Smelly Co-Worker

Nurses General Nursing

Published

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...

She may have an infection of a female nature, like Trichamoniasis or something. It may not be her armpits at all!

"may not be??"

I've smelled stinky armpits and I've smelled stinky lady partss.

Armpits and lady partss do not equal each other in severity.

No where even close, no way.

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Specializes in Med-surg > LTC > HH >.
Ever done GYN assistance in a public health clinic? You can smell it before you even walk in the room.....ever heard nurses talk about rubbing vicks under their noses? That's why. This is very real and I don't question Bipley at all. I have never noticed a case this bad, but I have noticed funny smells throughout the years before I began nursing school......just didn't have the knowledge base or experience to pinpoint what they were. Let me tell you that NOW.... I can smell alcoholics, diabetics, elderly people, and I don't have a sensitive nose either (smoker).
Hi Soldierswife,

I have wrote several post on this thread That I get it people put off odor, we have our own scents, people smell other people, dogs smell each other, bodies produce different odors. I'M NOT DISPUTING THAT. You are again asking if I've done gyn assistance right??????? Yes, I said I did. Don't these women have thier pants and undergarments off??????Don't these women have thier bare bottoms up in the air?????? Yes thay do. Then that is a whole other issue.If you have alot of women with female health issues unclothed in a clinic, hospital or anywhere else for that matter, yea your gonna proably have a pretty stinky problem on your hands.....Once again, that isn't what the conversation is ABOUT....... I also have always had very keen sense of smell as well as hearing for that matter(not important I know). If you have read all my post on this topic I have went into great length on people smells. If you are at work and wearing pants, panties, and smelled very clean at begining of shift, then how are you going to go that rank smelling in an 8 hour shift unless your a prostitue that is working with a major prostitue shortage(sorry thats the only analagy I could come up with).

Now I must ask you what do diabetics smell like????? Is it reall sweet because of all that excess sugar????????????:rotfl: Seriously I would like to know ehat they smell like.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Pediatrics, Geriatrics.
Now I must ask you what do diabetics smell like????? Is it reall sweet because of all that excess sugar????????????:rotfl: Seriously I would like to know ehat they smell like.

Let me make the point that I work in ICU and we often have patients with very high sugars that are not easily controlled, requiring q1h accuchecks, etc. They do emit a sweet fruity type odor in their breath, when they sweat, etc.

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Specializes in Clinical Research, Outpt Women's Health.

This thread has degenerated into a stupid, un-educated sounding embarassment. Moderater, oh moderator, where art thou? This is one thread I think has started to reflect badly on everyone.

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Specializes in Med-surg > LTC > HH >.
Let me make the point that I work in ICU and we often have patients with very high sugars that are not easily controlled, requiring q1h accuchecks, etc. They do emit a sweet fruity type odor in their breath, when they sweat, etc.
The reason I asked was I'm also a type 1 diabetic just diagnosed in less than last 2 yrs. and I was in icu in ketoacidosis as you are obviously working with. I don't mind smelling fruity as long as I don't appear fruitty:chuckle .

I'm very prone to going into ketoacidosis. I will often start the symptoms quickly without notice, weight loss, weakness, confusion, excessive thirst and urination, etc. I usually cal my dr. to notify and get my dosage changes of insulin. Well one day I ask my son when I started noticing my symptoms "does my breath smell sweet or fruity"?AFTER HE SIFFED IT FOR ME HE RESPONDED BY SAYING GO BRUSH IT FIRST AND THEN LET ME SMELL. SO I GUESS MY SWEETNESS WASN'T COMING THRU MY STINKINESS:rotfl: :chuckle :chuckle .

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Specializes in Critical Care, Pediatrics, Geriatrics.
The reason I asked was I'm also a type 1 diabetic just dignosed in less than last 2 yrs. and I was in icu in ketoacidosis as you are obviously working with. I don't mind smelling fruity as long as I don't appear fruitty:chuckle .

I'm very prone to going into ketoacidosis. I will often start the symptoms quickly without notice, weight loss, weakness, confusion, excessive thirst and urination, etc. I usually cal my dr. to notify abd get my doseage changes of insulin. Well one day I ask my son when I started noticing my symptoms "does my breath smell sweet or fruity"?AFTER HE SIFFED IT FOR ME HE RESPONDED BY SAYING GO BRUSH IT FIRST AND THEN LET ME SMELL. SO I GUESS MY SWEETNESS WASN'T COMING THRU MY STINKINESS:rotfl: :chuckle :chuckle .

awwww....how sweet:rotfl:

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Specializes in Med-surg > LTC > HH >.
This thread has degenerated into a stupid, un-educated sounding embarassment. Moderater, oh moderator, where art thou? This is one thread I think has started to reflect badly on everyone.
Crunchrn, if you don't like what you see, then see your way out of this forum.:uhoh3:
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Specializes in Critical Care, Pediatrics, Geriatrics.
Crunchrn, if you don't like what you see, then see your way out of this forum.:uhoh3:

I agree. In fact, I think there is valuable information throughout this thread with credible references. I also like to have the interjections of humor here and there.

