Wearing rings during surgery??

Re: Wearing rings during surgery??

Julie-Anne Wilson — Sat, 02 Nov 2013 23:13:40 GMT

I got married a couple of months ago and don't wear jewellery at all 'cos I can't be bothered with constantly removing it so I have a tattoo instead. I know not everyone would do that but at least I can't lose mine and never have to worry about sterility during theatre.

On topic thought, I always thought you had to remove them - plain or not. I can't get how you can possibly scrub up properly with a ring on.

Re: Wearing rings during surgery??

Gillian Mostyn — Sat, 02 Nov 2013 23:06:12 GMT

[quote user="jsmout"]I'm one of those superstitious people who doesn't like removing their ring.....[/quote]

Nobody likes removing their rings. It is just something that goes with the job.

[quote user="jsmout"] What happens when you have a staff member who can't actually get the ring off though?[/quote]

Depends on the practice. In my practice everyone removes their rings if prepping for or carrying out aseptic surgery. No exceptions. You would have to get it cut off and enlarged.

Re: Wearing rings during surgery??

jsmout — Sat, 02 Nov 2013 18:19:20 GMT

This is very interesting as I will probably have a problem when starting in clinical practice. I have an eternity ring as my wedding ring, studded with diamonds. When we married I hadn't even entertained the idea of training in vet practice and I'm one of those superstitious people who doesn't like removing their ring.....

Recently however, my husband has located his late mother's wedding ring [a plain thin gold band], so I'm thinking of getting it enlarged and then using that at work. What happens when you have a staff member who can't actually get the ring off though?

Re: Wearing rings during surgery??

Sal the 1st — Fri, 01 Nov 2013 19:07:04 GMT

[quote user="Roseann21"]

[quote user="Sal the 1st"] It can also quite satisfying for some people when they can see that their actions are causing annoyance to the other party and so it goes on - and that's life. [/quote]

Which is one of the many reasons why I often find myself preferring animals to people

[/quote]

I used to think that too and then I got interested in working out what makes people tick as well

Re: Wearing rings during surgery??

Roseann21 — Fri, 01 Nov 2013 12:49:55 GMT

[quote user="Sal the 1st"] It can also quite satisfying for some people when they can see that their actions are causing annoyance to the other party and so it goes on - and that's life. [/quote]

Which is one of the many reasons why I often find myself preferring animals to people

Re: Wearing rings during surgery??

Sal the 1st — Fri, 01 Nov 2013 09:43:59 GMT

[quote user="Calli D"]

Its a matter of principle for him now

[/quote]

yep this is what generally happens when somebody is challenged over something it makes them more determined that they will do whatever they are doing. It can also quite satisfying for some people when they can see that their actions are causing annoyance to the other party and so it goes on - and that's life.

Re: Wearing rings during surgery??

Calli D — Fri, 01 Nov 2013 01:40:09 GMT

He generally does wear gloves. Its only twice that I've worked with him and he chose not to wear gloves and I have come up against him about his ring and both time was during a cat spay so not likely to have his whole hand in there. Its just a bit disconcerting that for 19yrs I have been working under the guidance that rings are verboten and now it changes.

I am pretty sure there is something in the employee handbook about jewellery but its a small practice and I don't believe there is a theatre protocol set in stone. I really don't see the issue of taking it off for a few hours and do what most people do and hang it round their neck on a chain and bit of wow band! Its a matter of principle for him now and he can be a pedantic whotname at times.

Thanks though guys. I would never have thought you'd get away with it at all in human medicine! I will try not to be quite so Grrr about it now that I know there is more evidence but I still don't like it.

Re: Wearing rings during surgery??

Jacqueline Gallacher — Thu, 31 Oct 2013 22:36:56 GMT

My friend is a theatre nurse in NHS and says that the surgeons are supposed to remove their wedding rings but very few of them do now.

Re: Wearing rings during surgery??

Catherine Goulding — Thu, 31 Oct 2013 11:48:27 GMT

There is more evidence than what you have found that supports the argument of being able to wear a plain wedding ring band during surgical procedures, NHS staff now never remove their wedding rings for scrubbing up BUT we ALWAYS wear sterile gloves, due to the risk of HIV, Hepatitis A,B & C etc. According to an article I have just read, asking a staff member to remove their wedding ring contravenes their human rights (!!). Apart from the fact that not wearing gloves when performing surgery is gross (I prepare to be hung drawn and quartered for that statement!), surely he risks losing his wedding ring inside a patient??? I will try and locate the further evidence for you.

Re: Wearing rings during surgery??

Sal the 1st — Tue, 29 Oct 2013 12:13:13 GMT

so what is the practice policy on this?