Gross Out Co-Worker

[Meerkat]

OK, I know I've posted about this before but things have gotten worse! My co-worker has nauseating, foul gas and she passes it in close proximity to people. I don't know if she has some kind of health issue, but her gas makes your eyes water. Last night one of the techs actually had a dry heave because it is so nauseating. What I find particularly irritating is that she toots all day long---now I know sometimes one can slip out when you don't want it to, but if I know I have to toot, I excuse myself and go to the rest room. She seems totally uninhibited about this, as she never ever excuses herself.

Secondly, she is always laying towels down on the seats in the station, because she has 'accidents'. Sometimes she has these accidents on our seats. I understand incontinence but there are products to help with that. And it's not just urine---she has also bled on the chairs and then go change her clothes. I have as heavy a period as anyone, and I know that bleeding through like that can be contained. Unless it's some kind of different problem.

Thirdly, she talks with her mouth full, crumbs all stuck to lips, half chewed food rolling around in her mouth CONSTANTLY. It is disgusting! Sometimes when she is talking she even spews a little bit of food in your direction.

Let me say that this person is nice enough, she means well most of the time but has been stepping on toes by making nursing decisions although she is not a nurse. For example, when I pt would not take his meds, she negotiated with him to take CERTAIN meds, which was not really a good thing because the order was for the meds to be given together. She did this in front of me, without discussing it with me first, and so put me in a difficult position in front of the patient who was very volatile. She also went to my boss and told my boss that I was sexually assaulted and so I should not have certain kinds of patients. I told her that IN CONFIDENCE (she's a therapist) and I feel it was not her business to go to my boss and tell her my personal information. Moreover, I do not want my boss thinking I am too fragile to handle certain types of patients.

Does anyone have any advice for dealing with this person? Like I said, she doesn't mean any harm, but she is wreaking havoc on the unit!

Thanks!

[moonchild20002000]

You should speak to your manager right away.

The woman is just plain nasty. There are several types of personal products she

COULD be using. A towel in a chair is an infection control issue.Suppose some one sits on the towel and has blood or body fluid exposure?

She does not need to be discussing what meds a patient should take,that is really out of her scope.As far as revealing information about you to you manager well I think that is unprofessional. just my humble opinion.

[Meerkat]

Our unit had a tech that had a bad BO problem. This is beyond that. Our manager spoke to her,and then wrote her up each time that it was brought to her attention. It became a preformance issue just like coming in out of uniform. She ended up getting canned over it.

~Jen

Wow...it's pretty bad when someone gets fired over BO. Well anyhow, to update you, we decided to try Plan A: Make her aware of the problem. Naturally, she tooted in the nurses' station and when she did, another staff member said "Who pooted in here?" And got out a can of Glade and started spraying. She didn't own up to the toot. She didn't excuse herself. Maybe out of embarrassment---who knows. But I think you guys are right. We're going to have to go to Plan B.

[rach_nc_03]

As I recall, most of the jobs I had that required a 'professional appearance' also stipulated that the employee maintained good personal hygiene. She's violating policy, and the supervisor should treat this no differently than if she came in wearing something inappropriate.

[Geena, BSN, RN]

Maybe you should direct the farter to this thread here... I think we have it pretty much covered. I mean, anybody in theire right mind would be mortified reading this feedback... I'm in hysterics!!!!!!!!!!!:rotfl:

[ktwlpn, LPN]

