Smell that lingers to your home

[sfw57]

I am a new nursing student and we are doing a clinical at a long-term care facility.

So far I am able to handle the smells while at the clinical (however I have not been exposed to things such as bad wounds or C.Diff or very bad code brown). I believe I am able to have a good poker face and not let the smell get to me.

However, what I am finding hard time with however, is when I get home. I do throw my uniform in the washer and I also take a shower, but then eventually I can still smell that smell that is around the facility, even in some halls of urine and feces.

Is this common when you are first starting out? And do you get used to it?

I want to be able to provide great nursing care during my clinical hours, but not be reminded of it when I am at home. I did read about Vicks, I had just put some in my nose, but I can't even smell the Vicks! Any advice?

[RestingNurseFace]

I have an extreeemely sensitive nose, so I can sympathize. I smell things that no one else can/minutes before anyone else notices--it's annoying. Maybe I should apply to be a service dog instead of a nurse!

When I get home from the hospital (either from clinicals or work) I use my NetiPot! I know you mentioned that you wash your scrubs immediately, but what about other items you toted home from clinicals? The scents you describe could be emanating from your shoes/bag/papers. I've even noticed that my vehicle smells like hospital, so I spray down the interior with rubbing alcohol once a week.

[Wiggly Litchi]

I have an extreeemely sensitive nose, so I can sympathize. I smell things that no one else can/minutes before anyone else notices--it's annoying. Maybe I should apply to be a service dog instead of a nurse!

When I get home from the hospital (either from clinicals or work) I use my NetiPot! I know you mentioned that you wash your scrubs immediately, but what about other items you toted home from clinicals? The scents you describe could be emanating from your shoes/bag/papers. I've even noticed that my vehicle smells like hospital, so I spray down the interior with rubbing alcohol once a week.

For your car - get one of the fridgepaks of baking soda; they usually have a tab at the side that you can rip off, and underneath will be a very fine mesh that stops the powder from leaking out everywhere. Popping one of those under either of the front seats gets rid of all yucky scents without leaving your car smelling of alcohol~!

As for scents carried home - sometimes I feel like they're carried home but my nose just likes to 'hang on' to scents I guess haha, especially if I've been around some gnarly c.diff that day. I usually add baking soda to my laundry (it's amazing for getting bad smells out of stuff!), and my shoes get left in the mud-room. If you don't have a mud-room, wipe them down with a 1:10 bleach solution (as long as it won't discolor them, if not then opt for a non-staining disinfectant).

I think scents of this magnitude are kinda new for you, so you might just be a tad bit extra sensitive to them~