What would you all do about a co-worker with an odor problem?
This gal LOOKS clean but she smells BAD. The beginning of the shift is fine, the middle of the shift and things get bad. I see her sneak off to the bathroom with BO Juice in hand but she still smells bad.
It isn't always body odor. Sometimes it is but it is something different. I feel weird about explaining exactly what it is, but it is usually a very strong, different odor. Please understand, this is not once every now and again, this is daily. It's a rare day that there is no odor.
To my knowledge we have never had a patient complaint, but I don't know why. She is a sweet nurse, very good at what she does, very skilled at her profession, but she stinks!
I really don't think it is a lack of showering, she comes to work and smells fine. Within a few hours it is bad.
Suggestions on how to tell her? I don't want to hurt her feelings but geez...
This seems to fit the OP's description to a tee. I'm glad the site listed the social and emotional effects along with the medical information.
Sooo, anyone know what foods contain choline and trimethylamine-oxide (the foods this nurse should avoid)? I don't have time to Google the info right now.
Great web site.
I'm pretty sure it is a lady partsl odor. When she smells of BO it's all over, when she has the other smell... this is hard to explain.
Picture this, I'm sitting and she's standing. She walks up to me. Please don't make me explain more. Know what I mean?
what else could cause such a bad smell from that area? i have never heard of such a bad case.
there was a woman on oprah once who has some sort of surgery and some gauze was left in her uterus (i think) and it began to rot and cause her to smell horribly (through her lady partsl area) . her husband said he smelled her from the other room and other people smelled her too. several weeks went by and she went to the doctor and they discovered what it was. how horrible!!!!!!! hope this isn't the case with your co-worker.
No, I'm working on my super special sense of smelling. Today I knew a nurse was down the hall and I knew she would be bringing us Chocolate Chip cookies. Nobody else knew she was down the hall and they had no idea she was on her way up with cookies.
I started sniffing the air insisting I could smell Chocolate. Everyone laughed at me and told me to go get food, I was hallucinating. I said no, I was serious. I smell Chocolate! About 3 minutes later here comes the nurse with the Chocolate Chip cookies. :)
Now that I have been proven (heh) to have an amazing nose then I can say the part about having a great sense of smelling and that is why I can smell her.
I plan on talking to her tomorrow.
I really want to thank everyone here for your help. Had it not been for you guys I would have likely done something stupid like walking up to her and saying something such as, "Girl! You really stink! Can I help you in some way?" LOL
Okay, so I am NOT that blunt. But the scripts I have been given here are absolutely perfect. Far better than I could have ever come up with on my own. But I'd be a liar if I didn't wish a few of you guys could do this for me.
You know, it really wouldn't be so bad doing this but I KNOW she is humiliated beyond words, I know she already has a very low self esteem, with this particular gal it's just going to be amazingly difficult.
No, I'm working on my super special sense of smelling. Today I knew a nurse was down the hall and I knew she would be bringing us Chocolate Chip cookies. Nobody else knew she was down the hall and they had no idea she was on her way up with cookies.
I started sniffing the air insisting I could smell Chocolate. Everyone laughed at me and told me to go get food, I was hallucinating. I said no, I was serious. I smell Chocolate! About 3 minutes later here comes the nurse with the Chocolate Chip cookies. :)
Now that I have been proven (heh) to have an amazing nose then I can say the part about having a great sense of smelling and that is why I can smell her.
I plan on talking to her tomorrow.
I really want to thank everyone here for your help. Had it not been for you guys I would have likely done something stupid like walking up to her and saying something such as, "Girl! You really stink! Can I help you in some way?" LOL
Okay, so I am NOT that blunt. But the scripts I have been given here are absolutely perfect. Far better than I could have ever come up with on my own. But I'd be a liar if I didn't wish a few of you guys could do this for me.
You know, it really wouldn't be so bad doing this but I KNOW she is humiliated beyond words, I know she already has a very low self esteem, with this particular gal it's just going to be amazingly difficult.
Your sense of smell is both a blessing and a curse huh? :chuckle Judging by the way you've spoken of her it's obvious you find her to be a pleasent person. I'm sure your words will come out just fine. I feel sorry for her. I would hate to have that problem.
Good luck tomorrow and be sure to let us know how it goes.
Possibly bacterial vaginosis. I know that some gynecologists do not even treat this! Yet, luckily I worked for some wonderful docs who indeed do treat this.
I am sure this nurse feels awful about her smell and self conscious and all. I would indeed try my best to find a way to ask her respectfully in private, (and at the END) of a shift as she is going home.
It would be terrible to ask her in the beginning.
Maybe approach her with somethign like, "hey, I am aware of something you may be experiencing because, I happen to recognize the odor because my so and so had this and it was treated with Metronidazole, (spelling) and so and so was so happy to find a treatment that made the symptoms dissappear.
