Can't get rid of the smell!

[alyx]

Hi all...I was wondering what might help with getting rid of "that smell"...it could be any smell but in my case its a severe diabetic smell. I'm in clinicals now...love every bit of it BUT today I had a diabetic LTC patient and after peri care...I Just CAN NOT get rid of the smell from my nose. It's been 8 hours and it's still there. Seems to be migrating down the back of my throat. I used the provided wash cloths and when it was clear that they weren't doing the job I resorted to plain old soap and water...truly nothing helped. She was "clean" but I couldn't get rid of her odor from her body..and now my nose. I was thinking of snorting some German schnupf tabacco but I was hoping some veteran here might have experienced advice for me and for helping my patient smell better too....YUK..and please help. Thanks so very much in advance. Alyx

[Bortaz, MSN, RN]

I had the burnt flesh smell stuck in my nostrils for 2 days after a clinical rotation in OR where the surgeon used that electric scalpel/cauterizing thingamabob.

Hideous smell. Even my dinner smelled/tasted like it. So, I can certainly sympathize.

[Indy, LPN, LVN]

Try squirting a prefilled 10cc syringe (minus the needle) of NS up each nostril, then blow your nose like there's no tomorrow. Do this with your mouth open of course.

Or if you've had any experience with the neti pot, try that. The smell is probably stuck in your boogers, gotta get the boogies out!

[JHansen]

Or if you've had any experience with the neti pot, try that.

Yea I tried a neti pot once, I sneezed:eek: like there was no tomarrow and it just felt weird, a very odd sensation indeed.

[mpccrn, BSN, RN]

i've made a concoction of everything i could find to help with patient odors....a little liquid soap, a little of that sween soap, a little joy dishwashing liquid, a little shampoo, ......whatever works.

[10MG-IV]

Just light up a cigarette, take a few drags,that ought to do it, Make sure the O2 is off first.

Striking the match will make the room smell better too..

(disclaimer: THIS IS A JOKE)

[TakeTwoAspirin, MSN, RN, APRN]

I do not know what could help you with getting the smell out of your nose but for bathing the patients...we used tomato juice baths in the LTC facility for those really offensive odors. Just poured a can or two of tomato juice into the whirlpool and let the jets and suds do the rest. It works well. Make sure you rinse them well though:)

LMAO:chuckle:chuckle:chuckle

I do the same thing to my dog when she mixes it up with the skunks!!! Didn't know I could do it to my patients (sorry, clients) too. I'll keep it in mind.