I did it...today,at work...I am so ashamed....I was sitting next to one of our younger male residents (early 30's) and holding his nourishment so he could drink it.I leaned forward to give him a sip and tooted-not once-not twice but 3 TIMES...I was sitting on one of those molded plastic chairs--it sounded like GUNSHOTS! I thought I was going to have to run for suction-he laughed so hard he almost aspirated...Poor guy-it was probably the most fun he's had in months....OK-so I'm not ashamed-I don't mind being the "butt" of a joke if I can put a smile on a resident's face........I 'll also confess that I come from a long line of proud farters.My late father was the King Farter of Toot Hill....But he never claimed them-he always blamed some else- like me,my sister or the dog (she usually walked away when he dropped a bomb).Much to the disgust of my late mother who SWORE she NEVER farted in her life.She had a colostomy before she died and you know what? Very little gas-it was amazing.. I inherited the tendency from my father and am the Queen of Farts-I married a man who shares this heritage.When his feet hit the floor in the morning he can toot "Revellie" while walking down the stairs....Our son is carrying on our traditions and specializes in long cheek flappers and SBD's..We also happen to live in the "Mushroom Growing Capital of the World" Do you know what mushrooms grow in ? Yes-horse shyte...We are surrounded by compost companies.PU!...I buy Febreze by the gallon and Yankee Candles by the dozens...

[VivaLasViejas, ASN, RN]

Now THAT'S funny!!!:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

For nearly a year after my gallbladder surgery, I had quite the time trying to control excess gas until I FINALLY figured out what was causing the problem (too much sugar and starch in my diet). Now I hardly EVER play the butt trumpet---much to the disappointment of my two sons---and I've dropped 22 pounds as well.:wink2:

Anyway, this is definitely off topic. It's one thing when someone accidentally pops one off when they least expect it; it's another thing entirely to walk around passing wind in peoples' faces and leaving wet towels around with God knows what all over them. YEEEEECCCCCCCCHHHHHH.

[fleur-de-lis, BSN, RN]

This is cracking me up!!!! I did have a thought occur to me, though. I wonder if she has some kind of medical problem (obviously) and has brought up the Americans with Disabiities act when mgt brings this up to her. Not that it would hold water in court, but so many managers and HR depts are leery of that kind of thing. You'd be amazed what they would tolerate! In my previous life I was a dept. supervisor with a completely useless employee who HR would not let me do anything with - all because she told them if they fired her she would sue for age discrimination! Now, that case would have never made it to court, because that workplace had many older employees, many even older than her. But, just the threat was enough to keep them from wanting to deal with it, so I had to deal with her!!! If it is something like that, you might have a hard time getting management to help you. But, keep trying. If all else fails, rent a gas mask from a costume shop and wear it when she's around. Someone will eventually get the hint!!!

[Agnus]

Im sorry I am having a hard time with this. lol

There is not only an elephant in the room there is a herd of them. This is so funny because this is a psyc unit and it seems no one has ever heard of ENABLING.

Wasn't phyc that coined that term? poor fellow he means no harm. Why he doesn't even know he's doing it.

rotf lol

[kalayaan]

hahaha!!! this was absolutely funny!!! im mean, not funny for you but funny for me. hahaha. i will remember this story for years.

the best solution would be is to consult your manager. that would be the easiest way to stop it. but you can try putting a mask on, get the n95. youll never know what organisms lurks in the air you breathe.

[GatorRN]

I've always been pretty outspoken and would probably have to say something. As far as the toxic toots, have you tried making any type of comments in a joking manner? Such as, Whooooa GF.....something crawled up in you and died....whatever you ate....please don't eat it anymore.....wheeew...LOL. If you say it in a laughing manner, maybe she'll laugh along with you, but at the same time realize it's a problem.

And as far as the wet, bloody towels on the seats, that's just down right disgusting!! Somebody needs to tell her they recently invented these things called feminine pads for overflow, and depends!! How this lady doesn't see any of these things as a problem or a gross factor is beyond me. :uhoh21:

[Elisheva]

I'd approach it from her side. Tell her that those nasty, damp clothes she's sitting on are wicking up years of untold hospital grime and you worry for her health. And, maybe mention that something "this way wicking comes" for the rest of the staff from her generous deposits. At the very least, I would request that she have a special chair, and I bet I could make a case for it.

[General E. Speaking, RN, RN]

Quite honestly, since this is now a health hazard to others, the DON can wind up in deep doo-doo for allowing this to continue.

literally