New CNA grad, Hospital & Smells!!!

Coriander, BSN, RN · May 29, 2011

I would put a drop of peppermint or rosemary oil under my nose when I started working in an LTC years ago. One day I forgot it, and while it was difficult, the smell gradually started to be less of an obstacle. There are a few days now, when I'm in the hospital, that I really need to mouth-breathe, but you get in and out quickly. :)

MN-Nurse, ASN, RN · May 30, 2011

The reason why I am sort of refraining from working in an LTC facility is that I have a very sensitive nose. I remember volunteering in high school at a LTC facility and the constant smell of urine stimulates my gag reflex

You get used to it. Patients in the hospital pee too.

THELIVINGWORST, ASN, RN · May 30, 2011

poop and pee are a part of the job....wait till you smell c. diff! :gag: lovely lol

IMOKAY, BSN · May 30, 2011

I want to go to a CNA course and try to get a job at a hospital as a new CNA. *Cue roaring laughter here*

Hahaha! love this.. That is exactly how I feel about hoping to find a job in a hospital right out of BSN school. *cue roaring laughter here too* :lol2:

MissMcCoy · May 30, 2011

Your going to get that in the hospital...

Double amputee is going to need help toileting... LTC paitents wind up in hospitals...

Its really not as bad as you are thinking it will be.

Noob_to_Nursing · May 30, 2011

Thanks everyone for the posts! I think I'm more encouraged now to stick it out! =) I LOVE THIS SITE!

supermotojen · May 30, 2011

poop and pee are a part of the job....wait till you smell c. diff! :gag: lovely lol

I was thinking the same thing! I just had 2 pts with it the other night (one that had it in a gangrenous ulcer on their leg), and many of them have stinky pee. Vicks under your nose will work to diffuse smells. This would be a good job to get to OVERCOME the smells...After awhile you don't notice most of them.

JROregon, ASN, BSN, RN · May 30, 2011

I still can't stand the smell of the plastic food trays with food older than a couple of minutes. I totally understand why my nauseous patients want those trays out of their rooms. Can't get away from the urine smell no matter where you work.

~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN · May 30, 2011

I have an extremely sensitive sense of smell and a strong gag reflex as well. It's subhuman I have been told and can smell a code brown on the next unit. That said, it's not any better in a hospital. I come home and just have that smell on me and it's hard to get off. I was in a nursing home first semester and that does have a different smell but in the hospital you have joys of GI Bleeds, C-diff, vomit, infected wounds, sickness mixed with fast food that the family brought in. (almost worse) in warm stuffy room. I was taught the peppermint oil trick and keep some in my pocket, or pocket size vicks. I had a patient with a really bad GI bleed needing hourly changes and every time I went to dump the urinal in the bathroom I would dab the peppermint oil under my nose, (careful not to put it IN the nose, it burns). The bathrooms at school are just as bad and I have started gagging in them.

The amazing thing though is in the hospital in front of the patient, it's like mind over matter kicks in and you are able to control it. You know it's embarrassing and humiliating for them so it's almost like your brain tells you to hold back until out of view.

That Guy, BSN, RN, EMT-B · May 30, 2011

Learn to mouth breathe and chew gum. Dont do the 2 at the same time or the gum will start to taste like poo.

Noob_to_Nursing · Aug 30, 2011

Hi EVERYONE!

I'm finally going to start my CNA program. I found something while looking for coroner supplies:

http://www.noxoinfo.com/odor.html

If you just google Odor Perception Inhibitor, you'll find products. Maybe this will work for me! I do hope so!!!!