Smelly Co-Worker

[Bipley]

What would you all do about a co-worker with an odor problem?

This gal LOOKS clean but she smells BAD. The beginning of the shift is fine, the middle of the shift and things get bad. I see her sneak off to the bathroom with BO Juice in hand but she still smells bad.

It isn't always body odor. Sometimes it is but it is something different. I feel weird about explaining exactly what it is, but it is usually a very strong, different odor. Please understand, this is not once every now and again, this is daily. It's a rare day that there is no odor.

To my knowledge we have never had a patient complaint, but I don't know why. She is a sweet nurse, very good at what she does, very skilled at her profession, but she stinks!

I really don't think it is a lack of showering, she comes to work and smells fine. Within a few hours it is bad.

Suggestions on how to tell her? I don't want to hurt her feelings but geez...

[Cute_CNA, CNA]

You know, CuteCNA... I have always been impressed with your posting style but now I am even more impressed. You hit the nail on the head. I just HAVE to believe this is the issue.

She is a sweet and kind person. I honestly believe there is a medical problem and I totally agree with you. She has likely tried just about everything and nothing works. I too, am quite sure she is well aware of it simply by her behaviors at work.

I think it will be helpful if I say something assuming I may have her cure. If she reasearches this she is going to find it is because she is too alkaline and that is WRONG! Merely going by a patient I had with the same odor, it is because she is too Acidic. I may well have the cure, but she will have to hear me out.

I just don't have good approach with these issues. I'm farrr too blunt.

Sure wish YOU were here, you would have a much better approach than I.

BTW.. I darn sure wish you were a CNA in MY hospital! You don't just have knowledge of your job, YOU have wisdom. A huge difference!

Thank you. :zzzzz

[Bipley]

I attempted to register right now.

I went to my email and clicked on the link to activate the account, but received an error message. Oh well. That idea is no longer an option.

Sounds like a bogus website. Thanks for trying! I would have loved to see the email!

[Bipley]

Thank you. :zzzzz

Sweetie, you deserve it!

[jschut, BSN, RN]

Bipley~

Let us know what happens with this poor young lady.

I would be horribly embarrassed.....

[Butternut]

Could she be one of those people that are just too afraid to go to a doctor?

[zenman]

My s/o is a psychiatrist and I asked him... How do I approach her? He is clueless. But aren't MOST men clueless when it comes to dealing with female issues of this nature?

I *sincerely* want to help, but *I* need help in the approach. That is my issue.

No, it's because your s/o is a shrink, lol. Be direct as one poster said earlier and ask her. I'd do it away from work if possible. Take her out to lunch and do it.

At a sandwich shop one day a girl came in with two guys. There was blood all over her shorts. On my way out I happened to get her alone (I good at that!) and told her I was a nurse and asked her if she was on her period. She said "yes" with a look of "oh, no" on her face. I told her about her shorts and she said thanks and I left. Just do it and tell her you want to help because you would want the same and maybe you can both work on the problem. I'm not a shrink but I was a psych nurse...go nurses!

[LoriAlabamaRN]

I can't help it, but I keep flashing back to that old Summer's Eve commercial where the mother and daughter are picking flowers and the daughter says "Mom... have you ever gotten that "not so fresh" feeling?"

Seriously though, have you thought of writing or typing her an anonymous note? Can't you get her address somehow so she doesn't even know it's from work and just send her the information? That's what I would probably do... and I know that I would prefer that if I had this problem and that way I wouldn't have to face the person telling it to me!!!

Oh no! I just thought of a Twilight Zone-ish scenario... what if Bipley agrees to mail the info and a couple days later ONE OF US receives it and find out that she was talking about HER!!! or ME!!! :imbar

Heehee... someone could be reeeallllly mean and use the Christmas card list to send the info to all of us...

[flashpoint]

I haven't read all the way through, so forgive me if I am repeating anything...if she smells OK early in the shift, is there any way she can take a shower in the middle of the shift? People are allowed extra breaks to do other things, so this seems like a good idea to me...

[NurseLatteDNP, MSN, DNP, RN]

Here, I have another idea... What if someone she does not know comes by your unit when she is there (because you arranged it), and says :" Ohhhhh, what is that smell?!" :imbar

That way she can not get mad at the person, because they do not know that it is her(she thinks). She does not have to respond :" It is my body odor!":)

[LoriAlabamaRN]

I think that Bipley is right- she seems to be aware of it and just doesn't know what to do. As a nurse, she probably assumes that she needs the vinegar douches, etc. Therefore she is worsening the problem if the actual cause is the acidity! If you mail her info on what her problem actually is and highlight the only effective treatment, she will have the info she needs and not be faced with the embarrassment of a face-to-face chat. You can seriously improve her life- and your office air!!!

[cjog]

Why not leave an anonymous letter stating that you are sure that she is aware of her problem and that you think you may know the cure and that it is something she should look into. That way you don't have to get involved personally and she will learn about the possible solution to her problem. I can't imaging having something like that - it must be hell on earth. I'm sure she would be grateful for something that could possibly cure her of this problem. If you have trouble with tact, this is a great way to go. You can sit down and carefully write out a letter of care and concern.

[lady_jezebel]

I had a gynecologist once tell me that he can smell uterine cancer from across the room, and that it aids him in the initial diagnosis. She may have something really serious going on. I would talk to your manager or employee health at your hospital -- maybe they have some suggestions. Above all, I would NOT talk about this with other co-workers b/c then it can potentially become very humiliating for your poor co-worker via gossip.