Why must all docs bathe in cologne?

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Specializes in pediatric critical care.

Okay, maybe not all docs, but I have a HUGE problem with the ones that insist on wearing so much cologne that we can still smell it all over the unit 20 minutes after they have left the floor! I have asthma and more than once I have had to find another nurse to sit with my ICU pt so I could get away from the smell left behind in the room after the doc has been in. I once refused to let a resident in the pt room because he smelled so strongly...and the pt was in status asthmaticus!!! Do they teach them anything in med school? I have c/o to all the right people, I have confronted the docs one on one (sometimes I was nice, sometimes I wasn't) and for the love of all things fresh and clean it's written in the dang policy NO FRAGRANCES! We cover it every year in our competancies!!

:angryfire :angryfire :angryfire

Thanks for letting me vent! I have just about had it up to hear and I don't know what else to do. I have to admit, usually it's the residents, and once you say something to them, they usually cut way back. The repeat offenders are the one's I'm not nice to. But every month it's a whole new batch of bodies, and every month they smell worse and worse. I am tired of carrying my inhaler around just incase the docs need to come in my pt room.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

Be extraordinarily careful when making generalizations. I noticed that your thread is titled, "Why must all docs bathe in cologne?"

Not all physicians wear excessive amounts of cologne.

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Specializes in ICU,ER.

In my 11 years as a nurse, I can think of maybe 3 doctors that smelled strong. I don't really think that can be classified as "all" docs.... not even "most" or even "a lot".

I can think of several nurses, though.

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Specializes in High Risk In Patient OB/GYN.

Ditto that on the nurses.

Ladies--We work with PREGNANT patients. Why have you slathered yourself in Sweet Pea Passion or whatever offensive stuff you picked up at Bath and Bodyworks?? Especially when we have a hyperemesis and a bronchitis pt?

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Not one doc here . . . . . sorry you are having a problem.

steph

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Specializes in High Risk In Patient OB/GYN.

We have ONE doctor (a private-no residents, no attendings) who wears way too much.

What is 10 times worse IMO, is someone who comes back from a smoke break. And for some reason it seems to stick more when it's cold outside.

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Specializes in NICU, Infection Control.

My son was having a hard time adjusting to his Intracranial Pressure changes p/op a shunt revision a few years ago. Every time he raised his head, he barfed. Eating was out of the question.

His surgeon came in to see him wearing a really gorgeous leather jacket. Asked how he was doing, Juan turned his head and said, "that jacket stinks!" LOL

When the surgeon came in the next day, he told Juan he'd sent the jacket to the cleaners!

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I know its not ALL doctors that do this but the "few" that do really stink it up for the rest of us left in their wake. I can totally understand the frustration that Kessa speaks of.

Why is it that docs/residents/nurses/visitors (whomever you want to include here) don't understand that smelling up the entire floor is unwelcome and dangerous for those around you?? What does it take to get it through their heads that THAT much cologne is not ok?

And then there are those who think that they can go without deoderant past puberty. :barf02:

I have tried being nice, tried being blunt, and even tried polite suggestions. Nothing I have said has worked. I gave up and now dread every second I have to be around these particular folks.

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Specializes in ICU, telemetry, LTAC.

I haven't seen docs yet who stink, either from cologne or lack of deodorant. And lucky me, the one nurse I work with who used to smell faintly of some poo-ish substance, doesn't anymore. At least I hope he doesn't; heaven forbid I got used to it.

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Specializes in pediatric critical care.
be extraordinarily careful when making generalizations. i noticed that your thread is titled, "why must all docs bathe in cologne?"

not all physicians wear excessive amounts of cologne.

i was careful, in the very first line of my post i stated that i know that it isn't all docs. and like i said, it is mostly residents, who take a little while to get all the policies. i just have a really hard time understanding why anyone would feel the need to splash on that much fragrance. if it's making me sick, and if i'm puffing on my inhaler, what is it doing to my poor picu pts with resp issues?

on the other hand, is it possible to have on so much of a fragrance that you can't smell yourself? (hmmm, a nursing research grant in the making, perhaps? :coollook: )

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Specializes in Cardiology, Oncology, Medsurge.

had a patient that was totally allergic to perfumes of any sort...

told me when he was at home awaiting the home health nurse he could smell her through the screen door prior to entering his home. he yelled at her to stop dead in her tracks, however to no avail. he erupted into an anaphylactic allergic response and had to be rushed to the hospital. seriously, what may appear nice to you and your coworkers might prove dangerous or deadly to your pts. :scrying:

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Specializes in Nurses who are mentally sicked.

Not all doctors, if you don't believe it, come to New York City and work with the doctors right here....I would like to say this happens to only one out of a few thousand doctors.

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