Odors--Help!

Nurse2bducky86 · Mar 31, 2007

I work on med surg and the illi bags get to me. If I know i have to empty one i pop a very strong mint and try to breath through my mouth for that few moments.

LilPeanut, MSN, RN, NP · Mar 31, 2007

Be careful - the peppermint oil can really make you sick!

LeahJet, ASN, RN · Mar 31, 2007

I know I am silly.... but mouth breathing is not the answer for me. I can almost "taste" the smell and it makes me want to spit.

I am with the others on something under the nose or an odor neutralizing spray found on housekeeping's cart.

nrsjo · Mar 31, 2007

Thanks for the vics suggestion. I deal with anything unless it smells.

AirforceRN, RN · Mar 31, 2007

I chew gum...it doesn't cover up the smell but seems to help me from gagging at times. I find the worst smell isn't the patients, it's the sterilization hopper for bed pans and commodes. I open that thing up and its like opening a freshly finished dishwasher, except instead of clean dish smell you are hit with years worth of baked urine and feces. I know the hopper is clean but the smell is still there...horrible!

The neb with oil is a great idea! I have to try that sometime.

RN BSN 2009 · Mar 31, 2007

I think I'll go with the vicks lol

firstaiddave907 · Mar 31, 2007

when i was a cna i usedto use vicks vapor rub under my noise. but some if the other ideas are great ones

Dalzac, LPN, LVN, RN · Mar 31, 2007

the only odor I just couldn't deal with is bloody stools. I once got a pt. from ER with a diagnosis of gangrenous toes going up the foot. He probably hadn't bathed in many months. Another nurse and I decided he was going to get the bath supreme, so we loaded up on oodles of towels, soap, and washclothes. We also put mouth wash in the soapy water,because it does wonders for the smell. we spread the towels all over the floor and just started scrubbing like we had never scrubbed before. The "gangrenous foot" wasn't. It was just filth and dirt. I had to call the attending to give him a report and had to tell him about the "foot". I don't think I have ever heard this Doc laugh as much as he did and he couldn't wait to tell the ER Doc's

vamedic4, EMT-P · Mar 31, 2007

Funny, this happened just this morning when I was starting an IV on a teenager with a huge keloid on his chest that burst yesterday. He smelled worse than a dead skunk. I stuck the Vicks up INSIDE my nose so that I couldn't smell ANYTHING else. Watery eyes are better than funky patient any day.

You can even put hand cream under your nose...anything really, it helps to keep the odors away. I also wear 2 masks when confronted with patients I know to be odorous.

UnidentifiedNurse · Mar 31, 2007

I've always had problems dealing with feces and the feeling never went away even after I became a nurse. Ususually when I absolutely have to deal with feces, I take care of it as fast as I can to prevent myself from gagging. I too am really greatful for the CNA's. I really don't want to leave all the dirty work to them. I help them out as much as I can especially when they have a heavy patient load. I'll empty urine from foleys, help walk patients, get extra linens, towels, etc. for them. But if I really don't have to deal with feces, then I'd rather not.

Cymy · Mar 31, 2007

the only odor I just couldn't deal with is bloody stools. I once got a pt. from ER with a diagnosis of gangrenous toes going up the foot. He probably hadn't bathed in many months. Another nurse and I decided he was going to get the bath supreme, so we loaded up on oodles of towels, soap, and washclothes. We also put mouth wash in the soapy water,because it does wonders for the smell. we spread the towels all over the floor and just started scrubbing like we had never scrubbed before. The "gangrenous foot" wasn't. It was just filth and dirt. I had to call the attending to give him a report and had to tell him about the "foot". I don't think I have ever heard this Doc laugh as much as he did and he couldn't wait to tell the ER Doc's

This reminds me of my own son. He is adopted and has a diagnosis of Neurofibromatosis Type 2--since he's adopted, I have no family experience with the disease. He's a very developed 14 and in the winters you'd think he was hydrophobic! Fortunately in the summer he swims every day in chlorine-laden pools so he's usually clean and smell-free. But in the winters his knuckle skin literally turns BLACK (he's very pale white naturally!). He has a lot of security issues related to being in a foreign orphanage situation between ages 3 and 8 so I try to let unimportant things go--I make him at least wash his hands before he eats and when he smells really bad I force him to take a shower... or at least he goes into the bathroom and comes out with wet hair and usually smells less. I *think* he's showering! ...Maybe he's just wetting his hair and dousing himself with baking soda... :uhoh21:

I noticed a gray tinge to his neck a few months ago and kept bugging him about it but it became a major issue between us, he kept saying that he couldn't get it off and it wasn't dirt. So I finally gave up, thinking maybe it was a really weird, very large cafe au lait spot. I didn't want to torture him over something he couldn't do anything about which was related to his disease, so I dropped it. Then a few weeks ago, all on his own, he comes out of the bathroom in the middle of the afternoon and announces, while holding up his bright pink hands, "Look, Mom, I got the dirt off! It HURT!"

The neck is still dirty... but at least I don't have to be grossed out for a while when he grabs bread from the bag!

EWWWW!

TraumaTrainingWheels · Apr 1, 2007

THANKS EVERYBODY!! I am going to get a case of Vicks, get gum and essentials oils. Thanks for the mouthwash tip in the bath water, too. You guys are very helpful--I am sure I will have lots of other ???s for you.

I am blessed with a stuffy nose right now due to the high pollen count. :lol2: