odor

leslie :-D · Jul 16, 2008

I had a patient that had a bad odor eminating from her, so I proceeded to investigate to find the source of the odor. Well, I guess her husband complained and I find myself having to justify/explain my actions.

no, loudly sniffing is not a good idea.:rotfl:

(btw, what were you doing that offended the husband?)

i've delegated these tasks to the assigned aide, to see what s/he can find out during bath time, toileting.

if it's not plain old body odor, sometimes it's r/t foods they've eaten, and even certain cancers smell....esp those w/lesions.

sorry this happened to you.

did you ever find out the source?

leslie

MrsMommaRN · Jul 16, 2008

depends on the setting. if this is an inpatent setting i would assist the patient as much as possbile with hygiene needs. ie: assist with washing if needed . if the patient needs educated on self care and the use of deodorents provide education and the proper tools.

Shenanigans, RN · Jul 16, 2008

Odours don't bother me much - I grew up on a farm, I've smelt things that would probably make any seasoned RN throw up!

Anyway, on my elective placement I had a pt with COPD, lung ca. and emphysaema (sp)? and it smelt like he hadn't showered in a month. Two weeks later I saw him again, that is, to say, I smelt him before I saw him. He was transfered to ICU and I guess they cleaned him up there.

But my experience in NZL is that RNs will just come out and say "you need a shower" to a pt or "when did you last shower?", "are you able to shower/have a shower?"

I told a drunk they needed a shower though. Wow, did they stink, it was that stale vodka stench that hangs around everythign for days and soaks into your clothes. They also peed themselves because they couldn't be bothered getting up ad going to the toilet which was only like two metres away!

One beer 12 hours ago my orifice!!

leslie :-D · Jul 16, 2008

But my experience in NZL is that RNs will just come out and say "you need a shower" to a pt or "when did you last shower?", "are you able to shower/have a shower?"

oh, for sure!

if i can immediately identify the odor from not showering, then yes, i too will tell them they need to get cleaned up.

no hesitations from this nurse.

if it's something i can fix, i will in a heartbeat.

leslie

grandee3 · Jul 16, 2008

While working in dr's office for a short time after Katrina, I had an elderly lady that started see the doc for a would on her forearm, it was a skin tear and very large. She came in with it wrapped in gauze and kerlix. I immediately smelled something really bad. I undressed it for doc to see, and we cleaned it up and re dressed. The smell was still there, even after we left the room. I smelled it even after see left. My sister also worked the desk there, and I asked her if she smelled it. She said "no" and the doc and other office worker said they did not smell anything either.

Well, the next Friday, I was in the back of the office and this woman came in for her visit. Before I even saw her, and I did not know she was scheduled that day, the odor came to me. I was pretty far away from waiting room, but I continued to smell it. I cannot describe it, but a few people did say they smelled it also. Anyway, never did find out what it was but a friend of mine was telling me about a co worker that she started car pooling with, had this smell. One day the lady invited her in and her entire house smelled. She had dogs and cats, my friend said the animals were laying all over the laundry that was on the couch. Maybe that is what I was smelling. I don't know.

mpccrn, BSN, RN · Jul 16, 2008

if i'm spending a 12 hour shift with them, they are going to smell good! the end, no hesitation, no room for discussion. i don't say ....do you want to get washed up.....i do say, it's time to get cleaned up and i get started. if there is a really awful smelling person i've been known to mix a few things together to help clean and deoderize the patient....soap, water, mouthwash, joy dishwashing liquid (lemon fresh!) in the bath water, followed by powder, lotion and deodorant. it usually works.

PurpleMyst · Jul 16, 2008

I used to have a manager that started smelling bad. I kept asking him "what is that smell?" He never smelled anything. He also kept blowing his nose a lot, and his office was full of tissues. I could never figure out what the sweet sharp smell was, all I knew was that it was him. A few months later he collapsed and had to go to the ER. He was diagnosed with diabetes. Once he had that under control the smell was gone.

I also remember smelling the same exact smell on an obese woman in the drugstore and I wondered if she was a diabetic and didn't know it.:uhoh21:

SunnyAndrsn · Jul 16, 2008

I'm in long term care, so it's our job to make sure residents are clean. We have one resident with lung cancer who often smells, and I'm pretty convinced it's her cancer. If I smell that dead-animal odor like she has coming from someone in an acute facility, you bet I'd investigate.

Nursing wise, I'd be thinking self-care deficit, knowledge deficit, etc. Sure people are going to be offended by "you smell" but that's part of the job.

Hello everyone: If you have a patient with an offensive odor, how do you handle it? I had a patient that had a bad odor eminating from her, so I proceeded to investigate to find the source of the odor. Well, I guess her husband complained and I find myself having to justify/explain my actions.
I agree I need to learn to be more tactful, but I was just making sure
the patient did not have a physiologic issue occuring. like infection. I would like some input from anyone else that has run across this situation before. Thank you so much:(:uhoh21:

Batman24 · Jul 16, 2008

Hello everyone: If you have a patient with an offensive odor, how do you handle it? I had a patient that had a bad odor eminating from her, so I proceeded to investigate to find the source of the odor. Well, I guess her husband complained and I find myself having to justify/explain my actions.
I agree I need to learn to be more tactful, but I was just making sure
the patient did not have a physiologic issue occuring. like infection. I would like some input from anyone else that has run across this situation before. Thank you so much:(:uhoh21:

What did the husband find offensive?! If the patient has body odor from lack of bathing I'd get everything ready and tell them it was clean up time. If they are capable of showering themselves and not doing it we get everything ready in the bathroom, tell the visitors the patient needs a little private time, and literally walk them there. Some need a little push but most are good about it.

If it's an odor you can't identify and you think something is wrong I'd check them from head-to-toe. Perhaps they have an infection that hasn't been found as of yet.

northshore08 · Jul 16, 2008

One ED I was working in had a car wash nearby...joke was for our regular smelly drunks or really bad stinkers that we were gonna ask EMS to stop by the car wash on the way in and run them through twice, please!!

All right, THAT never happened. But, I have walked patients to the decontamination shower before, and made EMS roll their stretcher in there when they brought the guy who fell in the pluff mud in the inlet.

Other severe cases (usually elderly found on the floor with unknown down time, poo from ears to toes) just get two nurses and two bath basins. Our fluff and puff was not as good as the floors, but at least we could assess and not have to use the wintergreen in the masks.

StrwbryblndRN · Jul 16, 2008

I have noticed bad smells coming from pt's that has certain chronic conditions. I have not been around CA pt's yet though.

There was a pt that had parkinsons and he smelled bad like he ate lots of garlic or something. I knew he was clean but was not sure why he smelled.

Well the next day I had the same pt and another parkinsons pt. Well they both smelled alike. Again I knew she was clean. I sum it up to the meds they are taking as too why they smelled similiar. I could be wrong but it was my only rationalization.

Aslo had a MS exacerbation pt who we bathed twice a day for 3 days. Never could get rid of his overall smell. Totally capable outside the hospital just had the overwhelming scent that eminated from him. I do not want to assume he is lacking in hygiene knowledge. Its unfortunate that this is the way it is for him.