Smelly co-worker

[MA Nurse]

I work with a nurse who smells really bad. People will walk into our unit and say "ooh, it smells like a dirty mop in here!" I don't think she realizes how bad she smells. Other nurses have gone to our managers and they haven't said anything to her, sometimes they just laugh about it. This is not appropriate. What will the families think? We work in a fairly small unit and she will smell up the whole room. Would you send her an anonymous letter?

What would you do??

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

i work with a nurse who smells really bad. people will walk into our unit and say "ooh, it smells like a dirty mop in here!" i don't think she realizes how bad she smells. other nurses have gone to our managers and they haven't said anything to her, sometimes they just laugh about it. this is not appropriate. what will the families think? we work in a fairly small unit and she will smell up the whole room. would you send her an anonymous letter?

what would you do??

if this bothers you so much, i think you should tell her as nicely as possible. an anonymous letter is going to make her wonder who would have sent it -- i think it's better to just take her aside and tell her. i know it's difficult, and it really should be up to management. but if management doesn't take care of it, someone should tell the poor thing rather than talking about her behind her back!

[Spritenurse1210, BSN, RN]

Well some people giveoff a bad odor when they work hard. I would let management take care of it. If you do say something to her be tactful and compassionate. How would you feel if it were you?

[Pudnluv, ASN, RN]

Years ago, we had a nurse who smelled incredibly bad. Sorta like perspiration, dirty socks and pee. She was extremely overweight and would break into a sweat just walking down the hall. I believe infection control finally talked to her about the problem. She was really smart and a very sweet person, just smelled nasty. After infection control intervened she did clean up and take more care in her personal hygiene, but she still smelled, just not so bad. Part of it I don't think she could help it. She eventually moved on and no longer works with us.

[amarilla, RN]

I really think this should be management's issue to tackle. It's just one more fun thing that comes with being the boss: confronting awkward issues (hopefully) with tact and sensitivity and seeing them through to resolution.

I've dealt with this issue in the office environment as a manager, and though it's not an entirely pleasant chat to have to have with someone, it was absolutely necessary. One woman had become the butt of jokes and was being ostracized by the other employees, (not to mention the whole unit losing productivity while whispering about her.) After our chat, I noticed a positive change within just a few days and relations between the support staff seemed much improved as well.

Since OP advises management just laughs about this, I would probably say something to her privately. No need to be blunt or make her feel bad; there have already been a few posts with some ideas of how to share concern without asking for an explanation or making her feel as if she needs to defend herself.

Best of luck!

[vampiregirl, BSN, RN]

I'm not sure if there's a medical reason or what,

Good point! Some people do have unusual body odors either from medical conditions or sometimes from herbal supplements. Sometimes they are aware of this, but sometimes they don't realize that it is offensive to others. If it is done compassionately, once I got over my initial embarassment, I would be very grateful if someone tactfully pointed this out to me.

I guess it's kind of along the lines of when someone wears something unflattering and a friend points it out to them. Yes, it can be very embarassing, but often it is an initial "knee-jerk" reaction to be defensive. Later, when our minds regroup and think something through, we are grateful for the observation.

I'm not sure personally I would have enough guts to approach someone about a body odor, but that's just me. If you choose to, maybe keep in mind how you would want someone to approach you if it were you with the body odor.

[MA Nurse]

To : DA314: Her smell interferes with work because other nurses have to hold their breath when being near her, I'm sure the parents of the patients have to hold their breath, too. This is not a cultural or religious issue, I know this for sure. If I smelled that bad and someone told me, at least I would know and try to take care of it. One time when I was working out at Curves, there was a lady who smelled really bad and the management mentioned it to her because it affected the other people there. Even if it's cultural, a person has a right to be comfortable when they are at work or a gym.

[madwife2002, BSN, RN]

Definatly a difficult one-we had a male employee who smelt like an old ashtray and it made you sick to stand next to him (NO I dont mean he smelt of a newly smoked ciggerette) so our manager told him that we had a problem and bought him some smelly stuff to spray. It didnt help a lot but it was something

[locolorenzo22, BSN, RN]

I'll be honest. If I've been running around for most of the first part of the shift, by 11PM, I know I smell. But, I keep some extra deodorant in my locker just in case for those nights.

If she does smell, man up and tell her. Then you can stop beating around the bush, and then it's up to her.

[Nurse_Hagatha]

You said she smells like a dirty mop. I wonder if she leaves her clothing in the washing machine until it sours/mildews? I'd want to know if I was stinking up the joint. I would kindly tell her.

[Dottie78]

I would let management handle this. Don't try to tell her yourself. I know how you feel, because years ago I used to work with an Indian lady who smelled strongly of B.O. (because of her culture), and everyone else was bothered by it too. She was a sweet lady, and I didn't want to hurt her feelings by telling her anything. Thankfully, someone ended up telling management (I never found out who), and after that she didn't smell as bad.

[racing-mom4, BSN, RN]

That would be hard to do...do you think you could do that? Apparently, she has smelled this way for years, and I don't think a bath and body set will help. I'm not sure if there's a medical reason or what, but I think it's the manager's job to tell an employee when there's an issue like this, don't you?

You have asked mgmt and they did not do it...if it is bothering you then you owe it to her to tell her. Who knows Maybe she will say yes I know, I have XYZ condition, then at least you will know what is going on, but your not being a very nice co-worker by talking about her and not to her.

[MA Nurse]

You said she smells like a dirty mop. I wonder if she leaves her clothing in the washing machine until it sours/mildews? I'd want to know if I was stinking up the joint. I would kindly tell her.

Good point, I didn't think of that.