Getting rid of that cigarette smell

Specialties Hospice

Published

I have recently made the transition from IPU hospice to home hospice and I am running into a problem that was never a problem before...

I am going into some homes where there are hard core smokers and the smell doesn't just linger on my clothes, it adheres to anything that was in the house with me. I don't love it but I can deal with it. But I am concerned that it may be bothersome to my later visits and any one else I come into contact with.

I am not kidding when I say that my wife instantly got a head ache when I came home after a visit to a heavy smoker's home. I had to remove all - and I do mean ALL of my clothes and put them outside to air out before I could even those them down to our laundry room. Even the paper I had been writing on smelled of cigarettes.

This is a new problem for me and I am reaching out to see if any of you hospice or home health RNs/CNAs have practical solutions.

I have been told to try febreeze, my wife says that can make her a bit headachy too and I am not a fan of it either.

I don't mind bringing a change of clothes but I'm not sure if it's practical.

Thanks in advance for your ideas.

Nibbles1

556 Posts

I had this same problem. The smell was so bad my husband thought I was smoking. I had to get my car detailed it was so bad. I got a can of Frebreeze Gain scent. I would spray myself down. And I got a bag just for the smokers houses. I would put it in a trash bag with like a whole box of Gain dryer sheets. I always carry extra scrubs and shoes. I had a foley bag burst on my shoes one time. Soaked my socks with MRSA urine. And I got pooped on so bad one time I threw up on the non pooped side.

dkpfeil69

5 Posts

Specializes in Leadership, Hospice, wound Care.

I use to try to schedule those patients to the end of the day if possible and sprayed febreeze when I left

caliotter3

38,333 Posts

I've run across this problem and have not found a good way to deal with it. Refuse the client and chances are high the next client will be the same way. I refused a heavy smoking client one time and the employer retaliated by lying to the unemployment people about the situation, insuring that I did not receive benefits. So, now my only recourse is to tell everyone I know the name of that employer and how they treated me. If you positively can not tolerate smoke, you may need to reevaluate home health as your nursing specialty. The employers have no problem in discriminating against nurses who refuse to be exposed to smoke.

I've run across this problem and have not found a good way to deal with it. Refuse the client and chances are high the next client will be the same way. I refused a heavy smoking client one time and the employer retaliated by lying to the unemployment people about the situation, insuring that I did not receive benefits. So, now my only recourse is to tell everyone I know the name of that employer and how they treated me. If you positively can not tolerate smoke, you may need to reevaluate home health as your nursing specialty. The employers have no problem in discriminating against nurses who refuse to be exposed to smoke.

I don't have a problem tolerating the smoke and smell, it's more r/t other patients I may have to see next as well as my wife's intolerance of the smell. I think I'll pass on leaving home care hospice.

Perhaps I'll study up on how those quick change artists pull it off... And of course, put it back on again.

Perhaps I can run through the local neighborhood sprinklers.

But seriously, I am hoping to gather options to cope with the issue.

ktwlpn, LPN

3,844 Posts

Specializes in LTC,Hospice/palliative care,acute care.

Maybe try some odor neutralizes in your car?They have jars of solid and semi solid unscented ones.I wonder if they would remove the doors from you in the closed car.....Definitly visit non-smokers first.

ponymom

385 Posts

the possibility of smoke-stink would have kept me from trying out hh. Not only because of the lingering smell, but, more importantly, I didn't want others to think that *I* was the one who was smoking!

I think the best thing you can do in your circumstance, if you can't leave hh, would be to lump all your smoker homes together. Even if you were to change out of scrubs you're still going to have that stink on your skin, in your hair, shoes, etc.

Maybe put seat covers in your vehicle and get it detailed every couple weeks; and when you get home, go straight downstairs, strip down and either get the clothes in the washer or if you can't launder right away, bring them outside overnight or at least several hours.

Also, leave the windows cracked in your vehicle to help air it out between detailings.

the possibility of smoke-stink would have kept me from trying out hh. Not only because of the lingering smell, but, more importantly, I didn't want others to think that *I* was the one who was smoking!

I think the best thing you can do in your circumstance, if you can't leave hh, would be to lump all your smoker homes together. Even if you were to change out of scrubs you're still going to have that stink on your skin, in your hair, shoes, etc.

Maybe put seat covers in your vehicle and get it detailed every couple weeks; and when you get home, go straight downstairs, strip down and either get the clothes in the washer or if you can't launder right away, bring them outside overnight or at least several hours.

Also, leave the windows cracked in your vehicle to help air it out between detailings.

That's about what I'm thinking. And as for HH - I am loving it, and dealing with the occasional heavy smoker is a more than acceptable trade off.

Another nice thing is that we get to wear street clothes as opposed to scrubs - and I love that too.

And the group/team I am working with is a great group (as was the last group I worked with) and when you are with a great group - from the director, the mgr and all of my peers and other staff, you don't leave it unless you have to.

I feel very fortunate indeed.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN

102 Articles; 27,612 Posts

Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

Febreze now makes an odor-neutralizing spray for clothes and fabrics. It is somewhat effective for temporarily removing the smoky stench from clothing and car upholstery if your seats are not made of leather.

I assume you're a guy. Vaseline makes a men's lotion that gets rid of the smoky smell that clings to your skin after spending time in a smoker's house. Dove makes a dry shampoo that you can spray in your hair after a visit with a smoker, and it eliminates the stench.

The Febreze, Dove, and Vaseline can all be found at WalMart, Target, KMart, and other big box retailers.

Specializes in Critical Care, Med-Surg, Psych, Geri, LTC, Tele,.

Thx commuter! There are ways to get rid of the smell! Walmart is your friend! They sell febreeze and everything else mentioned!!

nutella, MSN, RN

1 Article; 1,509 Posts

First of all I call heavy duty chain smoker patients around 15 minutes before I am there to remind them to please extinguish the cigarette and if possible to open a window. Most of the turn our to be very considerate and actually have a window or the door a bit open to air out some.

I try to sit close to an open widow if I can.

Once I am out of the house I spray some linen spray - they have a variety now in stores and keep my care windows open if I can. That way it airs out a bit. If I can schedule them last fine, but I can not always do that so other pat sometimes comment on it if it is really strong.

I also at times have a spare extra top in the car (for the rare even that somebody throws up on me or I get food all over my top) and just changing the top will help a lot. Of course it does not make sense when you see several chain smoker in a day....

toomuchbaloney

12,662 Posts

Specializes in NICU, PICU, Transport, L&D, Hospice.

I agree with other posters.

I used an odor neutralizing Febreze product...liberally...after each visit.

I always carried an extra set of clothing in my to go bin.

In the winter I have a "smoking coat" and a "nonsmoking coat" in my vehicle that I wear as appropriate. The smoking coat goes into a closed plastic bag when not in use.

I forbid the use of tobacco products in the home during my visit.

My nursing bag exterior was also sprayed with the odor neutralizer and was terminally cleaned on a weekly basis.

Yeah my spouse thought I was smoking again, then she noticed that my now white grey moustache was not stained yellow with nicotine and knew that I was not blowing smoke up her skirt.

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