wearing perfume to work

Nurses General Nursing

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thought this would be interesting. what's your policy? i wear a light body splash if any.

Specializes in Telemetry/Med Surg.

Jerico--but the perfume being offensive to the patients who are ill. The last thing I would want to smell when sick is perfume!

don't tell me--you wear musk as well.

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I am "allergic" to smoke too!

The WHOLE human RACE is "allergic" to smoke!!!:chuckle :chuckle

They are SO "allergic" they get cancer from inhaling it TOO much.

But...a little exposure to a passing nurse/person/mailman isn't going to HURT MOST people most of the time!

:rolleyes:

The QUESTION is: Is the supposed "allergy" a true allergy wherein it will cause SERIOUS breathing/swelling issues OR is it JUST a sensitivity? Perhaps an "elected' allergy.

Example: I have TWO blue eyed blonde (white blonde) sons. They are sensitive to trees, dust, pollen. To the point they take spring and fall meds for it. They should NOT be outside during "those days" BUT they INSIST on going outside and playing football.

The urge to play football supercedes the "discomfort" of getting exposed.

NOW: IF they have a TEST in school they want to avoid, they will tell me "Mom, my allergies are just so bad (sniff, sneeze, red eyes...)". I will tell them: YESTERDAY during football practice you didn't seem to have those allergies..."

They are so allergic to it they get cancer from inhailing it?

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I really can't find any information in your statements that is based in reality. You say perfume sales are up, how do you back that up, you say sented candles are up, how do you back that up, are these opinions? I read through this thread and the amount of people with problems to these chemicals is far greater than the very few that are agreeing with you. That is only nurses and people on this web site. So again, I ask , how do you back up your statements?

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I really can't find any information in your statements that is based in reality. You say perfume sales are up, how do you back that up, you say sented candles are up, how do you back that up, are these opinions? I read through this thread and the amount of people with problems to these chemicals is far greater than the very few that are agreeing with you. That is only nurses and people on this web site. So again, I ask , how do you back up your statements?

You're wasting your time trying to reason with her. At least 90% of the comments on this board has been about her being insensitive to her patients and co-workers but she really doesn't care. She wants to wear it and the hell with anyone else.

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Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.
The QUESTION is: Is the supposed "allergy" a true allergy wherein it will cause SERIOUS breathing/swelling issues OR is it JUST a sensitivity? Perhaps an "elected' allergy.

Either way, if it bothers the pts. or the staff, it's a problem.

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Specializes in ER, NICU.
You're wasting your time trying to reason with her. At least 90% of the comments on this board has been about her being insensitive to her patients and co-workers but she really doesn't care. She wants to wear it and the hell with anyone else.

I have repeatedly - repeatedly stated "moderation".

Receiver interpretation is 90% of communication.

As far as any comments regarding my "insensitivity" to "patients and coworkers":

I doubt anyone on this board has ever worked with me, nor do they know what type of person I am in person, how I am or am not with patients and coworkers. Nor do they know what perfume I may or may not wear, or how much.

I am defending an opposing perspective: ":devil: advocate" if you will.

I RESPECT the opinions here EVEN when they do not mirror mine.

It does not matter (to me) if others do or do not agree with my perspective or my opinion. It is simply another way to look at issues.

:smokin:

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

I think it's hard to define "moderation". Really the best policy is NO perfume at all when at work with vulernable and sick patients. It's common sense, as well as good nursing.

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Years ago in nursing school we were told not to wear perfume. Don't they still teach this?

It is common sense. It's the choice between spritzing yourself with a scent which is nonessential to you and your job performance and potentially bothering patients or not.

The sense of smell is a funny thing. It can vary so much from person to person. While you may think the scent you are wearing is wonderful, light and lovely, another person forced to smell it may hate it. That's apart from triggering any other problems. The sense of smell triggers memories as well.

My mom is allergic to many things. Herbal essense shampoo comes to mind. It triggers her to sneeze, her eyes water, she coughs etc. So do many perfumes. If my mother were ill and in a hospital and some nurse made her worse because of wearing a scent, that nurse and I would be having a talk.

I cannot fathom why any nurses would be so insistant on wearing perfumes, strong scented lotions etc in a hospital setting.

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Specializes in Clinical Research, Outpt Women's Health.

It just seems to me that it is common sense to not wear perfume or scents in acute care when so many people are already nauseated. Just a kindness to abstain.

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Specializes in Telemetry, ICU, Resource Pool, Dialysis.
It just seems to me that it is common sense to not wear perfume or scents in acute care when so many people are already nauseated. Just a kindness to abstain.

One would hope that most of us who work in health care would possess this kind of common sense, but it seems that is not the case from some of the replies here. Evidently, some people are more interested in attracting the opposite sex at work, and conning themselves into believing that their coworkers are just complaining because of petty jealousy. Luckily, the rest of us seem to take our jobs a little more seriously.

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Specializes in ER, NICU.
It just seems to me that it is common sense to not wear perfume or scents in acute care when so many people are already nauseated. Just a kindness to abstain.

Agree. Common SENSE should prevail, RULES. Following RULES without common sense use is mindless. Nurses should not be mindless.

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

I would argue any RULES against wearing perfume or long nails would be applicable to those who define "common sense" differently. For the benefit and wellness of the patient, we have these rules and I think those unwilling to follow them should seek other employment. I wish ALL hospitals had strict rules against perfume wear, cigarette residues and long nails. Clearly these are needed to protect our patients.

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