How To Deal With Bad Smells

Nurses Humor

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As we all know one of the downsides of being a nurse can be the smells we encounter on a day to day basis. It doesn't matter if you work in a hospital, nursing home or a patient's personal home, it's safe to say we have smelled some pretty nasty things.

I have recently graduated nursing school and work for a home health company. For some reason smells are my biggest downfall as a nurse.

I want to open a discussion around what remedies or solutions you have come up with (or products that are available) to help you deal with the really bad smells you've encountered. Weather it's chewing a piece a gum or putting on a mask. I would like to know what has worked best for you.

Thanks!

In hopes that you don't offend your patient, wear a surgical mask with a dap of toothpaste on the outside. Works everytime for THE REALLY bad ones.

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Specializes in LTC, Palliative.

Vics under the nose

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Specializes in Trauma Surgery, Nursing Management.

Oh y'all-I just have to share this experience with you:

We were doing a hip disarticulation on a pt that had a large tumor in his femur. The tumor was large (basketball sized) and was wrapped in an Ace. The Ace bandage was soiled, and there was only a hint of stink. When we took the dressing off to prep for surgery, I almost passed out from the stench. This odor permeated every corner of the OR. It was WORSE than dead bowel. It smelled like the dumpster behind a fish house on a hot, humid day in July. I felt so sorry for this patient. How awful it must be to live with that!

I was scrubbed in, so I had to mouth breathe. The surgeon saw how green I was looking, and knew me well enough to pop a Mastisol ampule and put some drops on my mask, without my even having to ask.

I. Love. That. Surgeon.

Mastisol is a wonderful thing.

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Do not under any circumstance place an alcohol prep pad inside your mask. I learned that the hard way. I almost passed out! :bluecry1:

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Specializes in Medical /Neuro, Oncology, LTC, Home Care.
Wear really good deodorant and act as though you are itching your nose as you bring it towards your arm pit to inhale the burst of freshness there. It is a modest way of getting a break in when the environment is polluted with awful smells.

LOL! WHAT IF YOUR OWN BO SMELLS! then what! LMAO!

I find that when i have an empty stomach its much harder to deal with smell, suctioning, dressings etc... so maybe if you keep your fuel levels high you'll be good :up:

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Altoids.

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Specializes in CNA... soon to be PT.

Just breathe through your mouth. It's that simple

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I pour mouthwash into a mask and wear that. I've done this several times doing incontinent care on someone with a tube feed - that is BY FAR the worst smell I have encountered - C.Diff ain't got nothin' on tube feed poop! And if you gag - the mask hides it. Works well for gross dressings too. :)

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Specializes in Addictions and psychiatry.

:dummy1: Use vicks vapor rub below the nose along the upper lip. Medical examiners say it works for them.

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