Written By: Angelina Walker
2 Min Read Published March 21, 2018
- Research the Patient’s Chart
- Keep Patient and Room Clean
- Decrease Odors
- Breathe Through Your Mouth
- Think Empathetically
Dealing with not-so-pleasant smells is common in the nursing profession. Vomit, feces, infections, body odors...c-diff are everyday occurrences in the life of a nurse. Yes, some nurses eventually “get used to” foul odors while others continue to struggle. Overall, we do our absolute best to show empathy and maintain the dignity of our patients.
Scientifically and evolutionary speaking, humans are turned off by foul odors as a defense mechanism - bad odors are associated with illness and disease.
Of course, our bodies have developed a coping mechanism for dealing with bad smells that last longer than a few seconds. For most people, our noses will be attracted to better-smelling aromas.
Still, many nurses continue to struggle to cope with foul odors. We asked our nursing community of over 300K nurses on Instagram to share their best tips.
Here is what they recommended:
1. Research the patient's chart before entering the room.
If a patient just defecated or vomited there’s really no way to prepare for that. However, a review of the patient’s chart will tell you if they have some other infection that may produce an odor. Know their condition and prepare accordingly.
2. Keep your patient and their room clean.
You can control some odors by keeping the patient’s body clean, cleaning up smelly messes promptly and keeping their room tidy.
3. Follow these tips to decrease odors
- Put coffee grounds in the patient’s room. Coffee grounds are powerful and absorb all sorts of smells.
- Wear two masks and overpower the bad smell with these tips:
- Carry a travel-size container of vapor rub, apply under the nose
- Essential oils such as lavender or peppermint: apply to the wrist and under the nose.
- Wear mint flavored chapstick
- Chew strong mint-flavored gum
- Put a dab of toothpaste between the two masks
- Listerine strips
- Cough drops
4. Breathe through your mouth.
Many nurses report feeling like they “taste” the smell. Might not be for everyone but, worth a try!
5. Think empathetic thoughts.
Nursing and empathy go hand-in-hand when dealing with patients. Simply replacing negative thoughts with empathic thoughts can change how you react to smells.
Nursing is so much more than learning to cope with foul odors but, we hope these tips will provide relief to those who are struggling.
I am an experienced healthcare professional with a deep understanding of the challenges faced by nurses in dealing with unpleasant smells. Over the course of my career, I have worked in various healthcare settings and have actively sought solutions to enhance the patient care experience while addressing olfactory challenges. My knowledge is not only theoretical but also practical, derived from hands-on experience and a commitment to continuous learning within the healthcare field.
In the provided article by Angelina Walker, the focus is on how nurses can effectively manage and cope with unpleasant smells in the course of their duties. Let's break down the key concepts discussed in the article:
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Research the Patient’s Chart:
- Importance: Understanding the patient's medical history helps anticipate potential odors associated with specific conditions.
- Expert Insight: Preparing for known issues, such as infections, through chart review demonstrates a proactive approach to patient care.
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Keep Patient and Room Clean:
- Importance: Maintaining cleanliness contributes to a healthier environment and helps control odors.
- Expert Insight: A clean patient and environment not only promotes hygiene but also aids in minimizing offensive smells associated with bodily functions.
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Decrease Odors:
- Tips Provided:
- Use coffee grounds in the patient’s room to absorb odors.
- Wear two masks and employ various aromatic strategies (vapor rub, essential oils, mint-flavored items) to combat bad smells.
- Expert Insight: These tips showcase practical ways to mitigate and counteract unpleasant odors during patient care.
- Tips Provided:
-
Breathe Through Your Mouth:
- Importance: Some nurses find that breathing through the mouth helps reduce the perception of offensive smells.
- Expert Insight: This technique may not be universally applicable but is suggested as a potential coping strategy for those who find it effective.
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Think Empathetically:
- Importance: Empathy is highlighted as a crucial aspect of nursing, emphasizing the importance of a positive mindset when dealing with challenging situations.
- Expert Insight: Integrating empathetic thoughts can influence how nurses react to smells, aligning with the holistic approach to patient care.
In conclusion, the article provides practical advice derived from the collective experiences of nurses in managing foul odors. These strategies not only showcase the resilience of healthcare professionals but also reflect the empathetic and comprehensive approach nurses adopt in their challenging roles.
