showering: before or after work

Nurses General Nursing

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this might be a weird topic but I am curious. when do you all shower when you're working? and if you shower before work, do you shower again when you get off, then again before you go to work?

Always after work. I shower the next day if I have it off, but if I'm working, I won't shower before work, because I don't smell bad and I'm not concerned about my own germs.

Specializes in LTC, Med-surg.

I do not shower before work. I do shower after. I feel it helps me unwind and keeps me clean from the germs that touched me airborne or microscopic whatever lol

My European grandparents/greats showered/bathed once a week. Never smelled bad. Said we wasted too much water in the USA. I think they were right.

I ride my bike daily for an hour or more when not working. I live in Texas. No way I would go even a day without a shower. If your grandparents were washing in some form between showers/baths, they were still "bathing." If they truly did no washing whatsoever, I'm skeptical that they smelled clean and fresh based on one bath a week. Perfumes and powders were used back in the days before frequent bathing to address that exact problem. Bidets were used to address this as well.

If you live in a warm climate, exercise, or work up a sweat on the job, then daily showers are not excessive. 20 minute showers, on the other hand, are wasteful. My DH takes really long showers, and it kind of annoys me that he is so wasteful of such a precious resource. But that falls on deaf ears.

I always shower before work, as I work 3-11. I may shower again if I got dirty but I usually just wait until the next morning. I always change my clothes right when I get home and wash my hands.

Both. Definitely both. And if I could scrub out my nasal cavity and get the hospital germs out of there, I'd gladly do so. :yes:

Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
I ride my bike daily for an hour or more when not working. I live in Texas. No way I would go even a day without a shower. If your grandparents were washing in some form between showers/baths, they were still "bathing." If they truly did no washing whatsoever, I'm skeptical that they smelled clean and fresh based on one bath a week. Perfumes and powders were used back in the days before frequent bathing to address that exact problem. Bidets were used to address this as well.

If you live in a warm climate, exercise, or work up a sweat on the job, then daily showers are not excessive. 20 minute showers, on the other hand, are wasteful. My DH takes really long showers, and it kind of annoys me that he is so wasteful of such a precious resource. But that falls on deaf ears.

Ok for me, bathing is head to toe. Sponge bathing is what you do between, as someone put it so delicately, "pits and bits". I am sure that is what they did. How would I know for sure? Not like I was in there with them. But I remember them all smelling either like light cologne/soap (IVORY was G-ma's fave) or pipe tobacco.

NO body odor whatsoever. And we made it thru some hot, humid Chicago summers and still they were clean by all outward appearances.

I lived in Arizona and Oklahoma and I know what hot summers are. I still got by washing my hair once or twice a week and short showers at bedtime. If I stunk, no one had the guts to tell me so.

I lived in Arizona and Oklahoma and I know what hot summers are. I still got by washing my hair once or twice a week and short showers at bedtime. If I stunk, no one had the guts to tell me so.

Short showers at bedtime are more than adequate for avoiding body odor. I think a lot of people believe one must stay in the shower for 15 or 20 minutes to take care of hygiene. In reality, a good 60 second spin with a bar of soap should be plenty.

I've lived in Europe. Honestly, it wouldn't hurt some of them to be a little more "obsessed" with bathing. Some of those folks are pretty ripe. Even once a week would be an improvement for some. :yes:

Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

SO agree. I need about 3-4 minutes in the shower and I am cleaned up. A bit more time to do my long, curly hair, but that is once a week. I try not to waste water. But I also try not to stink.

Short showers at bedtime are more than adequate for avoiding body odor. I think a lot of people believe one must stay in the shower for 15 or 20 minutes to take care of hygiene. In reality, a good 60 second spin with a bar of soap should be plenty.

I've lived in Europe. Honestly, it wouldn't hurt some of them to be a little more "obsessed" with bathing. Some of those folks are pretty ripe. Even once a week would be an improvement for some. :yes:

Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.

When I would work I would shower after work. I'm not a morning person so if I can sleep in a little later because I already took a shower, that makes me happy. 😊

Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.

I shower before work, but that's because I usually work out before I go in.

If I'm working on the psych-med unit, dealt with patients on contact precautions, and/or have been dealing closely with patients whose ADLs are less then stellar, I'll shower again when I get home.

When I would work I would shower after work. I'm not a morning person so if I can sleep in a little later because I already took a shower, that makes me happy. ������

I worked with someone like you. When we talked about how we got ready for work I always said I had to get up an hour ahead of time so I could shower. We had to be at work by 0245 so I got up at 0145.

He would set his alarm for 0230 and walk in all rumpled with his toothbrush in his mouth many mornings. But he'd get more sleep than me.

Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
I ride my bike daily for an hour or more when not working. I live in Texas. No way I would go even a day without a shower.
I'm also in Texas. I run approximately five miles per day, either outdoors or at the gym, for my daily cardio exercise.

Although I think two showers a day is a tad bit excessive, I definitely take a bath or shower within an hour of my workouts. Also, if my 'hot spots' are becoming swampy due to a super humid day, I will lather them up via the good ole PTA wash.

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