judge how much your fiance loves you.

 

[jackal307]

I'm gonna try getting a long no clasp necklace and running the ring through it (putting a loop through then putting the necklace through the loop, maybe that will work, otherwise I'm gonna start looking for a screw clasp necklace)

 

[jllander]

Just my two cents, but I see no problem with wearing wedding rings/engagment rings during clinical years. I have worn mine for over two years and have never had a problem. And you'll find that doctors, residents and nurses all wear their fancy diamonds too. Unless it is truly so high sitting that it tears through gloves (and nitrile is pretty tough), wearing rings is not at all taboo. And I can't imagine its a sterile issue either. Someone also mentioned certain economic classes feeling uncomfortable about big diamonds. Again, I haven't run into that, and found that most people were too sick/concerned with their own problems to worry about how many carats I had on my left hand. <shrug>

As for the operating room, I have one of those watches that has a band that completely disconnects to remove it. I would slip my rings on the watch band, and then reconnect the watch around my bra strap. I knew those rings weren't going anywhere and the sterile field was still maintained.

Anyway, like I said, my two cents. Congrats on getting engaged! It's a fun time!

 

[Hurricane95]

Like others have said, you can wear your ring whenever you want except while in the OR. Just buy a thicker necklace to wear it on while operating (thicker necklaces tend to have stronger/sturdier locks and hence are VERY unlikely to come loose.

 

[smq123]

are you allowed to wear necklaces in the operating room? I hope so, especially since you can wear glasses and those def. arn't sterile

Theoretically you're not supposed to wear necklaces in the operating room either. Everyone does anyway, though. Just tuck it under your scrub top.

And definitely invest in a necklace. One classmate tied his wedding ring to the ties of his scrub pants, like some residents do, and almost lost his ring in the toilet.

Glasses/goggles/loupes are a different story.

My problem is I'd like to work with low income groups and worry about what they will think.

😕 They probably won't even notice, or, if they do, care.

 

[SoCuteMD]

A necklace with a lobster claw clasp instead of the cheaper clasp type tend to hold up well. I've had the same diamond pendant on a chain for 12 years, have worn it almost daily (and slept in it almost every night) and it's never fallen apart.

I wouldn't get a necklace without a clasp. It could come off as you pulled your shirt off to change if it were actually big enough to get around your neck without a clasp.

I've seen surgeons use a large safety pin to pin their jewelry to their bra strap. Please note that it's REALLY important that it be the bra strap, and not your scrub top - easy way to los your ring if you pin it on your scrubs and then change right after a case.

 

[Law2Doc]

... One classmate tied his wedding ring to the ties of his scrub pants, like some residents do, and almost lost his ring in the toilet.
....

More commonly people tie it to the scrub pants lace, forget about it, and it ends up going down the hospital laundry chute with the dirty scrubs. Happens a few times every year in most hospitals. Makes hospital laundry attendant one of the most lucrative jobs in the hospital.🙂

A necklace to hold the ring while in the OR is pretty common. The other common thing to do is simply leave the ring at home for the couple of months you are doing a surgery or OB rotation. No reason you can't wear it in the wards otherwise.

 

[hokiedo2012]

I know of at least 2 hospitals, one in DC and one in Tennessee that does not allow any rings to be worn except for a single flat band.

 

[MSU2012]

I'm just a first year, so I haven't experienced rotations yet, but for gross lab you should be able to wear it without a problem. I also have a ring that has a high setting and I always wore it in lab. I never broke a pair of gloves, but I did find if I just turned it to the side a little so the diamond was nestled against my 3rd finger vs. sticking straight up the gloves seemed to fit over it a bit better.