If it takes one to know one, then it also takes one to know how despereately she may be wishing for a cure.
Good luck.
Gen
p.s. edited to remove a patronizing sounding sentance!
I know that you want to help this person, but how? What is your plan to help her? I know you want to help her, and it's really nice of you. Because from what you have said about her, it is pretty obvious that she is aware of her problem-the "BO juice"; seeing FDS in her purse, you said that she will ask you to look at a chart and then move away from it, as if she knows that she smells; you also have made a point of no complaints from patients and that you have an extra super sense of smell, so maybe while she does smell, maybe it is much worse to you and your super-sense than others. I can't imagine that is she really stank that horribly that at least one patient wouldn't of said something by now-we all know that some patients seem to pick on everything. You say that she is a good nurse-that would make me think that she isn't smelly r/t lack of knowledge. Maybe instead of mentioning the odor thing, you could just befriend her and let her know the POSITIVE things that you think of her; think how hard it must be for her to be aware of her BO problem and have to face work each day, without someone doing her the favor of reminding her, and then maybe she would eventually open up to you about it; there is absolutely no way that you can bring up the stinky thing and not absolutely humiliate her, so why not just let her know that you think that she's a super nurse and a nice person and leave it at that.
Specializes in Critical Care, Pediatrics, Geriatrics.
Now that I have been proven (heh) to have an amazing nose then I can say the part about having a great sense of smelling and that is why I can smell her.
Lucky break huh? Perfect timing for this to arise:lol2: Hopefully she will be receptive and understand that you are concerned. Good luck.
Specializes in Critical Care, Pediatrics, Geriatrics.
I know that you want to help this person, but how? What is your plan to help her? I know you want to help her, and it's really nice of you. Because from what you have said about her, it is pretty obvious that she is aware of her problem-the "BO juice"; seeing FDS in her purse, you said that she will ask you to look at a chart and then move away from it, as if she knows that she smells; you also have made a point of no complaints from patients and that you have an extra super sense of smell, so maybe while she does smell, maybe it is much worse to you and your super-sense than others. I can't imagine that is she really stank that horribly that at least one patient wouldn't of said something by now-we all know that some patients seem to pick on everything. You say that she is a good nurse-that would make me think that she isn't smelly r/t lack of knowledge. Maybe instead of mentioning the odor thing, you could just befriend her and let her know the POSITIVE things that you think of her; think how hard it must be for her to be aware of her BO problem and have to face work each day, without someone doing her the favor of reminding her, and then maybe she would eventually open up to you about it; there is absolutely no way that you can bring up the stinky thing and not absolutely humiliate her, so why not just let her know that you think that she's a super nurse and a nice person and leave it at that.
because THAT doesn't get rid of the smell, or help the nurse find a solution. I think Bipley has a fantastic plan.
I know that you want to help this person, but how? What is your plan to help her? I know you want to help her, and it's really nice of you. Because from what you have said about her, it is pretty obvious that she is aware of her problem-the "BO juice"; seeing FDS in her purse, you said that she will ask you to look at a chart and then move away from it, as if she knows that she smells; you also have made a point of no complaints from patients and that you have an extra super sense of smell, so maybe while she does smell, maybe it is much worse to you and your super-sense than others. I can't imagine that is she really stank that horribly that at least one patient wouldn't of said something by now-we all know that some patients seem to pick on everything. You say that she is a good nurse-that would make me think that she isn't smelly r/t lack of knowledge. Maybe instead of mentioning the oder thing, you could just befriend her and let her know the POSITIVE things that you think of her; think how hard it must be for her to be aware of her BO problem and have to face work each day, without someone doing her the favor of reminding her, and then maybe she would eventually open up to you about it; there is absolutely no way that you can bring up the stinky thing and not absolutely humiliate her, so why not just let her know that you think that she's a super nurse and a nice person and leave it at that.
I have been following this whole thread, and I happen to agree with you. I know everyone feels differently, but as has been said over and over again, she already knows she smells. I'm sure telling her that she smells bad is going to let her know that everyone thinks she smells, which is a horrible thought, especially if she has sought treatment. And if she didn't get treatment b/c of embarassment, I don't think anyone talking to her would change her mind. Confronting her right off might even scare her away from her job, b/c of embarassment, you never know. Why not, as Typical Fish suggested, befriend her. Give it time, go out to dinner, movies, talk a lot at work etc., then when you feel you are A LOT closer, then bring it up.
Bipley
845 Posts
I'm pretty sure it is a lady partsl odor. When she smells of BO it's all over, when she has the other smell... this is hard to explain.
Picture this, I'm sitting and she's standing. She walks up to me. Please don't make me explain more. Know what I mean?