GUM! Can you chew it on shift?

MagsMom · Apr 17, 2011

It is very unprofessional to chew gum. If you are worried about your breath then brush your teeth or have a mint after you eat.

In the hospital where I work gum is not allowed - not even by people who only answer the phone and people get sent home if chewing gum in clinical areas.

We were not allowed to chew gum when I was growing up - Personally, I think it is tacky, especially people who pop their gum.

SummitRN, BSN, RN · Apr 17, 2011

People who say "breath mints" or "candy." You do realize that is 1. Unhealthy 2. Leads to bad breath once the mint wears off 3. When do YOU have time to brush your teeth on shift???????? (Much less carry your toothbrush and toothpaste on you)

My mother always said only whores chew gum, lol. I think that is a little pejorative, but no, I don't chew gum and don't allow my kids to do so. It is unattractive at the very least. If you must, then do it in private.

thedude-that%27s%20just%20your%20opinion%20man.jpg

... and a highly subjective and judgmental opinion at that. It sounds like your outlook was formed in childhood without any objective reason.

linearthinker, DNP, RN · Apr 17, 2011

Oh, absolutely. I am opposed to gum chewing, no question. However, if you want to do it, go for it, but it should be in private. It simply isn't something done in polite company IMO.

I love The Dude. Great film.

SummitRN, BSN, RN · Apr 17, 2011

It simply isn't something done in polite company IMO.

I don't agree with your opinion... sounds old fashioned. We're talking about gum, not chewing tobacco!

anotherone, BSN, RN · Apr 17, 2011

My mother always said only whores chew gum, lol. I think that is a little pejorative, but no, I don't chew gum and don't allow my kids to do so. It is unattractive at the very least. If you must, then do it in private.

I do it. It does help with anxiety. oh well. I don't pop it and try to hide it.

linearthinker, DNP, RN · Apr 17, 2011

I don't agree with your opinion... sounds old fashioned. We about gum, not chewing tobacco!

Might as well be the same as far as I'm concerned. I am quite sadly aware that etiquette and good manners are old fashioned.

anotherone, BSN, RN · Apr 17, 2011

I hate being around people who chew gum- the smacking, the chewing drives me crazy. I know gum chewers wills post about how discreet they are, etc, etc, but franckly. I hate gum chewers.
Personally, having to chose between chewing gum and having a job,I know which one I would chose.

A job that would let me chew gum.

jessica.lanelle · Apr 17, 2011

I think chewing gum in front of patients is unprofessional, for me, anyway. I will chew gum between patients, or when I am doing paperwork, but never when I am talking to a patient, their family, or doing any sort of procedure. I can't comment on what others do, but I just could not imagine doing it in front of a patient.

suanna · Apr 17, 2011

It is very unprofessional to chew gum. If you are worried about your breath then brush your teeth or have a mint after you eat.
In the hospital where I work gum is not allowed - not even by people who only answer the phone and people get sent home if chewing gum in clinical areas.
We were not allowed to chew gum when I was growing up - Personally, I think it is tacky, especially people who pop their gum.

I am amazed at how many responses to this post are seeing it as a moral issue. I never thought of gum chewing as "immoral". It can be a bit gross and makes it difficult to articulate sounds clearly when people who are careless in how they chew- but the "gum chewing is an evil act and people who do it should be flogged or fired....." attitude caught me totally by surprise. I occasionaly chew gum- I smoke, and can't while at work, plus I get "dry mouth" from my evil smoking and/or some of the meds I take. Chewing a piece of gum relieves some of the craving and freshens my breath for my patients and visitors. Anyone over the age of 3 should know to chew only a small piece at a time and to "park" thier gum in thier cheek or spit it out before they speak to family, patients, or fellow caregivers. That isn't professional or unprofessional- it's just being a grown-up.

I did have a fellow nurse who dipped snuff. By the end of the shift he would leave cups of tobacco spittle all over the unit (even in patient rooms). That was careless enough to be classified as unprofessional and nasty (in my opinion). I'm kinda glad he moved on to a different position. Makes that piece of Juicy-Fruit seem kinda nice in comparison dosen't it?

NVCW · Apr 17, 2011

In my opinion, there is nothing wrong with chewing gum after eating to combat bad breath, as long as you don't chew obnoxiously.

criticalRN10 · Apr 17, 2011

I think some people are being a bit judgmental... to each their own! If their smacking is bugging you ask them to pipe down! I'm sure you have some habits others don't like as well. Life is short and work days are long- chew away. If I'm ever chewing gum I tuck mine on the roof of my mouth while I'm working with patients like a retainer... (I know how unprofessional and immoral of me) whatever. It's just gum chill out.

KellyPedsRN · Apr 17, 2011

I'm new to this site, and I find it sort of strange that this topic is where my first post is going. It just happened to be one that was out there when I signed in.

This is going to sound kind of harsh, but now I find gum chewing by anyone I see while in their work environment, who deals with people, to be totally unprofessional.

A few years ago, the Children's hospital where I work banned gum. This was due to a very unfortunate incident involving a co-worker, who is close friend of mine.

We had a traumatic arrest on a young boy who was hit by a truck. He had almost no open wounds, except for a small laceration on his head. I only mention that because during the code, the gum she was chewing flew out of her mouth when she was calling out an order. The gum landed on the patient...that's why I mentioned the lack of open wounds. (I don't even want to think about the gum having ended up in a wound.) She was immediately excused from the trauma room, eventually sent home after being reprimanded, then scolded by more than one boss, and suspended for a day. (I still think she was lucky that's all she got. But it's in the past now, and she's still my co-worker and friend.)

(The child died in the OR after a thoracotomy and laparotomy, etc. - we all gave him the best chance we could.)

So needless to say, that's why gum is banned at my facility. We are allowed mints, and so far no incident has happened like what my friend experienced. I'm sure I'd know about it if it happened. We are strongly encouraged to use a mint (or other candy) that can be swallowed easily. Some of us (myself included) sometimes even carry a small tube of toothpaste and use a very tiny amount - I swallow it - to freshen our breath when needed.