What do you do to mask odors? A mask? Vicks under nose?

[Brian]

Ooohhh ick smells! We've all had those odors that just really get to us. For some, its the GIB, for others C-dif, and for some, stage IV ulcers. We all know our own nemesis. Now, how we deal with them is as variable as the smell itself. What do you do to mask the odors? A mask? Vicks under your nose? What do YOU do?

[RNfaster]

I try to discern other less objectionable odors within the foul smell.... Like the rotten apple smell of gangrene...or the horse manure smell of C diff... Also, the with increased frequency of exposure to "bad" smells, they really don't bother me as much. I just don't register them. Many years ago, however, when I was more sensitive, I used peppermint oil.

[BrandonLPN, LPN]

Just don't breath through your nose.

Real nurses can deal with bad smells. Only wimpy nurses have to do stuff like smear toothpaste on masks or whatever. :)

[Justforuilovemyjob]

Peppermint oil!!! I put some under my nose. It cuts bad smells in half.

[TrevyRN, BSN, RN]

Learn when to hold your breath strategically! Also, I wouldn't say that "embrace" different smells... I think the word I'm looking for is "understand" different smells... they mean something. C diff doesn't smell like normal BM. Smell enough urine or wounds or breath or whatever and you know the difference between healthy and unhealthy or even which organisms might be suspect. Don't like take giant whiffs unless you're into that, but if you think of your sense of smell as another form of assessment, it can be useful (unfortunately).

DEAL WITH THE SOURCE ASAP or prevent smells if possible. Teamwork helps. More of you working on cleaning up a smelly situation, the faster it gets done! Ask for help on the code browns and help others - makes things go faster. Make sure everyone has access to vomit bags/bins so it doesn't get on the sheets or the floor. Then the whole floor/room/facility won't be a stinky nightmare, haha!

:-)

[NotMyProblem MSN, ASN, BSN, MSN, LPN, RN]

Just ignore it. It'll go away, or your shift will end....eventually.

[sharpeimom]

I have used: peppermint oil, Vicks, a mint teabag tucked into my mask, eucalyptus oil, toothpaste, fresh mint leaves in a room, orange peels in the corners of a room, coffee in a filter, oil of cinnamon on a cotton ball tucked into my mask or into my bra. We live in a Victorian-era house with a multi-room cellar. One large room has a dirt floor and is located right under our front hall. On cold, damp

days, despite two dehumidifiers (summer) and humidifiers (winter,) and the main commercial type furnace which has a dehumidifier, and two auxiliary furnaces which have humidifiers, it can smell musty, damp, dank, and generally yuck.

A solution I've found that would work in a patient's house or room, is to put a cup or so of "scoop-type" cat litter in a dish or refrigerator dish along with orange peels, a couple cinnamon sticks, cloves, and some nutmeg. Really helps. I also tuck it here and there around the house, tied up like sachets because besides their wrinkles and being so darned cute, shar pei are well known for their

dreadful gas. It can clear a room it's so rank and my mixture helps.

[TrevyRN, BSN, RN]

I have used: peppermint oil, Vicks, a mint teabag tucked into my mask, eucalyptus oil, toothpaste, fresh mint leaves in a room, orange peels in the corners of a room, coffee in a filter, oil of cinnamon on a cotton ball tucked into my mask or into my bra. We live in a Victorian-era house with a multi-room cellar. One large room has a dirt floor and is located right under our front hall. On cold, damp

days, despite two dehumidifiers (summer) and humidifiers (winter,) and the main commercial type furnace which has a dehumidifier, and two auxiliary furnaces which have humidifiers, it can smell musty, damp, dank, and generally yuck.

A solution I've found that would work in a patient's house or room, is to put a cup or so of "scoop-type" cat litter in a dish or refrigerator dish along with orange peels, a couple cinnamon sticks, cloves, and some nutmeg. Really helps. I also tuck it here and there around the house, tied up like sachets because besides their wrinkles and being so darned cute, shar pei are well known for their

dreadful gas. It can clear a room it's so rank and my mixture helps.

You're like, the good smell compounding pharmacy - or better yet, a dealer!

Hitting the hard stuff, are we sharpeimom? ;-)

[sharpeimom]

Yep! You caught me, Trevy! I'll 'fess up... there's a cheesecloth bag of anti-shar pei gas remedy next to me as I type. Good thing they're so darned cute!

[littlemango]

I'm currently a phlebotomist and hopeful nursing student, and a trick my coworkers taught me when I was a newer lab tech was to put Vicks directly under my nose (almost in it), along a Listerine strip on my tongue a minute or so before receiving the patient. This definitely worked. However, I remember about a year later we had another patient come in who you could smell from down the hall and around the corner (oh my...) and we didn't have Vicks or Listerine Strips. All I did was hold my breath. Worked just as well! I guess there is some kind of trick to it... I seemed to have gotten it that day!

[elchubasco]

Try Stank Buster Pen stankbusterpen.com we love them! Write on you mask before you put it on. Takes almost all the smell away.

[GrumpyRN, NP]

Was told many years ago by one of my doctor colleagues to just take 3 or 4 good big sniffs. That should get you used to it and it no longer bothers you.

[showbizrn]

Offensive odors!---one of the many occupational/ environmental irritants of health care. I use Lysol disinfectant spray and yeah, we're not suppose to use spray.

DON'T CARE!!!

Allergic to aerosols but

NOT ALLERGIC TO OFFENSIVE ODORS???

I don't work with FUNK

&

FUNK don't work with me:sour: