Update on Gross Out Co-Worker

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Last week she came into the nurses station and urinated while she told us something that was going on with a patient. We were shocked...I'm not talking a little dribble...pant leg was clinging to her leg with wetness. She left work and didn't come back the rest of the night.

When she came back the next day, we talked to her, suggesting disposable briefs (I hate using the word 'diaper' with an adult). Her response was that if she wears them, her pants won't fit because she lost so much weight she threw out her chubby pants (they are already bulging, pantyline cutting an outline). She is apologetic, but quite frank about her 'accidents', as if they are a fact of life that we all just have to deal with.

Didn't even get to approach the subject of her foul gas and B.O.

I think she must be under some kind of delusion about herself. It's simply bizarre. She seems to think that she is a little vixen, that some of our male staff has a crush on her (they say no way). She has even commented that since she 'looks so much younger than she really is, she would be willing to model for the hospital billboard. (she is 56, and looks every bit of it). Now, I am certainly not one to feel that heavy people can't model---I think it's great, in fact...but totally aside from her size, her saggy, disheveled, stinky presentation makes it unlikely that she is model material. To be fair, I am angry...angry that she is so inconsiderate, angry that she is not taking gentle cues, and frustrated at her---so I may be being more harsh than necessary.

But I doubt it.

you work in forensic psych??? do you not have pt advocates???? sic them on her as this is truly an issue that pertains to their health... OMG!!!

Hmmmm...

First I'll start by assuming the posts are true. Then, by agreeing that the therapist in question has serious mental health issues. Then, by noting that no one in the nursing command is known to have taken any action.

If this person is licensed as a therapist of some type, she likely reports to someone outside the nursing administration. And her practice is regulated by some state agency (not the board of nursing). If she is unable to practice competently (and it does sound so) then either her superior could be consulted (by the nursing adminsistration), or she could be reported to her licensing board.

As far as buying her briefs, etc, I'd say you're just playing into the behavior. If she is aware of her behavior, and she has been confronted, clearly this isn't a behavior pattern that can be addressed by the usual means of communication or conflict resolution.

Specializes in geri, med/surg, neuro critical care.
I can believe it's reall.

About 8 years ago i worked with a woman who would wind up bleeding through her pants because " i don't like the way pads feel, and i can't use tampons" (so she wasn't wearing ANYthing during her period). Took 3 months for management to do something and that was ONLY after another employee had called the state and put a bug in their ear.

:barf01: :barf01: :barf01: :barf01: :barf01: :barf01: :barf01: :barf01:

Specializes in geri, med/surg, neuro critical care.
oh my.... bleeding and no pad? that is so not cool. merkat.... i want to know why management has not done anything. surely pt's have been witness to this... i would gift " princess pissy-pants " w/ a walmart gift certificate for some pants that are appropriate and an assortment of incontinence products, beeno, and body spray. i would also purchase a big can of lysol or stinky-be-gone (okay, stinky-be-gone is not a real product, i made that up!!lol)) to keep at nurse's station. i would tell her that she needs to address the problem. i would be pro-active. if this did not work then i would raise all kinds of hell w/ her superiors...and i would put in my notice if nothing was done and report the facility to every governmental agency to bring sanctions on a facilty that apparently does not care about infection control. this is insane, i just do not think i would put up w/ it any longer... i just find it appalling!!!!

:chuckle :chuckle :chuckle :chuckle :chuckle :chuckle

I can believe it's reall.

About 8 years ago i worked with a woman who would wind up bleeding through her pants because " i don't like the way pads feel, and i can't use tampons" (so she wasn't wearing ANYthing during her period). Took 3 months for management to do something and that was ONLY after another employee had called the state and put a bug in their ear.

Urk

Specializes in Corrections, neurology, dialysis.
I can believe it's reall.

About 8 years ago i worked with a woman who would wind up bleeding through her pants because " i don't like the way pads feel, and i can't use tampons" (so she wasn't wearing ANYthing during her period). Took 3 months for management to do something and that was ONLY after another employee had called the state and put a bug in their ear.

That's disgusting!!!

I've heard of people who don't like pads and tampons who either use rags like our great-grandmothers did, or who made their own. But to just wear nothing is unsanitary.

What's weird is that there was a time in history when that was pretty common. Read more about it here.

http://www.mum.org/pastgerm.htm

It sounds as though there might be a little mental illness going on...

Specializes in previously Med/Surg; now Nursery.

Standing in the station peeing herself! silly.gif crazy.gif scared.gif faint.gif

Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

I'm sure I'm not the only one to wonder if this woman isn't just desperately seeking ATTENTION.

I mean, honestly: there is simply NO WAY that she doesn't know what she's doing, or how it affects the people around her. My 13-month-old grandson is more considerate than that---at least when he's wet or soiled, he'll come to one of us and yank at his diaper to let us know he needs a change.:rolleyes:

I do think the woman is mentally ill, but this is no excuse for allowing her to continue to pollute the atmosphere and expose patients and co-workers to her odoriferous and potentially infectious emissions. And I can't believe we're still talking about this supposedly professional therapist, three threads and probably 200+ posts later.........this should have been dealt with by the OP's supervisors eons ago.:stone

Meerkat, if I were in your shoes, I'd vote with my feet and get the heck OUT of a place where such things are allowed to go on. This is beyond inconsiderate. This is beyond disgusting. This is a symptom of a seriously dysfunctional workplace, and your co-worker's issues are probably only the tip of the proverbial iceberg.:(

Another poster metioned this...since she is a therapist and not a nurse, there is a different supervisor that should be taking care of this issue. I wonder if her super has ever had to work close enough to witness the problem? As far as being nice....this has been going on long enough. She has to realize that this is not normal. Psych issue or not.

That's disgusting!!!

I've heard of people who don't like pads and tampons who either use rags like our great-grandmothers did, or who made their own. But to just wear nothing is unsanitary.

What's weird is that there was a time in history when that was pretty common. Read more about it here.

http://www.mum.org/pastgerm.htm

You may be on to something. She may be one of those people who doesn't believe in creating waste (like those who won't use disposable diapers on babies) and hasn't found an alternative for herself. I don't know...I've just never heard of someone not using some sort of feminine protection product during their time of month, and this would also explain the dribble. I'm definitely not saying this is an excuse! I'm just trying to understand how anyone could possible do these things. Now, as for her excessive tooting in public, I still haven't figured that one out...I will have to get back to you on that.

But here's an idea. You all may need to BYOC (bring your own chairs). You know, the portable type that are for camping that fold up and fit in a bag. The bags have a shoulder strap...that way you can carry it around with you when it's not in use (just to make sure she doesn't get a hold of it). :rolleyes: That way, you aren't sitting on her wet spots. (kidding)

If she doesn't want to create landfill waste, there are reusable products out there.

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