wearing perfume to work

caroladybelle, BSN, RN · Dec 14, 2005

You need hairspray to kee from offending people in the elevator?

That's an interesting concept.

Tweety, BSN, RN · Dec 14, 2005

Well, after an hour and a half, maintenance finally showed up with one of those room ventilators, but by then the whole ER was saturated. He was vomiting (drunk, too) too. It was a mess.
Bathing technique? We didn't have TIME to bathe anyone in the ER. Saddest ER I've ever seen.
Another reason I left. No patient care. Just keep them breathing/heart beating/not kill themselves.
We though a dead HORSE was in the room. I am not exaggerating. People were LEAVING to go outside for some FRESH air to breathe!
You know how the nose has memory? Well, all of us were "smelling" it for the rest of the 12 hour shift. It was just awful.

I know. I got that patient after you sent him to my unit without bathing him. :roll :roll

Tweety, BSN, RN · Dec 14, 2005

YES I have a short cord of tolerance: I have a short cord of tolerance with others that overstate their sensitivity for whatever reason...attention usually. They want to feel special.
EVERYONE likes to feel special...but to cry wolf? Overstate conditions? That is for what I have the short cord of tolerance.
People do it ALL the time. And it is seen ALOT in the ER.

Yes, it is unfortunately. Often it's a learned behavior. Mom and dad are fighting so I'll have an asthma attack and get all of the attention. Funny how kids can get asthma attacks at the oddest times.

Also, asthma attacks are primarily in response to an allergen, like perfume.

Again, the question is where do you draw the line. Obviously we can't judge everyone with a sensitivity as attention seeking and ignore those with true sensitivities can we?

Jerico, BSN, RN · Dec 14, 2005

Yes, it is unfortunately. Often it's a learned behavior. Mom and dad are fighting so I'll have an asthma attack and get all of the attention. Funny how kids can get asthma attacks at the oddest times.
Also, asthma attacks are primarily in response to an allergen, like perfume.
Again, the question is where do you draw the line. Obviously we can't judge everyone with a sensitivity as attention seeking and ignore those with true sensitivities can we?

Agree. Key words "true sensitivity".

Tweety, BSN, RN · Dec 14, 2005

Agree. Key words "true sensitivity".

So when a patient says they are sensitive to your pefume. Do you believe them or not?

mandana · Dec 14, 2005

So when a patient says they are sensitive to your pefume. Do you believe them or not?

I think it depends on the gender of the patient! :rolleyes:

Tweety, BSN, RN · Dec 14, 2005

I think it depends on the gender of the patient!

Interesting. So you use a stereotype to judge whether you believe a patient or not.

I guess that's not as important as what you do. I hope as professionals we validate and keep the perfumed staff away from the patient, wether we believe them or not.

mandana · Dec 14, 2005

Interesting. So you use a stereotype to judge whether you believe a patient or not.
I guess that's not as important as what you do. I hope as professionals we validate and keep the perfumed staff away from the patient, wether we believe them or not.

No, I'm sorry. I was being sarcastic based on the other posters previous comments about women generally being the ones prone to dramatics about their allergies/sensitivities/lies for the purpose of attention.

Sarcasm generally doesn't come across well online. I'm just frustrated by some posters complete lack of regard for others, especially considering their chosen profession.

Amanda

sjrn85 · Dec 14, 2005

I could not AGREE more. HOWEVER :) this sensitivity thing is being SOOOO overplayed by anyone who gets their panties in a twist, we haven't a CLUE who is truly sensitive and to make rules that affect EVERYONE in sight - just because of a very FEW seems inflexible and INSENSITIVE to others.
Take for instance:
A man comes into the ED. He is homeless, has not had a BATH in three months. Never bathes, never changes underwear, never changes socks.
When he takes off his shoes, the ENTIRE department STINKS. STINKS. I MEAN like something crawled into a HOLE and DIED. Something you would swear had DIED three weeks ago. (Honest to heavens this has happened).
NOW. Everyone in the ED is nearing the vomit stage: patients, doctors, nurses. Bags are placed over this man's feet in an attempt to get rid of the odor.
Enter someone with a spray bathroom deodorizer.
The ONE lady in Room A SAYS she is "sensitive" to perfumes. Complains of the smell of the man's feet "it is making her want to vomit"...
There is no MEDICAL fact or RECORD this woman has ever reacted to perfumes or odors in a life threatening way.
Do we MAKE 17 ED personnel SUFFER for four hours and NOT let the spraying BEGIN JUST because this woman in Room A SAYS she is sensitive to perfumes (the spray IS a form of perfume is it not?).
OR do we say the benefit of the MASSES outweighs the ONE person who MAY or MAY not be sensitive?
What I am saying is that unless someone is gonna DIE from smelling perfume - I don't think nurses should be UNILATERALLY restricted from wearing it TASTEFULLY.

God forbid you should ever have to work with Amish/Old Order Mennonites. They don't always smell like a bed of roses, but you just have to do the best you can.

I'm wondering what situation would be ideal for you; you've ranted about the homeless, the dirty...it kind of goes without saying that that's a lot of what you see working in the ED. Maybe another setting would suit you better.

Tweety, BSN, RN · Dec 14, 2005

No, I'm sorry. I was being sarcastic based on the other posters previous comments about women generally being the ones prone to dramatics about their allergies/sensitivities/lies for the purpose of attention.
Sarcasm generally doesn't come across well online. I'm just frustrated by some posters complete lack of regard for others, especially considering their chosen profession.
Amanda

I'm sorry Amanda. I take back my flame. :rotfl:

ERNurse752, RN · Dec 15, 2005

I had a pt once who had one lung, asthma, and several allergies. I was taking her upstairs to her room and we walked by a group of security guards, and one of them was wearing strong cologne. She immediately started wheezing...by the time we got upstairs she had stridor and we were paging RT stat. All ended well, but it's a good example. :)

caroladybelle, BSN, RN · Dec 15, 2005

I know. I got that patient after you sent him to my unit without bathing him.

And interestingly, you and I are not permitted the excuse that we "didn't have time to bathe him"....We are expected to just do it and deal with it.

But then, we probably do have the time, since we aren't too busy perfuming ourselves, touching up our hairpray, makeup and nails for our DHs, and avoiding certain personnel since we can't deal with forgoing unnecessary grooming products at work.