I am really sensitive to certain smells... flowery perfumes, vanilla (especially candles) and (weird) microwave popcorn. Often, they make me physically ill ...sweaty, nauseated, dizzy and headaches. There is a RN that wears (bathes) in perfume everyday. I very nicely explained to her my sensitivity and asked her if she could please refrain from wearing her perfume at work. I started with stressing I did not want her to be offended nor do I enjoy the fact that i have these sensitivities.
Anyway, she replies that she has ALWAYS worn perfume. I am the only person to EVER complian and that perfume is "WHO SHE IS" and she will NOT stop wearing it and I should stay away from HER.:angryfire:angryfire:angryfire Which trust me, I tried before finally talking to her.
I tried a couple more unsuccessful times to explain (still nicely) to her and even mentioned how we are not even supposed to wear perfume for OUR PT'S SAKE. Again to no avail and her complete hostility. I have since brought it to the attn of my manager, who did speak to this RN numerous times...but she still does not listen. I have even talked to my director about this, she talked to "stinky" and she STILL wears it...has not even toned it down.
I am so annoyed with having to waste my energy on such a ridiculous thing. I am sick of having dizzy spells at work and leaving with a headache. At this point I really cannot stand her. She is so selfish...and I did end up telling her that. I had to tell another co-worker about her perfume once and she was so nice about it, went and tried to wash off what she could.
I can't be in the med room with her...and even after she is out, her stink remains. Even if she simply walks past me, and I cringe every time we have pts in the same room. I am sooo frustrated... but now what??? I have to go to HR for something so, so dumb!!?!:banghead:
i used to work in a law office, and one of the most important thing i learned from all the lawyers i worked with is " any complaint should be put in writing" .
i suggest to do the same too. write your complaint to your nurse manager, to your director and to the hr.
verbal complaints are easy to ignore because there are no tangible records of them. people also can twist what you verbally said to downplay your complaints.
putting your complaint in writing makes it more look official or serious.
that way, they (manager, hr, director) are compelled to do something.
should you get sick because of your colleague's strong perfume, the blame is to those who received your letters but did not do anything to, at least, alleviate the problem.
so write your complaint and send (certified mail with return receipts)copies to hr, nurse manager and director.
if you are desperate enough, you are going to put your complaint in writing.
Sometimes, pple really don't understand why their scent might be offensive to others but smell nice to them. My mother, herself a nurse, recently bought this expensive foul smelling oriental perfume and would douse herself with it. I tried to get her to tone down until one day, we were at a party and the moment some lady passed her, she almost fainted. I laughed so hard and told her, that's exactly the way her own perfume makes me feel and she should consider me brave enough to stand beside her all this while. And she learnt her lesson.
Although I understand your (and everyone else's) concerns, there is also a flip side.
We had a new coworker that began complaining about scents on us (men included). Since she and I were scheduled together, I was her main complaint. She confronted me with my supervisor for wearing too much perfume...except that not only was I not wearing any, I don't even own any! When I told them this, she said it must be something I was doing. Seriously, was my Lever 2000 kicking her butt? :icon_roll Then she actually had the audacity to try to sniff my hair! I explained to this nut that it was good old shampoo and conditioner, with some product that I had to use to keep it up in a ponytail. Next was my clothes, and I had to defend my use of detergent and dryer sheets. She wanted me to go out and buy all new products for my whole house, and to try to find unscented shampoo and conditioner! I didn't do it, and neither did any of my coworkers. She eventually moved on to other employment.
Obviously she was over the top nutso, but that experience did make me wonder how folks with such sensitivities and allergies can work in healthcare. Not to make light or anything, but the whole environment is full of strong smells, and full of people (not just coworkers) that will have varying degrees of scents that can't be controlled. It must be miserable.
. Not to make light or anything, but the whole environment is full of strong smells, and full of people (not just coworkers) that will have varying degrees of scents that can't be controlled. It must be miserable.
I agree with u. Hospitals smell a lot, especially the surgical unit that I am on. I am so used to it but still pity my poor nose each day I have to go in there.
I'm in nursing school, 3rd semester, and we were told by our instructors NOT to wear perfume to clinicals, or when we worked in the hospital. One of our students did not listen, and one of the MD's complained to our instructor. The student was sent home, and had to make up the clinical later.
i agree with those who believe that heath care workers should not wear perfume to work
however, i have seen nurses who tried to apply this to patients as well
there was this one lady that had been so sick and she finally felt well enough to sit up and put on her makeup and a lacy bed jacket with some perfume, nurse felt it was her option to forbid it
she was in a private room and shouldn't have been railed into
I don't really think that they realize that too much perfume/cologne make the body odor worse. That stuff mixed with sweat is a mean combination. UGH!!!
We were told in nursing school that we could not wear purfume because pt's may have allergies that can lead to anything from a skin irritation to full blown respiratory comlications, IMO other staffs should be considered also. Over bearing smell invade others personal space not just the one that is wearing it, if they walk down a hall the scent follows them. I hope you can get this resolved.
I also think it is nasssty when people come back in from smoking (smoke-free facility be damned!) and spray on all kinds of body splash junk, leaving me coughing and sneezing.
Here's an idea: don't go smoke? Huh? Just a suggestion.
Obviously she was over the top nutso, but that experience did make me wonder how folks with such sensitivities and allergies can work in healthcare. Not to make light or anything, but the whole environment is full of strong smells, and full of people (not just coworkers) that will have varying degrees of scents that can't be controlled. It must be miserable.
I thank God the sensitivities I have are as minor as they are. I do not often have issues. I worked in salons/spas before becoming a nurse. I never had a problem. I was around all sorts of wonerfully, beautiful smells...so much nicer than the hospital smells:bugeyes:. I miss my old job...the calm, happy people...the perks of free facials and massages (haven't had either since )...of topic, sorry.
I stay away from what I know will bother me...I don't go in breakroom if someone has recently made popcorn, I can't go in to Bath&Body and family has had to open the windows to air out the house if they had vanilla candles burning. It is (thankfully) rare for perfumes to physically bother me (that is until she tranfered to my unit), but when they do it's no fun!! It is always those very flowery, overwhelming ones.
We DO have a policy at work...NO perfume. My manager did send a general email reminding everyone. I had even asked her to wear just a DIFFERENT perfume, but she won't. Although I really don't think it is appropriate in a hospital. I am going to put my concerns in writing and go to HR. We'll see what happens.
I am sooo frustrated... but now what??? I have to go to HR for something so, so dumb!!?!
:banghead:
I didn't do it, and neither did any of my coworkers. She eventually moved on to other employment.
)...of topic, sorry.
ladynurse2B
9 Posts
i used to work in a law office, and one of the most important thing i learned from all the lawyers i worked with is " any complaint should be put in writing" .
i suggest to do the same too. write your complaint to your nurse manager, to your director and to the hr.
verbal complaints are easy to ignore because there are no tangible records of them. people also can twist what you verbally said to downplay your complaints.
putting your complaint in writing makes it more look official or serious.
that way, they (manager, hr, director) are compelled to do something.
should you get sick because of your colleague's strong perfume, the blame is to those who received your letters but did not do anything to, at least, alleviate the problem.
so write your complaint and send (certified mail with return receipts)copies to hr, nurse manager and director.
if you are desperate enough, you are going to put your complaint in writing.