Co-Worker not smelling so good

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What do you do if one of your co-workers have this "not-so-good-smell" going on with them? I mean those with strong body odors, that you'll get dizzy once you're beside them especially if they are hanging the IV (arms raised). Do you confront them or just pretend that your not smelling anything?

Do you think she WANTS to stink, that she wants everyone to laugh at her and talk about her behind her back? "Dear Jane Doe: While working together, I've noticed that you have an unpleasant body odor. I'm not judging you, I just thought you might want to know. "

LOL, gotta hand it to ya, your proposal is just TOO funny! I wouldn't put it this bluntly myself, but your approach is just hilarious!! :lol2: Ahem... on a serious note, there is a gray area in telling someone they REEK, but I agree on your proposed strategy. I'll try to remember it when and if I need to use it myself.

Thanks for the tip :)! I needed to laugh today!

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Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.

Not sure where you're getting that anyone is making fun of the OPs co-worker or that he gossiped about her to other people. . .:uhoh21: but I think the solution he decided on was a hel1 of lot more effective and likely to spare her feelings than a note like that! That's what's so great about allnurses! You can pose a question, get seventy suggestions and comments, then decide what to do! Sometimes you can learn from reading through other people's posts on the subject, too.

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Specializes in LDRP.
Not sure where you're getting that anyone is making fun of the OPs co-worker or that he gossiped about her to other people. . .:uhoh21: but I think the solution he decided on was a hel1 of lot more effective and likely to spare her feelings than a note like that! That's what's so great about allnurses! You can pose a question, get seventy suggestions and comments, then decide what to do! Sometimes you can learn from reading through other people's posts on the subject, too.

okay, maybe OP wasn't the one making fun. but others were.

You know, I don't understand how women can walk around smelling stank[/b]]

I feel bad for stinky

smelling stank and stinky are name calling

An "ass" smell and it is so horrible. I talk to all the other coworkers I work with and they all agree that he smells really bad

okay, so this person was talking about someone else. but still, talking about someone behind his back, saying he smells like ass.

trust me, an anonymous note is better than an embarrassing face to face convo. i mean, really, if someone tells you that you smell,w hat exactly are you supposed to say in response? is there any way to say that without being offensive? really. that way, you dont know who said it.

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Specializes in LTC Rehab Med/Surg.

I'd rather take the high road and remain silent, than to hurt a co-workers feelings.

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Specializes in L&D; GI; Fam Med; Home H; Case mgmt.

Is that "taking the high road", or is that being a chicken and avoiding confrontation? I see the OPs desire to tell the coworker about it a LOT more "high road" than allowing the coworker to go along smelling bad and garnering negative attention or worse, someone being unkindly blunt to her face and *really* hurting her feelings.

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Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.

He found a lighthearted way to get the point across without actually saying, "you have B.O". Your are right, HappyNurse2005, it is unkind to make fun of someone and say they smell like ass, but I think the OP genuinely was trying to find a way to tell her without hurting her feelings.

I mentioned my co-worker earlier who was showing lack of hygeine and it turned out she was clinically depressed and left the workforce soon after. Sometimes it's a metabolic problem no amount of deoderant will get rid off. Sometimes these threads get off track, and we were talking about men's vs women's toiletries and things of that nature. Cruelty should never be condoned, I just didn't feel the OP was coming from that place. He had her best interests at heart.

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Specializes in Army Medic.

Depression issues can lead to havoc in terms of proper hygiene. I can attest to this - before I sought help for depression and anxiety issues I would have no problems going a week without a shower.

My sister in law, who is bi-polar and refuses to take medications, does not shower more than once every two weeks, and she runs a good 4-5 hours every day!

The nurse in question could be malnourished as well - I can tell you first hand from some of my military training, that when your body starts to eat into the muscle because it's out of fat reserves, you produce a VERY foul odor that could only be compared to that of rotting flesh.

There are a million different factors that could be causing the problem, but I'm of the opinion that being up front with your co-worker is the best solution. Be kind, but be blunt - don't tippy toe around the subject with "subtle hints" because not everyone will understand those subtle hints.

You're part of a team - act like it. There's no need to go to the Charge Nurse or a Supervisor just so you can spare yourself the embarrassment of the conversation. Be a team player, and be an active problem solver.

