Wearing Cologne to work Yes Or No

NurseInTheD · Dec 24, 2008

My pet peeve - healthcare workers who are involved in direct patient care wearing perfume/cologne!! So many of them do this! :angryfire And not just wearing it, some of them seem to have marinated themselves in Eau de Stink prior to their arrival to work. What are they thinking??

I had to report a phlebotomy tech to management recently (tactful hints weren't getting thru to her) because her perfume was so strong, and she wore so much of it, it made ME sick - and I'm not normally perfume-sensitive. I could only imagine how she must have been making the patients in the SICU feel.

Every hospital I've worked at has had a "no perfume" policy. It only makes sense. However, it seems to be a rarely enforced/rarely followed policy, so everyone suffers.

Taking a shower before coming to work is sufficient. A fresh, clean scent is all one needs - and it is appreciated by not only the sick patients, but one's fellow coworkers as well. I love to wear perfume oils like patchouli and sandalwood, but I would never wear them to work.

Lovely_RN, MSN · Dec 24, 2008

Nurse's who disregard policies like: No fragrances, no rings (except plain wedding bands), and no fake nails or nail polish really get on my nerves! These policies are in place for a reason but for some reason there are certain nurses who think it's all about them and they totally disregard their patients safety and comfort because they are vain. :banghead:

What's even worse is that they will have the nerve to become irate when confronted about their behavior. Go work in an office if your vanity is that important to you.

kessadawn, BSN, RN · Dec 24, 2008

oh, please don't wear cologne! even the good stuff in moderation can send someone like me down to ed with respiratory issues! and i'm healthy...imagine what it can do to your respiratory compromised patients! trust me, a shower, good soap and deoderant makes you smell good to your co-workers, too, and then you can save the good stuff for off work hours. just my :twocents:

kessadawn, BSN, RN · Dec 24, 2008

A small amount of cologne or perfume is fine. I can't tell you how many times there is the stench and reek of stool in the air from patients. Unfortunately the people who create these stenches are usually the first to complain when a co-worker has a splash of DKNY on.

I'm sorry, I have to disagree with you. While the odor of urine and stool can be very offensive, the patient cannot always help that, and if asked many are probably just as offended by the odor themselves, as well as embarrassed. (Note I say many, but not all, of course:chuckle) The health care professional CAN help control the scent of their environment. The smell of excrement has never sent me to the ED in respiratory distress, but scented products have, and unfortunately that's out of my control.

BelleKat, BSN, RN · Dec 24, 2008

I know that myself that I become ill with a migraine and will proceed to a full blown asthma attack if someone I'm working with wears perfume or cologne. It's not appropriate in a health care setting at all.

We are not aware of how strongly our pts perceive any scents we might have on. I had a chemo pt comment on my scent and for the life of me I couldn't figure out what she was talking about until we figured out it was my shampoo which was just a basic biolage shampoo.

They are so often so sick and miserable that we can barely help them at all during this period of time with the nausea,pain and misery a full course of chemo can cause why would we want to add to their misery by wearing something strong?

It's all about the pts here not what "you're about".

JessicRN · Dec 24, 2008

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

Think of your patients many of whom have respiratory problems or Nausea and vomitting. When you are nauseous what happens when you smell food. Same Diff. Also ask you coworkers if they don't mind and it is hardly noticable then fine but by the sounds of it ,it is obvious if they can smell it without walking up and sniffing your neck then it is too strong in a hospital setting . If you were working with me I would refuse to work with you for 2 reasons A I have asthma and B strong scents give me migraines. I have noticed that in talking to many patients and many staff members they feel the same. Many hospitals are making policies which disallow scents.

We actually have a staff memebr who works in medical records she wears really strongs scents (they are body oils) she is banned from the ED when I or another nurse is here.It all has to do with being considerate of peple around you.