Gum Chewing

[NinetyNine]

What's everyone's opinions on chewing gum while on the job?

Just curious because I love to chew gum but I feel as though no one in my hospital does it.

[Cardiolyte]

Gum helps with some of the smells in the unit

[Born2BWild]

Gum chewing is incredibly annoying.

[P_RN, ADN, RN]

found out yesterday no sugar gumhas sorbitol. Over 3 pieced its like a laxative tome,

[Multicollinearity, BSN, RN]

Gum in the mouth but discretely so others don't know about it - that's what I do. So it's usually in my cheek.

[Forever Sunshine, ASN, RN]

I like those dissolvable Listerine strips. I know it would be stupid to constantly chew gum in class, during lab time, or during clinicals so I found this to be a good alternative.

Those are wonderful! and the Listerine taste last a long time in your mouth too. Also it masks any bad smells.

*adds to shopping list*

[Hygiene Queen]

I hate the thought of having bad breath while working up close to someone. If I have gum, I cheek it.

I don't think it's disgusting but understand some pts might be bothered by it.

Really... it's gum... that's all.

[Multicollinearity, BSN, RN]

I'll never forget a scene from one clinical rotation in nursing school. Every day after lunch this particular clinical instructor would load a huge piece of gum and snap and pop it. She even blew bubbles. Amazing. She'd walk all over the unit doing this.

[Not_A_Hat_Person, RN]

I hate gum-chewing with a passion, because everyone I work with cracks their gum! Gum-cracking is so common up here that I think it's taught in schools!

[DLS_PMHNP, MSN, RN, NP]

I chew gum at work:

- It keeps me awake for my 12-14 hour noc shifts

- It gives me an outlet for stress instead of eating.

- I NEVER blow bubbles, crack it, chew with mouth open, etc. Yuck!

to each their own. As long as it doesn't negatively affect me or compromise pt safety, I couldn't care less what other RNs do.

I have much bigger fish to fry, as one poster already stated. I barely have time to pee or eat, let alone check people for gum.

Cheers,

Diane, RN

[wooh, BSN, RN]

I limit it to the nurses station.

[mandykal, ADN, RN]

one night i walked into a pt room, and let me tell you, talk about halitosis!!! i gave up my gum, and gave it to my pt.

[mandykal, ADN, RN]

for those of you.....

no, not the gum in my mouth (what were you thinking...lol), i gave a new stick!