Nursing and smoking....can it hinder your career?

teiladay · Feb 29, 2012

I agree 100% with you should be able to do what is legal for in your private time. If you want to model nude on your off days and run a Media site, I couldn't care less if I was an institution's administrator.If you wanted to delve into politics and promote communism, then that should be your right too! Rock on!

... However, smoking doesn't just affect you. It affects patients/clients that will smell smoke on your breath, clothes, and or skin when you're next to them regardless of the steps you've taken to minimize the impact of their habit. As a non-smoker, I am no longer amazed at how many non smokers can't smell the stinch on themselves.

Smoking often affects the over all aethetics of the Grounds no matter where you work. All too typical to see cig. butts discarded in the grass next to the building or around the break area, or employee entrance. Who pays to clean that up? Who has to spend time to clean that up?

Lastly, smoking employees cost businesses a lot of money. They cost money through health care costs and often create a significant loss in productivity in many businesses to include the U.S. Military.

I would not hire a smoker in this context. I am all for businesses having the right to discriminate against a costly habit to incude your weight.You being employed is a priviledge, not a right.

A "police state" would apply if the business came to your home and hog tied you, then beat you with a cane pole for smoking, and sending your kids to school for smelling like smoke. Since businesses don't do that, it's more about a business excercising their *legal* right to discriminate... just as you have the *legal* right to smoke.

note: I use the word(s) you/your in a general way and have no idea whether you smoke or not.

Rick68fl · Feb 29, 2012

^^^ I wish I could like that one more than once. ^^^

(And this is coming from a former smoker)

KelRN215, BSN, RN · Mar 1, 2012

All the hospitals in my city have recently pledged to be "smoke free" but, IMO, it's actually made the situation worse. There used to be a specific smoking area where people would go smoke and no one had to walk by them. Now the entire campus is "smoke free" and instead of smoking in an alley that hardly anyone used, everyone lines up in front of the hospital and smokes. There are people sitting on the sign that says "Smoke Free Facility" smoking! It drives me crazy! They wasted a ton of money putting these signs up and painting the ground to say "No Smoking", "Smoke Free Zone", etc. but there's no one out there actually enforcing any of this. And I have to walk through this on my way in.

My hospital does charge more for health insurance for smokers. People have to certify whether they are "tobacco users" or "non-tobacco users" every year and there is a policy that you can be terminated for lying about it.

hiddencatRN, BSN, RN · Mar 1, 2012

A few hospitals in my area test for nicotine during the hiring process and do not hire anyone who comes up positive. Not sure how wide-spread the practice is or how likely it is to catch on. I am not fond of the practice- I think an added health insurance premium makes more sense in promoting health and balancing out the higher health care costs of smokers.

klone, MSN, RN · Mar 1, 2012

But I still wonder how legal it is....

Why wouldn't it be legal?

Unless you live in one of the few states that aren't "at will", any employer can fire you for any reason they want, unless you are in a protected class. And smokers are not a protected class.