Nurse tips to control ward smells

As a nurse you are assaulted with wave after wave of various noxious smells from wounds and all manner of bodily excretions.
There are smells that occur in a small, confined space, like a patient's room and smells that waft through the entire ward. When unpleasant smells go viral and spread through the ward, it becomes a problem not only for staff but also for other patients.
These easy tips have been designed to make your next shift a bit less 'on the nose'. Smells in a confined area are often easier to deal with and we will start with those.

• Coffee grounds are excellent odour absorbers. A coffee bag containing real coffee grounds in an emesis basin will reduce unpleasant smells in room quickly.


• Neb it in the bud. Nebulising about 4 cc of orange juice or coffee for a few minutes is the ideal way to detoxify a room of malodorous smells.

• Wearing a mask may offend your patient but if the smell is too strong and you need time-out, try a dab of toothpaste or a drop of peppermint essential oil on the inside of a surgical mask. Just be careful when using the oil not to apply to much or it may irritate your eyes.

• Mask is a no go. If you can't get away with wearing a mask, a dab of mentholated rub like vapour rub or tiger balm under your nose can help to cancel out the worst nasal attack. If these are too strong, try applying flavoured lip balm under your nose.


• Desensitisation. The more often you are exposed to bad smells, the easier it will get. It is not a bad idea to try using every ounce of willpower to stay in proximity to the smell and push through it. You will find that over time you will adapt and bad smells will be less able to trigger your gag reflex.


• When you get no warning. Sometimes you walk around a corner or into a room and there it is. There is no time to mask up or grab your Vicks. It's there and you have to deal with it. In these cases, seasoned nurses recommend breathing shallowly through your barely opened mouth and humming.


• Feet. Need I say more? If feet are the problem, you may like to try coating the feet in an antacid solution and put the patient in shoe covers. The chemical reaction with foot sweat and antacid neutralises the scent.

WARD OFF SMELLS
When a bad odour is permeating through a ward or department, everyone suffers. If you can identify the source of the smell, try placing a tray of kitty litter under the bed to absorb odours. Get the Neb going with orange juice, coffee, vanilla or eucalyptus oil. And you may consider giving your student nurse a toaster and loaf of bread, Why? Burnt toast trumps all.