Identifying and differentiating smells

[Martial]

All of us have encountered the smells that come with nursing. What I would like to propose with this topic is to gather as many personal opinions of associated smells to diagnosis.

The purpose, to see if enough similarity exists in opinion. If so, that it may lead nurses (and of course myself) to quicken time to treatment.

Here's a few of mine:

DKA: acetone breath (well known, i know; use the nail polish remover packet if you need a reminder)

C.diff: I can smell something similar to cooked ground beef mixed with stool (one strain anyway, there is another that seems to get by me in early stage infection)

Upper GI Bleed, when vomited: beef burgundy soup (this was on one pt experience, NPO several days, with coffee ground appearance)

Bladder infection: if Foley in place, differs from "typical" medicine scented urine

[Alex Egan, LPN, EMT-B]

Strep throat. I can't quite describe it but it's kind of sharp/sour but subtle.

Also a good description for wine. Lol.

I use my phone, to type, I work at night, and I'm a bad speller. Pick any reason you want for my misspellings

[walkingthecow]

At the LTAC I used to work at, I was able to tell who was going to need to start dialysis because of the wet Cheerios smell their skin gave off.

[K+MgSO4, BSN]

walkingthecow said:

At the LTAC I used to work at, I was able to tell who was going to need to start dialysis because of the wet Cheerios smell their skin gave off.

That is what that smell is.

[calivianya, BSN, RN]

Do-over said:

What is with the poop that smells like mothballs?

Wicked GI bleed = slaughterhouse

Liver failure poop! I have been looking for a comparison for that for a while, thanks.

[lxpatterson]

melena stool is pretty bad, that and fresh clotting blood....maybe it's because those smells are always associated with very stressful situations.

[imintrouble, BSN, RN]

I try to never attach an everyday odor to anything in the hospital.

For obvious reasons.

Recognizing odors as a health care worker, is invaluable.

I worked with a 40yr veteran nurse that could smell a GI bleed, before the patient ever showed active symptoms of GI bleed.

Isn't it funny what impresses a nurse.

[emtb2rn, BSN, RN, EMT-B]

Making dinner while reading this thread. Appetite not affected.

[tara07733]

emtb2rn said:

Making dinner while reading this thread. Appetite not affected.

Pre-nursing student here and I'm impressed that you can still eat. I'll get to that point some day soon, I hope.