Co-workers shoes/feet

[Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN]

I had to go into work for an hour, and was reminded of a problem at work.

In our lockeroom, everyone's got a pair of shoes. One particular pair is beyond rank. So are the feet they belong to, learned this a few weeks ago when she took her non-socked (never wears socks, i think that might be part of the problem) feet out of the shoes, and this dead-animal-on-a-95-degree-day smell permeated the room. Smells don't normally get to me, but, whew, i had to open the bottle of peppermint foot gel in my locker to combat that funk.

Tempting as it is, we can't toss the shoes in the garbage, and a temporary solution has been to 'accidently' drop a scrub top over them and spray the shirt with air freshner, which isn't working well. This room constantly stinks, i mean it's not going to smell like roses with 250 (literally) pairs of shoes in it, but ONE pair is making it worse.

Is she aware her feet reek that bad? Don't know, but you know this smell is bad when a bunch of nurses are gagging from it.

How would you deal with this?

[mom23RN]

I don't have any answers but I'm laughing at the image I have of how Grey's Anatomy would deal with the issue. :roll

[BittyBabyGrower, MSN, RN]

I guess we are lucky where I work...we would just say to the person...Man, are those your shoes! Or throw some odor eaters on them :roll

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

I would try the upfront approach: "Man, those are getting rank - how about replacing them?" I know my feet stink, so I don't leave shoes in my locker - I take them home and change in the garage prior to coming into the house.

[Gompers, BSN, RN]

Try having management post a bulletin saying that socks are a mandatory part of the uniform. I know our hospital guidelines say that bare feet are unacccpetable - must be wearing hose or socks. (And I know we had that discussion in another thread - that even WITH hose, socks should be worn because they soak up sweat and odors - stinkiest feet on my unit, hands-down, are those who just wear hose.)

ETA: Or suggest Crocs to this person. Antimicrobial = no smell. Of course, if she has stinky feet to begin with, they won't make them better...

[Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN]

I have Crocs, too, but they wind up stinking too. I put small bags of baking soda in them every evening before going home.

(The shoes she had are those plastic Birkies. I'm waiting for them to start walking on their own)

I'll have to check and see if socks are a mandatory part of attire.

[Gompers, BSN, RN]

I have Crocs, too, but they wind up stinking too. I put small bags of baking soda in them every evening before going home.

(The shoes she had are those plastic Birkies. I'm waiting for them to start walking on their own)

PLASTIC shoes and NO socks??? :barf01:

That is disgusting. I hope you find that socks are mandatory in the uniform policy!

[Altra, BSN, RN]

No socks? In the OR, let alone anywhere else in the hospital?? That's just disgusting ...

You're right Marie, a smell that overpowers a bunch of nurses has got to be baaaadd ...

Sending some potpourri your way & hoping a solution is found pronto.

[wooh, BSN, RN]

Marie, out of curiosity, what are your "small bags of baking soda" made from? I've been wanting to do something like that with my dance shoes, but have yet to find something that works without leaving a bunch of powder on them.

[Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN]

Well, i use old crew socks, and they do leave just a little bit of powder behind.

[Gompers, BSN, RN]

Marie, out of curiosity, what are your "small bags of baking soda" made from? I've been wanting to do something like that with my dance shoes, but have yet to find something that works without leaving a bunch of powder on them.

Not Marie, but you can make your own sachets by either getting ready-made cloth bags (sold at craft stores) or by making your own bags with thin fabric, and filling them up with baking soda.

[wooh, BSN, RN]

Thanks guys!