Smelly Co-Worker

Nurses General Nursing

Published

What would you all do about a co-worker with an odor problem?

This gal LOOKS clean but she smells BAD. The beginning of the shift is fine, the middle of the shift and things get bad. I see her sneak off to the bathroom with BO Juice in hand but she still smells bad.

It isn't always body odor. Sometimes it is but it is something different. I feel weird about explaining exactly what it is, but it is usually a very strong, different odor. Please understand, this is not once every now and again, this is daily. It's a rare day that there is no odor.

To my knowledge we have never had a patient complaint, but I don't know why. She is a sweet nurse, very good at what she does, very skilled at her profession, but she stinks!

I really don't think it is a lack of showering, she comes to work and smells fine. Within a few hours it is bad.

Suggestions on how to tell her? I don't want to hurt her feelings but geez...

Specializes in Med-surg > LTC > HH >.
I did find your post funny with your descriptions, but I believe Bipley. Have you had a chance to read thru the entire thread? If not, you should.
I'm actually doing that now.:)
Specializes in Med-surg > LTC > HH >.
Hairdresser: I have had the misfortune of attending school and sitting next to a real stinker! She smelled like crotch! I cannot believe you find it so outrageous that we are able to smell these ungodly scents. Some people's noses are more sensitive. I am a nonsmoker and my sense of smell is ridiculously acute!! Not always a good thing!:rotfl:
In highschool we had this poor 200 pound classmate that I had the misfourtune of sitting behind every day,bless her heart, smelled like an old gym sock and left a spot in her desk every day when she got up. Several of the kids made cow noises and talked made squishy noises when she went to the front of class. Ifelt soooo horrible for this girl. You now have me concerned that it was lady parts I was smelling. All I can say is that I must truly have a rose:rotfl: . I'm trying to get on board with this one, just having a real hard time doing it.:uhoh21:
Specializes in ICU,ER.
Is this a joke or is this for real.... How can you smell someone elses lady parts if your at work or wherever???????? I can understand if it is a pt. or whatever..... But at work and then you say she actually left open her purse with lady partsl spray...... I think someone is blowing smoke( or lady partsl spray up our butts)... Is this a joke???????? I find this very hard to believe.... Yes I've been near people with breaTH THAT SMELLS LIKE HORSE POO, AND PEOPLE WITH BODY ODOR, BUT A lady partsL SMELL IS A LITTLE OF A STRETCH. HOW CLOSE DO YOU WORK WITH THIS PERSON.......SHE MUST HAVE IT ON HER HANDS AND MAY NOT EVEN BE WASHING THEM BUT I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT SHE CAN COME TO WORK SMELLING FINE AND THEN SMELL LIKE A FISH MARKET LATER INTO THE SHIFT..... ARE YOU WORKING 2-3 I8 HOUR DAY SHIFTS IN A ROW???????? THAT DOESN'T EVEN MAKE SENSE........AND IF YOUR FOR REAL, THEN YOU SHOULD ALREADY BE TAKING HER TO THE SIDE OR TELLING YOUR SUPERVISOR FOR THE SAKE OF HER HEALTH AND HER PATIENTS........:uhoh21: :imbar :uhoh21:....THIS IS JUST TOOOOOO UNBELIEVABLE. IF THIS PERSON IS A HEALTHCARE PROVIDER THEN SHE CAN HANDLE THE TRUTH, WHICH I DON'T BELIEV IS BEING TOLD HERE.......

wow. does this mean this thread is going to get another 200 responses?

THAT is what is unbelievable.

and for the record, I most definately believe Bipley

Specializes in LTC.
wow. does this mean this thread is going to get another 200 responses?

THAT is what is unbelievable.

and for the record, I most definately believe Bipley

:chuckle

Hairstylingnurse......there are several links thruout this thread that you could click on to learn about several conditions that women can get, and these conditions have an odor.

I think the nurse in question, is basically a clean person, and has most likely just come from the shower, but as her day wears on, the odor gets worse and more noticeable. I don't see what is so hard to believe about that.

I work in a facility for mentally challenged people, and believe me when one of the females gets a lady partsl infection you can smell it.

I've smelled enough of them to know what it is.

YES, lady partsl infections can be detected thru the nose.

Specializes in Med-surg > LTC > HH >.
wow. does this mean this thread is going to get another 200 responses?

THAT is what is unbelievable.

and for the record, I most definately believe Bipley

If it does get another 200 posts then that means it's pretty interesting duhhhhhh!!!!! For the record I don't care who you believe.:uhoh3:

Not being a Nurse, to me, some of you, not all, sound very rude and uncaring... too big for your "britches"..a better word would be...I just don't know.

Sorry, if I'm wrong..I won't know for some time.

Angelsarch

Specializes in ICU,ER.
if it does get another 200 posts then that means it's pretty interesting duhhhhhh!!!!! for the record i don't care who you believe.:uhoh3:

well aren't you a sweet thing?:chuckle

Specializes in Med-surg > LTC > HH >.
Hairstylingnurse......there are several links thruout this thread that you could click on to learn about several conditions that women can get, and these conditions have an odor.

I think the nurse in question, is basically a clean person, and has most likely just come from the shower, but as her day wears on, the odor gets worse and more noticeable. I don't see what is so hard to believe about that.

LPn 1974 I realize that people have smells. I don't know how to express that. I'm a home health nurse and have been into women houses insering foleys as well as in LTC. I have also done many a culture on women with yeast infection, dealt with women that have less than optimal cleanliness is why I keep saying it is one thing to care for female patients with an issue but another to work with someone that can go lady partslly rank that quick. I'm a non smoker and have a sensitive nose as well. I was brought up not to believe everything I hear or read.
Not being a Nurse, to me, some of you, not all, sound very rude and uncaring... too big for your "britches"..a better word would be...I just don't know.

Sorry, if I'm wrong..I won't know for some time.

Angelsarch

huh????

Specializes in Med-surg > LTC > HH >.
well aren't you a sweet thing?:chuckle
looks like we both are:rotfl: :chuckle :rotfl: :chuckle
Not being a Nurse, to me, some of you, not all, sound very rude and uncaring... too big for your "britches"..a better word would be...I just don't know.

Sorry, if I'm wrong..I won't know for some time.

Angelsarch

oh you must have edited this! They are not rude and uncaring. This has been a very difficult situation for the OP to address. Have you read the entire thread?? Some humor is sprinkled throughout, but that is how nurses handle uncomfortable situations. You say you are not a nurse, so maybe you shouldn't judge at face value how we handle things until you yourself have been there.

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