Fellow student is....a little stinky

Koyaanisqatsi-RN · Sep 28, 2009

As a non-anglo person from a multicultural family I have interpreted your comments as self-rightous. I'm offended by you suggesting that I'm some sort of ignorant, insensitive, racist. I would like an apology.

Oh come on. :rolleyes: Really?

I read your post the same way, but I doubt anyone assumed you were some kind of ignorant racist. The world is full of a lot of ignorant people, however, so it isn't much of a stretch to assume someone who calls odor a 'cultural thing' is saying it out of ignorance. That may not be the case for you; that's great. But I think you are really over reacting here.

On topic, people from different countries often just have different smells than people from other different countries. I've noticed this everywhere I go. A lot of folks outside of the US think we smell terrible! It is what it is, whether it's bathing rituals, diet, and so on. I do understand that in a clinical setting, odor can be a big problem, so I would guess that approaching the person tactfully would be a good idea, as long as it truly is a problem of offensive odor, and not just a 'different' odor that some people have.

talaxandra · Sep 28, 2009

To people in Japan, who eat a primarily vegetarian and seafood diet, meat-eating Westerners have an unattractive odour. We don't notice what we're used to, and do notice difference.

This isn't to say that are no offensive body odours, or that the colleague the OP mentioned ought not be approached, just that there are cultural aspects that transcend ideas of the hygenic West and the odiferous Other.

Conqueror+, BSN, RN · Sep 28, 2009

It can be cultural in that many cultures do not believe in deodorant at all. In a US clinical setting after you sweat that will create an odor that will be considered unpleasant to most. I understand that the PC police are always on duty but this is still America (for now) and ripe pits stink here. When in Rome...

Koyaanisqatsi-RN · Sep 28, 2009

It can be cultural in that many cultures do not believe in deodorant at all. In a US clinical setting after you sweat that will create an odor that will be considered unpleasant to most. I understand that the PC police are always on duty but this is still America (for now) and ripe pits stink here. When in Rome...

Hey as long as you're willing to go without deodorant when you go to a country where the people don't use it, then I agree with you. :)

Conqueror+, BSN, RN · Sep 28, 2009

I did it in Jamaica one year. It was...interesting.

aromarn · Sep 28, 2009

OMG, I Have almost the same story. And this was when I did my summer externship, the girl with the stink issue was actually a new nurse on orintation. When she walked in, you just want to throw up. Its was sooooooooo bad. We were in L&D and teh father whos wife was on labor requested that she should not come in there. When she hold up her hand to fix teh IV, we all just want to die.

Everybody was scared to say anything, she walk around like nothing happens. ( she have to know, she have a problem) Anyway, one day it was her day off and meeting was called. The head nurse each one of us , if it was a problem and we told her yes. Anyway, after she is being 2month in that floor , the head nurse finally have to pull her to the office and talked to her about it.

From what we heard, the girl claimed she should not be judged with personal hygiene, she do use deodrant (personal choice). But she agreed to use one if she going to offend the patients. Anyway, when summer endsm I left, but the othr day I saw one of the nurses and said now its on and off. She use it I guess when she feel like it. They are dealing with it , but thinking about getting some kind of reenforcement. No one to work with her and its becoming a problem.

By the way, she too also not from here and I think its personal choice. I know a lot of people from her origin and I have only ROSE experience.

Dreams2BeRN · Dec 17, 2009

An offensive odor is exactly that -OFFENSIVE. It is a known fact that if we don't bathe or wear deodorant we will STINK.....offensively. Regardless if it is someone of "another culture", if someone does not practice the same hygiene that the majority of us do....they will stink...and offend others. Maybe the point of her mentioning that the person was of another culture was the fact that it may be a very sensitive area especially when it comes to one's beliefs. Of course it would be a sensitive area with anyone, but, there may be some friction when it comes to someone else confronting him about it.

If I were you I would talk to the instructor, let her deal with it. I'm sure she has noticed and others have already said something, you won't be the only one. It is true if something isn't done about it now he will be confronted later. If I was a patient and a nurse came into my room smelling that bad, I wouldn't want them to care for me, I would be wondering when the last time they washed their hands... To me... stink=dirt=germs UGH:barf02:

jtmonique · Dec 17, 2009

Other cultures do not share american hygiene habits true but in my experience people from other cultures easily assimilate to american culture in this area when they are aware it is a problem! People dont smell there own odor and if they dont wear deoderant and never have their smell is natural....It is like older school age children starting puberty...mom notices a smell the child has no idea what you are talking about...I think If someone (a friend, instructor..) handled the situation in a sensitive way it would be fine the persons goal is not to be offensive and the truth is any strong smell should be avoided by a healthcare worker perfumes included. It would be horrible if the student got a bad review from the patient based on his smell think of how embarrasing that would be for him.

CeilingCat, ASN, RN · Dec 17, 2009

I don't think it's your job to be the hygiene police...sorry. If he's that "stinky", the instructor would be able to tell on her own.

Get used to different smells. Your patients and peers make have a whole variety of interesting smells. Some can't help it due to their condition. Some have different cultural ideas on bathing. Some replace bathing with layer after layer of deordorant. And some think it's "sexy" to bathe in Axe or perfume. It's not my job to tell people what to smell like, unless it's causing a true allergic reaction in a patient.

Think of this as a learning experience for you in scent-tolerance.

2011nurse · Dec 17, 2009

I do not find this topic offensive at all. Honestly, I don't think anyone of us, patients included, would want to be surrounded by heavy body odor; however, I think the appropriate way to handle this situation is to remove yourself from it. In a classroom setting, sit on the opposite side of the room. If that doesn't work, then practice what they tell you on the floor about putting some peppermit oil/vicks under your nose, or something to that effect. I do not think it is appropriate to tell a peer to wear deoderant or to bring it to their attention. If your instructor feels this person's body odor is interfering with clinicals, I am sure your instructor will tell him.

I had a similar situation at my orientation. A man came in, and his odor was incredible. I hated doing this, but I told him that the seat next to me was taken because I could not tolerate it. I don't think that is rude at all. It is my choice to be around him and I chose not to.

Thanks for posting this interesting topic. I am sure we can all learn something from each other's viewpoints. :)

9livesRN, BSN, RN · Dec 17, 2009

you know what is funny? i dont stink, but i think i create some sort of resistance to deodorants, than everytime i have to buy a different brand, because if i repeat the kind, then it stops working!!

i sweat a whole lot and read this on the interntet, which helps me so i can share.

i mixed half vintager half wich hazel with zinc powder, which i spray on my pits right after the shower, and then i dry it really good, then after that, i found this deodorant, a spray on deodorant, that is dry!!! it keeps my pit dry and not sweaty nor stinky!

I read about the vinegar/hazel/zinc mix on a forum talking about BO, and this lady cured her booty stink with it! so i figured it would work on arm pits and it does!!!!

my pits are fresh, and i my shirts are no longer soaking wet!

meluhn · Dec 18, 2009

How about just staying away from him? And yes, I have experienced this. I once had a classmate who smelled the entire room up when he walked in. In his case it really was a cultural thing, not like BO. It must have been the food he ate. It was more like salami or garlic but incredibly potent. :stone