WHATS THAT SMELL???

[lumbarpain]

I have often wondered about odors that are super strong, just filling the air of the room of 2 patients...one with diarrhea and the other without...and the staff that go in and out of these rooms inhaling these partially probably ignitable fumes from the bowels or urinary tract or even lungs from a patient.....my question is....IF YOU CAN SMELL IT...does this mean that those bacteria/germs/etc are floating in the air just like viruses? I tell my aides to wear double masks as well as for myself....I don't like anyone breathing in this foul stench ...you just don't know about certain things...if you can smell certain pollutions in the air, exhausts, chemicals, whatever....they can eventually harm you... I feel the same about C Diff, and any other odors I come across in the Nursing home.

[prmenrs, RN]

It comes done to "how do we smell" from a physiologic point of view: We smell via molecules that stimulate receptors in our nasal passages and interpreted by our brain. Molecules are not infectious. Therefore smells are not infectious. I agree w/the peppermint oil or vicks vapo-rub under your nose--it will, hopefully, dominate the other odor.

Odor - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[NurseCard, ADN]

I'd go with the Vicks VapoRub... I can't STAND the smell of peppermint oil. I used to work somewhere where it was used routinely... ugh! Nothing like peppermint scented poop.

[NanaPoo]

On a not-so-"lighter" note, the first time I met my husband's uncle, he literally laid down in the floor and lit his fart. This was a 40-year old man.

And yet I still married my husband. So I cant complain now. I married into this family, eyes wide open.

I've personally had c-diff in the past few years so, if my nurse wore a mask to care for me, I wouldn't have been offended. I thought about wearing one myself.

[imintrouble, BSN, RN]

I've always thought inhaling something that smells that bad can't be good for you.

But there's no scientific evidence that supports that theory.

Unless of course it makes you gag. Then my theory would be correct.

[emtb2rn, BSN, RN, EMT-B]

A blue flame thread, awesome. Brings me back to my childhood through early adulthood. "Hey, watch this!"

I can't figure out if the bar on AN has been raised or lowered.

[VivaLasViejas, ASN, RN]

A blue flame thread, awesome. Brings me back to my childhood through early adulthood. "Hey, watch this!"

I can't figure out if the bar on AN has been raised or lowered.

Or, better yet: "Hold my beer :roflmao:and watch this!" Hahaha!!!

[VivaLasViejas, ASN, RN]

Back when I worked LTC, there were several residents with distinct aromas, and I always knew from the air wafting through the hallway which of them it was: "Hmm, smells like Marian's constipation has resolved. We're gonna have a good shift." :)

[michlynn, BSN, RN]

This thread has the best responses. I'm cracking up over here!

[flashpoint]

Double masks because of an odor? Seems kind of mean to me. I don't like the smells either, but I don't think I would humiliate a resident by masking because of it. But I am old and still remember when we were told it was humiliating to wear gloves when changing a colostomy.

[cree0165, LPN, LVN]

Hilarious! Lmao

[Anna S, RN]

http://www.dailywav.com/sites/default/files/wavs/whatsmell.wav

[Adele_Michal7, ASN, RN]

Double masks because of an odor? Seems kind of mean to me. I don't like the smells either, but I don't think I would humiliate a resident by masking because of it. But I am old and still remember when we were told it was humiliating to wear gloves when changing a colostomy.

Oh wow! Times have changed!