Wearing Cologne to work Yes Or No

[KarmaWiseRaven]

Hi i need an opinion, Tell me what you all think. I like to smell good when I'm at work so i wear cologne. Not a lot just a splash i always have. The good stuff Armani, Polo, CK, well you get the picture. Lately my Coworkers mostly female are looking at me different. Saying things like they know when i'm in the building and its going to be a good day or something to that fact. One Coworker asked me to pick up some Curve So as a joke i did i really dont like the sent of it. I never had this problem before. Now i know in nursing school they say not to but i do because it's just who i'am. Should i stop wearing it or just keep on doing what i'm doing and hope this thing about me wearing cologne dies down. You all tell me. TY

[Nacki, MSN, NP]

I'm sorry people, I have to disagree with all of you. I think the OP has women responding to him because they are flirting and like the scent. I especially like the scent of a man with nice cologne.

As for the patient factor, yes some people do have allergies and an overwhelming scent can make them sick. There shouldn't be a problem if it is not that strong. I would rather have a nurse with a nice-smelling perfume or cologne than someone with terrible personal hygiene who smells like onions working with me.

[Jolie, BSN]

i'm sorry people, i have to disagree with all of you. i think the op has women responding to him because they are flirting and like the scent. i especially like the scent of a man with nice cologne.

as for the patient factor, yes some people do have allergies and an overwhelming scent can make them sick. there shouldn't be a problem if it is not that strong.

emphasis mine.

i don't have allergies, thank goodness, but know people who are severely affected by them. one experiences asthma-like symptoms when exposed to strong scents such as cologne. in the "real world" she simply has to deal with it, but in the health care setting, she should not be expected to do so. it is unacceptable for a health care provider to knowingly use a product that exposes patients to harm, especially when the purpose for doing so is to seem "hot" to co-workers.

[RN BSN 2009]

No Way, afraid of a patient allergic reaction. We can't even wear them for our theory classes.

[donsterRN, ASN, BSN]

I'm sorry people, I have to disagree with all of you. I think the OP has women responding to him because they are flirting and like the scent. I especially like the scent of a man with nice cologne.

As for the patient factor, yes some people do have allergies and an overwhelming scent can make them sick. There shouldn't be a problem if it is not that strong. I would rather have a nurse with a nice-smelling perfume or cologne than someone with terrible personal hygiene who smells like onions working with me.

The poster acknowledges that nursing school says not to wear cologne, but he does it anyway because it's who he is. The point is there's a reason for that prohibition. Many hospitals have a similar protocol. I don't disagree with you about personal hygiene. But cologne is generally prohibited as a measure to ensure patient safety.

[Nacki, MSN, NP]

Emphasis mine.

I don't have allergies, thank Goodness, but know people who are severely affected by them. One experiences asthma-like symptoms when exposed to strong scents such as cologne. In the "real world" she simply has to deal with it, but in the health care setting, she should not be expected to do so. It is unacceptable for a health care provider to knowingly use a product that exposes patients to harm, especially when the purpose for doing so is to seem "hot" to co-workers.

I don't think the OP is doing it to be "hot", I think its just an after effect from wearing it. The OP seems to be hitting on two different issues from wearing colonge..1.) The effect on female co-workers and 2.) The effect on patients because he did mention that it was prohibited in school. I think he needs to clarifiy what he was really trying to get at.

[DoeRN]

I wear perfume but not to work. I wear DIAL soap and unscented lotion. I love perfume and like when a good smelling man passes by me. But I know a lot of people don't like perfume/cologne esp sick patients. And especially if it is a scent that stinks to them. Can you imagine a nurse walking in wear a stinky perfume and it is hovering in your room and you can't do anything about it? So maybe you could wear it outside of work like I do.

Plus after wearing isolation gowns, being in a patient's room that feels like Florida and the next patient's room feeling like Wisconsin I get hot/cold etc and by the time my shift is over I can't smell anything anyway because the scent has more than likely worn off because of the temp extremes.

[MrsMissyLPN]

I have spent my fair share as a pt and I must tell you that one of the worst expierences that I have had was with a nurse whose perfume I was allergic to and made me physically ill. To this day if I smell that perfume I become ill again.

I have never nor will I ever wear any type of perfume to work.

[NeoNurseTX, RN]

I wear a few spritzes of water based body spray at work..none that are alcohol based.

[St Lucia]

I like to smell good - but I stick to soap and H2O on my clinical days. My primary objective in the acute care setting is to facilitate comfort. If someone (staff or patient) is uncomfortable with my appearance, my demeanor or my smell, I am doing a disservice. For this reason I believe it is our professional responsibility to dress, act and smell professional. Many people are affected by fragrance, as a matter of fact, I have an asthmatic friend who has a full-blown attack when she is near even mild perfumes. She has become so sensitized to the situation that she is, frankly, objectionable! This is going overboard, but it helps make the point that we are not all in agreement that perfumed smells are "pleasant".

[Elvish, BSN, DNP, RN, NP]

At work - soap, water, and deodorant. No need for more.

Off work - whatever you want.

I don't go to work to attract members of the opposite sex. I go to work to take care of my patients. I wear my hair up at work because I don't want it in my patients' faces/wounds. I leave the perfume off because I don't want it in their nostrils - or sending them into anaphylaxis at worst.

[*SS*]

I'm sorry, OP you need to worry about taking care of the patients and less about attracting the opposite sex or smelling good because it's "who you are." To me that sounds very self-centered. Seriously, we wear pajamas to work and your worried about how you smell. If it disagrees with the patient and/or coworkers then the professional thing to do is stop wearing cologne to work.

[leslie :-D]

nope.

no cologne whatsoever.

my approach in work, is no-nonsense and roll up my sleeves.

and it's not only the asthmatics i worry about, but those who are nauseous, neuro-impaired, agitated, etc.

cologne can/is considered a noxious stimuli and can adversely affect our pts, for a number of different reasons.

not cool at all.

leslie