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The reason I asked was I'm also a type 1 diabetic just dignosed in less than last 2 yrs. and I was in icu in ketoacidosis as you are obviously working with. I don't mind smelling fruity as long as I don't appear fruitty:chuckle .

I'm very prone to going into ketoacidosis. I will often start the symptoms quickly without notice, weight loss, weakness, confusion, excessive thirst and urination, etc. I usually cal my dr. to notify abd get my doseage changes of insulin. Well one day I ask my son when I started noticing my symptoms "does my breath smell sweet or fruity"?AFTER HE SIFFED IT FOR ME HE RESPONDED BY SAYING GO BRUSH IT FIRST AND THEN LET ME SMELL. SO I GUESS MY SWEETNESS WASN'T COMING THRU MY STINKINESS:rotfl: :chuckle :chuckle .

I guess I'm just not getting your humor.

If you're serious about asking what could make someone go from smelling okay to having an extreme lady partsl odor problem halfway through a shift, there is a condition called trimethylaminuria which has to do with improper metabolism of certain proteins. I posted a link (somewhere around page 16) to an article that explains this condition. The smell is described as that of rotting fish and it CAN disappear briefly after a shower and return several hours later as the person sweats. The article also mentions that this problem is so embarrassing and isolating that patients can take 5-10 years to seek a doctor's help. Then, it can take another similar period to be properly diagnosed. The people who have this awful condition suffer terribly and are often depressed, and Bipley has indicated that she sees signs of that in her co-worker.

Several of us who have been following this thread are feeling a little protective of Bipley. It has taken a lot of courage for her to reach the conclusion that her co-worker's well-being outweighs her reluctance to bring up a touchy subject. I don't know your intentions, but some of your posts seem to be mocking in nature. You don't have to believe Bipley's account, but please don't keep challenging those of us who do. If you really want to know the scoop on this dreadful condition., check out the links posted earlier in the thread or Google trimethylaminuria. If you have decided that it's just too unbelievable, feel free to walk away.

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Specializes in Clinical Research, Outpt Women's Health.

You know what? I thought this thread started out great. An honest compassionate desire to help someone. It has just gotten so tacky. Yes, I can not look at it, but think of all the visitors to this forum that do look at this. What kind of opinion are they forming about us? I love humor. I love all the edgier threads. Usually there is no humor to gross or tacky for me. How else do you deal with all the horrible stuff you have to deal with? This is the 1st thread I have ever wished to see closed because it has become a very poor reflection on what nurses are. That whole prostitute remark just was over the top. Have your fun, but for the original poster, and the person discussed, this is not at all helpful at this point. I was a GYN nurse for 10 years and I if that poor person ever saw this she would be devestated. Have your fun - I will leave you to it. I just felt the need to have my say.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Pediatrics, Geriatrics.
You know what? I thought this thread started out great. An honest compassionate desire to help someone. It has just gotten so tacky. Yes, I can not look at it, but think of all the visitors to this forum that do look at this. What kind of opinion are they forming about us? I love humor. I love all the edgier threads. Usually there is no humor to gross or tacky for me. How else do you deal with all the horrible stuff you have to deal with? This is the 1st thread I have ever wished to see closed because it has become a very poor reflection on what nurses are. That whole prostitute remark just was over the top. Have your fun, but for the original poster, and the person discussed, this is not at all helpful at this point. I was a GYN nurse for 10 years and I if that poor person ever saw this she would be devestated. Have your fun - I will leave you to it. I just felt the need to have my say.

I think Miranda addressed the issue with the other poster really well. As far as one comment ruining the true intent of this thread....well, you are entitled to you oppinion. It is my oppinion, that the deep personal issue has been discussed quite tastefully, with excellent information given, along with very compassionate solutions for our dear Bipley to use in her approach.

The only downfall I see to this thread that will likely get it closed is when posters come in with challenging or argumentative attitudes.

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Cardiac, ICU.
Let me make the point that I work in ICU and we often have patients with very high sugars that are not easily controlled, requiring q1h accuchecks, etc. They do emit a sweet fruity type odor in their breath, when they sweat, etc.

She's right about the smell. I've had a patient in the nursing home with a blood sugar of over 500 and they reeked of sweetness. I actually think it may have been higher--I remember a comment about a lab having to be done and that the accu check meter didn't even go up as high as this level was so they had to do a blood test in the hospital connected to the nursing home. It may have actually been 600 +.

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