Deoderant

I would ask the patient if they need anything... "Do you need any personal hygiene items.. deodorant, lotion, or a comb?". Or ask them if they need help bathing.

Honestly, I wear only aluminum free deodorant, which isn't as effective. Currently it's a tea-tree oil one. I switched d/t concerns about aluminum. Hopefully it lasts t/o the shift. But I do shower before and after work.

But I do agree, some patients have strong BO. If they can't clean up for themselves, I do it for them. If they can, I ask if they need a bedbath set-up, or just set it up anyway. Usually they are glad to get it.

Your nose will get used of it. Remember olfactory fatigue from anatomy?

A professional person's personal choice of "fragrance" is all good and fine until it makes for an insufferable work environment for others. That goes for nasty body odors or perfumes and colognes.

Those patients who need help with hygiene should be cheerfully provided with it. Discussion of those patients who refuse hygiene would make a whole other thread. It would be nice to hear of creative and or effective ways of dealing with patients who refuse any hygiene.

If someone doesn't want to wear deodorant, that's their choice.

You can always eat Mexican food before going to work and gas him every chance you get - that's your prerogative too.

With patients I think it's that sometimes they don't always have access to the things to be properly cleaned up. For them I'd offer to throw them into a shower.

For what it's worth, I stopped using any and all antiperspirants including products containing aluminum. I use a natural deodorant called Toms of Maine which contains hops. They say it fights odor naturally or some such. My unit has a policy in place specifically disallowing perfumes and fragrances. I use the pine scent and haven't ever had complaints. I can also work a shift or spend a warm day active outside and not smell of BO. I sweat a fair bit on the floor, so I feel its effectiveness is rather high.

YMMV, and it's not the cheapest deodorant around. But it works for me, and they have a fragrance free variety, too. Also, my girlfriend likes the manly pine scent.

I work ER. Many of my patients haven't bathed, brushed their teeth or changed their clothes for weeks. Lack of deodorant is the least of their problems.

For some people that refuse to use deodorants, there's naturally occurring salts that can come in the form of a stick that can work remarkably well. It's not a deodorant per se... it just kills off many of the bacteria that do cause odor. Just make sure that you're getting mag salt or potassium salts and not a salt that contains aluminum. I tried one about 10 years ago and found that I could normally go without using any deodorant.

Some of those "natural" remedies do work quite well and can be inexpensive if you know what you're looking for.

Oh, and there's only so much you can do about other people's odors... but sometimes a gentle reminder that something's amiss can get them to do something about it. Remember, we don't normally notice our own odors because we're used to our own odors, whatever they may be.

The liquid soap in the hospital is very effective when applied directly to armpits. You just have to find an excuse. Easy for patients, but your coworkers will be a challenge.

Ha!! I have a chronically stinky co-worker who works the opposite shift from me..getting report from her in the morning is tortuous (she comes into work smelly, so after a busy 13 hour shift, the odor has definitely not improved). The above post made me lol just thinking about chasing after her with soap and a basin..

If someone doesn't want to wear deodorant, that's their choice.

You can always eat Mexican food before going to work and gas him every chance you get - that's your prerogative too.

Ah the old crop duster.

I personally mouth breathe, but in that subtle, you cant hear me mouth breathing way.