Co-worker eats like a cave woman...

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What would you think if a professional RN with a bachelor's degree in nursing who is in an upper level position in the workplace and who is even going to graduate school would eat her lunch with her hands, claiming metal utensils made her cringe and plastic is not always available? I'm talking about eating lasagna, mashed potatos, salad, dessert, etc. with her fingers, taking fingerfuls or using her fingers/hands to take the food and cram in her mouth, and it doesn't matter who is around, patients, family and visitors, the administrator...she acts oblivious to it all. Would you find this disturbing?

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Well, yes. I would also find another time or place to eat.

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Specializes in Emergency, CCU, SNF.

Oh yeah and I'd go eat somewhere else. I'd also hit up the dollar store for plastic stuff.

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Specializes in ED, OR, SAF, Corrections.

Could it be cultural? There are places where rice, couscous, etc... are eaten with fingers from communal platters and dipped in communal sauces with same fingers - if so she might not think anything is 'off' about her habits. Just a thought.

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I don't think it's your place to decide how others should eat. If you find it offensive, just go somewhere else to eat.

Is it unprofessional for her not to use utensils? Maybe... but is it professional of you to let others' eating habits bother you so much.

Sorry to sound tough, but I've had to work with some really gross eaters. People habits vary, and you will find people with some strange ones. I used to have co-workers who brought in the smelliest nastiest things to eat. They'd heat them in the shared microwave, making the whole floor smell like warmed-over toe cheese. One of them was a hunter and loved "gamey" things and thought it was cool to bring in a still-bleeding fresh-killed whole deer head into the office building to show off "what he'd be eating later". Trust me: your friend who eats normal food with her hands really isn't so bad. :D

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Geriatrics, LTC.

absolutely disgusting

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Specializes in Army Medic.

I can't stand even listening to my family chew with their mouth open, haha.

Everyone has their own quirks, I'd just find another place to eat.

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i don't really see a problem with it, it's strange, but not disgusting or anything. kids eat that way all the time and as another poster has mentioned, people from other countries do it all the time.

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I know people who have a serious aversion to having anything metal in their mouth. Sure, it's an oddity, but I guess we all have our oddities.

I don't know why she's eating in full view of patients, families, etc. though. I'm not even allowed to keep a closed bottle of water at the desk, let alone stuff handfuls of lasagna in my face in public areas.

That said, what she does in the break room or other appropriate space is her business.

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Specializes in LTC.

THat is skeery.

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I'd find something better to be worried about.

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LOL! I would find it HILARIOUS. It wouldn't bother me. It's fickle. I just hope she cleans under her nails and washes those hands for more than the CDC-recommended 30 seconds!:monkeydance:

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