GUM! Can you chew it on shift?

Nurses Professionalism

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Heard a hospital banned gum... didn't say why. I think I'd have to quit a job that banned gum.

Well? Can you chew gum? Why not? Do you do it anyways? Does anyone care?

-A Gum Addict

Specializes in ED; Med Surg.

People who chew ice nonstop drive me to distraction, but I never once asked them to stop. Nor is that banned although it is more annoying. And my gum chewing is evil?

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I don't chew gum, but I think if other people chewing it truly bothers you to the point of distraction, then maybe you have some significant OCD issues...

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A ban would be ridiculous.

However, whenever I work with someone rapidly chewing their cud...

They've lost me.

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Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
I chew it. sometimes obnoxiously . I don't think it is banned at my hospital. Many people do it.

The sight of someone chewing gum the way a cow chews its cud is flat-out revolting; when it's a nurse working that piece of gum, it looks unprofessional.

People who are noisy gum chewers are at the top of my list of pet peeves. It's disgusting, and it only serves to reinforce to patients and families that we're not professionals. If you're at home, feel free to pop your gum all you want. When you're at work, keep the gum in your purse. If you feel your breath needs to be freshened, keep a travel size toothbrush and a small toothpaste in your locker and brush your teeth.

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Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
Makes me miss some of the great, award-winning, threads of sarcasm we used to love... *sigh* as well as the posters who used to frequent them. #goodtimes

Hey I got an idea: Throwback Thursday threads!!!!!!

And I am embarrassed I got caught up in a years' old thread.

I miss that awesome thread (forget the name) that went on for pages. There were days that thing was the best part of my day.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.

How did this thread become unlocked?

It was locked earlier in the day.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
How did this thread become unlocked?

It was locked earlier in the day.

computer glitch....:)
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I don't chew gum but I think if other people chewing it truly bothers you to the point of distraction, then maybe you have some significant OCD issues...[/quote']

I'm not entirely disagreeing with you- I've never claimed to be normal...

But gum chewing ABSOLUTELY bothers me to the point of distraction. All chewing/swallowing noises do, especially when performed by a particularly enthusiastic consumer...but gum is by far the WORST.

BECAUSE IT NEVER ENDS!!!

I can put up with someone eating chips or an apple (while gritting my teeth and silently begging them to just finish the blasted thing already) but people chewing gum just keep chewing and chewing and chewing...

And I CANNOT sit there and chart while they are chewing. The noise literally invades me and pretty soon, I can't even THINK, all I can do is hear that chewing. If I can't excuse myself and escape to a quiet zone, the annoyance turns into rage, and I want to do ANYthing to stop. that. bleeping. noise.

Yeah, I probably do need help.

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I'm not entirely disagreeing with you- I've never claimed to be normal...

But gum chewing ABSOLUTELY bothers me to the point of distraction. All chewing/swallowing noises do, especially when performed by a particularly enthusiastic consumer...but gum is by far the WORST.

BECAUSE IT NEVER ENDS!!!

I can put up with someone eating chips or an apple (while gritting my teeth and silently begging them to just finish the blasted thing already) but people chewing gum just keep chewing and chewing and chewing...

And I CANNOT sit there and chart while they are chewing. The noise literally invades me and pretty soon, I can't even THINK, all I can do is hear that chewing. If I can't excuse myself and escape to a quiet zone, the annoyance turns into rage, and I want to do ANYthing to stop. that. bleeping. noise.

Yeah, I probably do need help.

Don't feel too crazy.. I go nuts over clocks ticking. Sometimes batteries get removed. Obnoxious gun chewing eats at me, especially the popping loudly.

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Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.

Obnoxious gum chewing drives me nuts, too. And although everyone insists that they "chew my gum so discreetly, no one even knows I have it", there are an awful lot of cud chewers where I work!

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Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
I'm not entirely disagreeing with you- I've never claimed to be normal...

But gum chewing ABSOLUTELY bothers me to the point of distraction. All chewing/swallowing noises do, especially when performed by a particularly enthusiastic consumer...but gum is by far the WORST.

BECAUSE IT NEVER ENDS!!!

I can put up with someone eating chips or an apple (while gritting my teeth and silently begging them to just finish the blasted thing already) but people chewing gum just keep chewing and chewing and chewing...

And I CANNOT sit there and chart while they are chewing. The noise literally invades me and pretty soon, I can't even THINK, all I can do is hear that chewing. If I can't excuse myself and escape to a quiet zone, the annoyance turns into rage, and I want to do ANYthing to stop. that. bleeping. noise.

Yeah, I probably do need help.

Nope, I'm the same way. It makes me want to rip their lips off. Really.

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Specializes in med-surg, psych, ER, school nurse-CRNP.

And I am embarrassed I got caught up in a years' old thread.

I miss that awesome thread (forget the name) that went on for pages. There were days that thing was the best part of my day.

Was it the things you'd love to say to patients? I miss that one, lol.

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