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...

How awful! That is such a difficult situation, and sounds painful to have to work around. You said that she disappears into the bathroom with "B.O. juice" do you mean deoderant?

Yes, Mitchum... mega strength BO Juice. But that isn't the primary problem. :crying2:

Sounds like a medical condition of some sort......even cancer comes to my mind.

(the rotting meat you mentioned-----I have smelt that on people with some form of cancer)

I have no idea for sure what is up---but it does sound medical of nature, like BV perhaps, if you feel it may be ummm a personal odor. Sad, sounds like she is aware of it.

BlueEyes... it IS sad. It is obvious she knows there is a problem. She does things such as... she will lay a patient chart down, walk away from it, then ask me to check something in the chart. She isn't standing near it. If she has to come up to me she will keep her distance. Any opportunity she has she will keep her distance while talking.

I had a patient years ago that had the same odor. It was BV. She had an unusual form of BV and quite difficult to treat. Standard meds didn't do it. I know what the cure was, it turned out to be too much GOOD bacteria. She was quite acidic and her cure was baking soda douches. That fixed it. Vinegar douches made it 10x worse. I know the cure and I have brought up this patient in conversation anytime I could but I don't think she is catching on OR, she doesn't realize THIS might be the problem.

She is a clean person, washes her hands 100x per shift. She is a great nurse, she does all the right things. She just stinks. It is really quite difficult to work with her. I really sincerely want to help, but I just don't know how.

I know the CA odor you refer to, it isn't that. It is bacterial in nature. If you got a whiff I think you'd know what I mean.

Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

Fishy smell? This might be the cause....

lady partsl odor can be caused by several factors. The most common cause is lady partsl bacterial overgrowth known as bacterial vaginosis, which has a "fishy" or "musty" smell. "Fishy" smells can also result from lady partsl infections, such as trichomonas lady partslis, and, in some women, from semen in the lady parts. The lady parts could also smell "yeasty" because of lady partsl yeast overgrowths. (Also check out archived Alice Antibiotics and yeast infections, Yeast infection, and Burning after sex without a condom).
What else could cause such a bad smell from that area? I have never heard of such a bad case.

Some women are very acidic. They actually grow too much good bacteria. If you look at the bacteria under a microscope the "good" bacteria are bent and broken. If you change the pH of the lady parts to a more alkaline state the good bacteria die off and the problem goes away. Or, sometimes then bad bacteria take over. It is quite similar to the overuse of abxs. The problem is pretty much the same. Obtaining a normal flora is difficult at best.

There are actually BV specialists and this is something that is currently under study. It's a tough thing to treat. Typical meds like MetroGel just don't do it, they actually make it worse.

I am only going by a previous patient that experienced the same thing. I say "same thing" because the odor is EXACTLY the same. I did mega research when I took care of this gal and I obtained quite the education. But how do you tell someone you think their lady parts stinks to high heaven? I keep bringing this patient up and the dx + the cure but she is oblivous to the discussion.

This can't be healthy, this just has to have more problems associated with it than what is common sense. Such as PID or something similar.

Specializes in Critical Care, Pediatrics, Geriatrics.

perhaps since she is sooo cleanly and rushes to cover up, using all kinds of spray/cleansers that she is aggrivating the problem and needs further education.

Specializes in Critical Care, Pediatrics, Geriatrics.

:Melody: smelly nurse

smeeelllly nurse

WHAT are they feeding you

smelly nurse

smeeelllly nurse

IT's not your fault!:Melody:

bawahhhahahahahahaha...I couldn't help myself. It's so late and I am feeling silly.

I do feel sad for this poor woman!:crying2:

trichomonis (sp) or bacterial vaginosis

trust me, when you work in the ER and are assigned to the Pelvic Palace.... ew. There have been cases where the room needed to be "aired out" after a good case of trich. I have to go to the BR and wash the inside of my nose to get the smell out.

Flagyl, baby.

I really do know the stench you refer to, but this isn't it. It's WORSE! It's just different. Instead of a fishy odor it is a dead rotting fishy odor. Like a tuna that washed up on the banks and you discovered it a week later in 90(F) humid temps. Geez, I feel like Hawkeye on MASH describing his food!

Had a patient in an MD office years ago that we couldn't schedule until the last patient of the day just due to the odor. No matter how many Rx's we gave her... either it didn't work or she didn't use it.

Of course, she also worked with MR kids and ran around after them eating cookie crumbs that fell on the floor.

She wasn't playing with a full deck... you know????

thanks. You are a true friend:chuckle !

You stinky thing you!!!

I actually have two email accounts but I am afraid to register because of all the darn junk email!

YAHOO!!!

You can use it if you wish, [email protected]. I use it anytime I know I'm going to get slammed with garbage email. Monthly I go and delete everything.

BUT... you have to share the email and tell us how you were told you stink!

Specializes in ICU,ER.
:melody: smelly nurse

smeeelllly nurse

what are they feeding you

smelly nurse

smeeelllly nurse

it's not your fault!:melody:

bawahhhahahahahahaha...i couldn't help myself. it's so late and i am feeling silly.

i do feel sad for this poor woman!:crying2:

~~~~laughing~~~~

you so crazy.

Specializes in Critical Care, Pediatrics, Geriatrics.
You stinky thing you!!!

YAHOO!!!

You can use it if you wish, [email protected]. I use it anytime I know I'm going to get slammed with garbage email. Monthly I go and delete everything.

BUT... you have to share the email and tell us how you were told you stink!

allright... I am going to try it with yours and my yahoo address. then if it has a link I'll post it here...be back in a few

Specializes in ICU,ER.
I really do know the stench you refer to, but this isn't it. It's WORSE!

wow.

bless your heart.

and hers.

perhaps since she is sooo cleanly and rushes to cover up, using all kinds of spray/cleansers that she is aggrivating the problem and needs further education.

Could well be.

You know, my problem is that I lack tact. I can have all the right intentions and seriously want to say and do the right things but I sound farr different from my intent. That is why I came here. I need specific words. Exactly, what do I say and how do I say it?

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