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Nurses General Nursing

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I have a little down time so I'll cast a peeve of mine.

I just can't stand anyone who comes to work with cologne or perfume.

Don't these people know that in a hospital that there are patients w/ respiratory problems, and that the odor could trigger a bronchospasm?

One other thing: Nurses and their damn fingernails.

I can't count how many nurses that I have worked with who have long NASTY fingernails.

Not that I object to pretty fingernails; however, nursing is not a place to be sporting long fingernails. As we all know, long fingernails are not sanitary and therefore can promote nosocomial infections.

So in another words, don't wear the Channel No.9 and those skanky Lee Press On Nails to work.

I once worked with a nurse about 15 yrs ago who had very long finger nails and had to do a rectal exam on a pt with a fecal impaction. Guess what she did? She perforated his bowel. Guess what else happened? He died. I always say,"safety first because second is too late!" How stupid can you be to go up someone's butt with 1 1/2" finger nails. It's common sense I would imagine. Some people just don't have a clue. It's a real shame...

THANK YOU!!!!! I have asthma and that nasty perfume and cologne will make me your next patient. I don't enjoy coughing my lungs up just because some one forgot that people with resp problems can react to this stuff.The nails are really an issue with me i sure would not want some with long nails giving me a supporitory man who wants a ruptured colon. Then their is the hair issue with all the scented gels and hairsprays did you know someone with asthma will react to that? But to be fair, guys get rid of your smelly stuff too, it's just as bad if not worse with all the musky smelling stuff=bronchospasm heaven. Please also check your hair gels they stink as bad as the ladies do. Thank you for listening to a crabby asthmatic.

Thank you for the suggestion. Unfortunately, I'm an agency nurse so no can do.

Once upon a time, 30 years ago,

I began my clinicals in nursing school at a small midwestern college....

The first day was a discussion of professionalism

in one's appearance as a nursing student.

The standards were:

short, clean fingernails

neat hairstyle, above the collar

no perfume or scented lotions

modesty in attire (dresses were very long so if one forgot & bent over from the waist, one's underwear did not show...blouses were buttoned to avoid cleavage haning out, etc. white underwear under white uniforms was mandated.)

white, clean shoes

no jewelry, except ear studs if pierced ears, a band wedding ring and a watch.

bathing daily/good oral hygiene

These standards should still apply today, for the most part, because the rationale for them was NOT to torture new nursing students NOR to prevent the expression of one's individuality, BUT FOR PATIENT-CARE REASONS!

After 30 years, my nails are short (yes, I would love a French manicure someday), my waist-length hair is put up in a bun, I shower before work daily, I carry Altoid mints in case last night's garlic is a problem, I wear no perfume, my makeup is lightly applied in a natural-look fashion, and my jewlery is limited to my plain (but cherished) gold wedding band and a simple diamond heart on a necklace. My uniforms are hospital scrubs, so length is not a matter.

Try using these 'old-fashioned" standards & see if the workplace doesn't look better!

wink.gif

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Specializes in Gen Surg, Peds, family med, geriatrics.

I worked with two nurses on one unit once...one bathed maybe once a week...maybe and the other regularly wore so much of some really expensive perfume that we could smell her at the other end of the hall. Both nurses were told the same thing by the HN..."Take a bath and no more strong smells on the floor."

Personally I can't understand anyone in the health care profession wearing perfume or being less than diligent in their personal hygeine. ICK.

Specializes in Pediatric Rehabilitation.

YOU ARE SO CORRECT!! I just this week had this discussion with a patient. We're caring for someone that is already nauseated and then some nurses wear enough cologne to choke a dead man. I do not see how a nurse with long nails can care for a patient without scratching them, not to mention the bacteria. I have never agreed more with a post!

I worked with a women who was also a chainsmoker. Noone ever thought she would quit, she looooved her cigarettes,( by her own admission). She has now quit, and she can't believe how much better she can smell odors and how much better her food tastes. She now knows how offensive cigarette smoke/smell is. She honestly didn't realize how bad it was, but she says she can now smell cigarettes a mile away, and can't believe she used to smell like that. I still work with individuals that smoke however. One individual is a smoker, but never at work. Her philosophy is that it's not fair to our NICU patients. I think her attitiude is great. I think it is a free country to a certain extent, but not when patient health is at risk.

Not me. First of all I am male so the nail thing is not an issue. Second I was taught way back in nursing school about cologne and cuasing bronchospasms or my client just may not like the fragnance. I aply it very sporificely! What about those nurses who have long hair (not pulled up), that is unsanitary!

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Have a Blessed and Peaceful Day,

Jami

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