What do you use for odors?

[Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN]

Every once in awhile we get a pt. that stinks. Usually and I and D of something. Stinks to the point that the whole room and hallway outside of the room just REEK. Since the hall can smell up, this means that the other pts. might smell it.

Housekeeping only has a spray version of a deodorizer. This can be dangerous if the droplets hit the floor.

Any ideas?

[Gompers, BSN, RN]

Maybe your department can buy some of those air purifiers, like the ones from Sharper Image? They're supposed to clear up odors really well, and fast too. You'd probably only need a couple, and medical engineering could look them over to make sure they're safe to be plugged into the outlets in the OR.

[Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN]

Wonder if there are any battery operated ones, though, our outlets are usually occupied lol.

[suzanne4, RN]

A couple of drops of oil of wintergreen or spearmint on the inside of the mask works great. We actually used to leave an open bottle with a wick on the top of the anesthesia machines that had flat tops.

We used to find that by spraying betadine in the air also helped. The droplets didn't hurt anything, and somehow got rid of the smell. The betadine was in an aerosol bottle, and this was around before any of the room sprays were available.

[nambour51]

No suggestions for dealing with extended spread of odour but in our OR (Australia) we put a drop of vanilla on the face masks to make it more bearable for those in the OR. Jo

[EricTAMUCC-BSN, BSN, RN]

What are the most odorrific bacterias? I can only think of two, Helicobacter pylori and Gardnerella

[Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN]

What i'm asking about is for the hallways and such, so that other waiting pts. aren't getting a whiff.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

My former instructor taught me this trick. Stick a scented tea bag inside your mask and it will block unpleasant odors.

A spray called 'Neutra-Air' neutralizes odors without producing a flowery smell, though I'm unsure if it is acceptable at hospitals.

[Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN]

I know how to block the odor out of my mask, that's what i'm asking.

I'm refering to the othr pts, that are coming down a smelly hallway. Options for getting rid of smells out of those areas.

[SFCardiacRN]

All I can think of is a heavy spraying of deodorizor followed by a good mopping for droplets.

[Gompers, BSN, RN]

I'm refering to the othr pts, that are coming down a smelly hallway. Options for getting rid of smells out of those areas.

Well, I know in the actual OR you're probably using all the outlets, but is that the case in the hallways, too? Maybe there's a central location you can put one of the air purifiers - or maybe just have a couple around, and if one day you have a problem with a patient's odor, you can set them out and turn them on.