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I would report it anon. to the nurse manager... letter under the office door or something. Be professional and account for the times you noticed the strong body odor on your coworker.
You would "report" a co-worker with BO to the nurse manager? Really?:yeah: How childish and passive-aggressive. Grown-ups need to handle their own problems as quietly as possible at the lowest possible level of authority. You anonymously tell the manager that you think somebody might be drunk on the job or abusing narcotics, not that one of your coworkers needs some time with a body sponge.

I'd get a cute guy involved somehow. Hmm...:nurse:

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HappyNurse2005's response maybe a little uptight but she is right. . .

Has anyone actually looked at this situation from a different angle? Meaning, the Charge Nurse's position? Is it really fair for the Charge Nurse to add "tell employee they STINK?" to his/her list of things to do for the day? Regardless of what the reason is for an employee to be stinky? I mean, just imagine how the conversation would be (yes, the Charge Nurse will try to sound diplomatic):

Charge Nurse: It has come to my attention about the several anonymous complaints, brought up against you regarding your continued body odor.

This body odor is heavily concentrated in the arm pit region and the sorrounding areas. This offending odor has continued to disturb several nasal passages of your co-workers, leaving some with the 'burning eyes' sensation and breathing problems. With these facts presented to you, we have decided and you are REQUIRED to wear a deodorant/s every single day that you show up for work.

Failure to follow this rule will result in you being written up or placed under probation which can alter your employment in this facility.

Now, really.... can you imagine if you were the Charge Nurse and have to inform an employee they stink?? I betcha the Charge nurse WOULDN'T EVEN GET EXTRA PAY FOR THIS! :p

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I MEANT NURSE MANAGER, probably not Charge Nurse. Actually, it will depend on what shift an employee with stink problem works in.

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Specializes in Med/Surg.

I would have more respect towards the person that told me this information in a one-on-one, kind, but matter-a-fact way than if it was an anonymous note. The latter sounds very passive-aggressive. I believe mental health nursing would call the former approach "presenting reality".

The note would make me feel pretty paranoid and disrespected as though I was not worth the consultation so I could at least explain to someone what's going on. If you couldn't just tell me right away, the hints or strong (lol) suggestions should come first. The OP's approach was pretty smart; you can tell he put a lot of concern and thought into it.

As long as you stand behind your opinion/complaint and we discuss the concern in a polite, understanding, professional manner, it all could go a long way to maintaining the teamwork. If one-on-one attempts don't work, then find a neutral third party to act as a mediator if one is not provided by your facility. At my job, the mediator comes from a sister facility so it's truly neutral & gossip is a bit controlled.

I agree that involving management is not required at this level. If all one-on-one suggestions and reality presentating manners with consultation prove unsuccessful and continue to make the workplace uncomfortable, then management should be brought in by means of the mediator.

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Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.
QUOTE=DirtyBlackSocks;4190114]. . . .Depression issues can lead to havoc in terms of proper hygiene.

Yes. This person had seemed somewhat unfocussed and apathetic for quite a while. She just didn't look healthy. We knew when the "talk" had been given because the next day she really looked better. I'm sorry to say that in her case we were gutless wonders (this was a while back). I always felt like she actually felt somewhat betrayed and would have preferred a friendly one on one with a peer, or two. Information delivered by a charge nurse or manager will likely result in the person receiving a punitive message, no matter how supportively delivered. I felt like she looked at us with a "why didn't any of you guys tell me?" expression.

The nurse in question could be malnourished as well - I can tell you first hand from some of my military training, that when your body starts to eat into the muscle because it's out of fat reserves, you produce a VERY foul odor that could only be compared to that of rotting flesh.

I absolutely think that with our co-worker, the constant state of anxiety she was in dehydrated her and made her perspire more than average. She was very nervous appearing and her hands shook. I'm pretty sure she pushed herself far beyond what she should have before seeking treatment because she didn't want to appear to be a failure. She didn't talk alot about her personal life, but I do recall her saying she had some chronic unaddressed health problems.

I haven't seen her in years. I hope she was successfully treated, healthy and happy. At heart she was "a good egg"- never an unkind word out of her mouth.

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