How do you handle the smells?

~Transplant Nurse~ · Apr 23, 2011

Toothpaste sandwiched in between two masks. Not very discrete, though. I cant mouth breathe- I feel like I'm eating it.

muffins20 · Apr 23, 2011

I've smelled diarrhea covering a whole bed that had hardly any smell and farts that could stun an elephant. If the smell is bad enough - doesn't matter how much you try to mask it - it's going to get through.
The worst I think are the smells that linger with you - sometimes I'll be walking out of the room and I'll keep smelling it and and when I ask the people around me if they can smell the stench - they look confused and say no! So I tend to walk around paranoid for a bit thinking that the smell is on me etc.
I wonder though - how do you guys tactfully spray a room after a really bad BM/Smell? I feel so bad when I do it and the patient apologizes - or they're quite but I know that they hear the spray and probably feel bad.
Can I tell I'm loving these smilies :yeah:

Well maybe the patient would actually appreciate you freshening up the room. Reassure them to something along the lines of; it's not their fault, they didn't do anything wrong, their body is just out of balance.

Or you can be covert and help them wash up in the bathroom and spray the room while they're occupied.

mybrowneyedgirl, BSN, RN · Apr 23, 2011

Always breathe thru your mouth. But don't accidentally breathe thru your nose in the middle of it. Did that twice and started dry heaving.

NurseLoveJoy88, ASN, RN · Apr 23, 2011

I mouth breathe with a mint or gum in my mouth so it doesn't feel like I'm tasting anything.

Forever Sunshine, ASN, RN · Apr 23, 2011

Vomit and GI-bleed really send me into a dry heave.

I breathe through my mouth. I also carry vapo-halers. Its vicks vapors in a small tube about the size of a lipstick. Two snorts in each nostril and thats all I smell.

ReWritten · Apr 23, 2011

Unfortunately my facility doesn't have anything for us to spray... so I typically mouth breathe, like others have said. Vomit and diarrhea are nothing... GI bleed and draining pus is what gets me.

canesdukegirl, BSN, RN · Apr 23, 2011

You could always wear a surgical mask when you do something that may have a splash hazard. I put Mastisol on my mask when we do cases that have a "high stink risk factor" like dead bowel cases.

I used to mouth breathe when I would change colostomy bags or stinky dressing changes...until a piece of infected yuck flew right into my mouth when the patient grabbed the old dressing out of my hand. That's when I started wearing masks ALL THE TIME when doing dressing changes. Gross. I am starting to turn green just from the memory of that awful day. 'Scuse me while I go find the nearest toilet...

UpstateNyDollCna · Apr 23, 2011

I use Vicks vapor rub with lemon in my nostrils, when I have to deal with feces. Our teacher told us we are not allowed to use anything like a mask because it might embarrass or make the patient feel ashamed of themselves.

Airidis · Apr 23, 2011

If you can get over the visuals, how do you manage the smells? To me smells are what usually trigger me to gag so what's the best way to overcome that and remain professional?
I heard someone mention vapor rub or alcohol swabs but I'm not sure how healthy it is breathing that in all the time?

My nursig instructor told us to smilr. If your smiling you can't gag. Not 100% sure medically wise if its truue but its been working for me

Catherine. · Apr 23, 2011

I used to mouth breathe when I would change colostomy bags or stinky dressing changes...until a piece of infected yuck flew right into my mouth when the patient grabbed the old dressing out of my hand..

Oh my goodness this about has me gagging right here at the computer...

Catherine

Aly529 · Apr 23, 2011

My nursig instructor told us to smilr. If your smiling you can't gag. Not 100% sure medically wise if its truue but its been working for me

Intresting. I'll have to try that to test it out but I suppose in some cases it would inappropriate to smile. You may end up looking like a psychotic nurse that's enjoying it...lol :lol2:

lilredrn · Apr 23, 2011

I've smelled diarrhea covering a whole bed that had hardly any smell and farts that could stun an elephant. If the smell is bad enough - doesn't matter how much you try to mask it - it's going to get through.
The worst I think are the smells that linger with you - sometimes I'll be walking out of the room and I'll keep smelling it and and when I ask the people around me if they can smell the stench - they look confused and say no! So I tend to walk around paranoid for a bit thinking that the smell is on me etc.
I wonder though - how do you guys tactfully spray a room after a really bad BM/Smell? I feel so bad when I do it and the patient apologizes - or they're quite but I know that they hear the spray and probably feel bad.
Can I tell I'm loving these smilies :yeah:

OMG I am rolling!!!!You are hilarious!

I just grab a bottle of the odor neutralizer and say "would you like some air freshener?"

Honestly, nobody hangs out in the bathroom after you drop a deuce. You turn the fan on, shut the door and leave the room. Those poor patients are stuck in there smelling that and knowing that everyone who walks in the room is aware they just had a BM.