Chewing Gum

[Otessa]

Do any of your hospitals ban staff from chewing gum?

I have been places where they look like they should be in the Grease movies or are auditioning to be a cow.

Looks very unprofessional, IMO.

[enchantmentdis, BSN, RN]

Chewing gum while on the job makes an individual look tacky, cheap, lazy, immature, and unprofessional.

[ragingmomster, BSN, MSN, RN]

Chewing gum while on the job makes an individual look tacky, cheap, lazy, immature, and unprofessional.

Wow! Those are harsh words. I respectfully disagree.

I chew gum rather than breathe my coffee or lunch on patients, especially when up close during pushing. (L&D nurse).

That being said, I never actually CHEW in front of patients, I am a tucker. Under my tongue, does not interfere with my speech.

On a funny note, when I am confronted with a person who feels the need to smack their gum, whether it is a patient or a co-worker I will usually gently state "You must be really enjoying that gum" and will repeat it later if need be.

It doesn't attack but draws attention to the fact that I have noticed their offensive open mouth chewing.

[enchantmentdis, BSN, RN]

Wow! Those are harsh words. I respectfully disagree.

I chew gum rather than breathe my coffee or lunch on patients, especially when up close during pushing. (L&D nurse).

That being said, I never actually CHEW in front of patients, I am a tucker. Under my tongue, does not interfere with my speech.

On a funny note, when I am confronted with a person who feels the need to smack their gum, whether it is a patient or a co-worker I will usually gently state "You must be really enjoying that gum" and will repeat it later if need be.

It doesn't attack but draws attention to the fact that I have noticed their offensive open mouth chewing.

I do enjoy those altoid mints--a nice alternative.

[roser13, ASN, RN]

"I do enjoy those altoid mints--a nice alternative."

I did too, until I incurred 5 cavities in one dental visit:D

[canesdukegirl, BSN, RN]

There is a particular gum-chewing scrub tech that I work with who recently won the Olympic Gold for the US. I am so proud! I can actually find her...yes, FIND her simply by the sound of the gum popping!

[NurseKatie08, MSN]

I chew gum after eating or drinking coffee at work to keep my breath fresh. If I happen to have in it my mouth outside the nursing station, I tuck it away under my tounge and don't chew in front of patients. I typically only chew it until the flavor goes out and then get rid of it, anyhow.

If you're discrete about it I don't see anything wrong.

[MJB2010]

I hate gum chewers! YUCK. I sat next to one yesterday while charting she is a tiny little thing, but the noise was LOUD and icky.

[OCNRN63, RN]

This is a hot button issue for me. I absolutely cannot stand people who chew gum noisily; I almost feel violently toward them. It gets. on. my. last. nerve. Really.

[sharpeimom]

"I do enjoy those altoid mints--a nice alternative."

I did too, until I incurred 5 cavities in one dental visit:D

:eek: :eek: :eek:

[AOx1]

I can't stand the sound of open- mouthed food chewing or of gum chewing. The sound of spit swishing about!!!! Ewwwww.

[sharpeimom]

i can't stand the sound of open- mouthed food chewing or of gum chewing. the sound of spit swishing about!!!! ewwwww.

yuck! yuck! yuck! :barf02:

[OrionQuiltsRN]

As an RN, I always want to have good breath around my patients.

THEN, in April I was diagnosed with lymphoma and spent the majority of the summer in an oncology unit receiving chemo. One nurse in particular would come in smacking her gum which irritated me.

However, the minty smell of the gum was exceptionally irritating to me. Cancer patients are extremely sensitive to smells. I could not stand the smell of saline either. Minty gum or minty mints made no difference. The smell made me quite nauseous.

So for me my hospitalization taught me to be careful about all the smells I might bring around my patients while working as an RN.