Smokers

Nurses General Nursing

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Q.

2,259 Posts

Specializes in LDRP; Education.
Originally posted by hogan4736

[b

As for throwing the butts out the window, that sucks. I ride a motorcycle, and have been hit in the face. [/b]

Ohhh my god - that SUCKS! I have had that happen but I usually wear a helmet. It's annoying nontheless.

mario_ragucci

1,041 Posts

I always wore a helmet, but sometimes had the visor up on warm days, wearing sunglasses (fullfacial helmet) Once a Marlboro light butt got flung out the car in front of me and found its way to rest next to my left parietal. I saw it coming, so i didn't flinch, and just calmly removed it.

Hornets, wasps and other large flying insects are another story. I thought they all got DDT'ed in the 60's?

:cool:

thisnurse

657 Posts

apples and oranges? no kidding.

i WASNT serious.

the point i was trying to make was that nonsmokers

(GENERALLY speaking) want to mandate BEHAVIOR.

if its ok to mandate my behavior, it should be ok for me to mandate yours.

so how far do you want to go with that?

If your behavior (smoking) triggers my asthma, then I have something to say...If my behavior (too much cologne) triggers your asthma, then you have something to say.

If a child is bothering you (in public), politely say something to the parents, or go somewhere else.

Whisper

597 Posts

Specializes in Cardiolgy.

Out of 6 of my nursing student friends I am the only one who doesn't smoke. They all know this and are pretty considerate. But It did pi$$ me off when I was on placement going whole shifts with no breaks when they had been all meeting up for fag breaks.

I don't mind taking patients out for a smoke, as long as I can stand out of it, and they understand there is no way I'll light it for them, or they'll be scraping me off of the pavement. (the smoke triggers my asthma)

However I did get a ciggarette stubbed out on my arm, by an angry patient once whilst I was at a nursing home. But that is a sad fact of life that it is always the inconsiderate ones of a group that set the stereotype. I may not smoke, but I am blonde so I do know what that is like:p

RNed

110 Posts

Everytime I see, read of hear anything about smoking and its ill effects, cost, etc. I replace the word smoke with obesity. It forces me to look at the issue from a wider perspective.

Smoking triggering asthma, well there is a valid complaint. That's like strobe lights triggering seizures, something to be avoided, but not neccessarily outlawed.

The smoking issue is a "rights" issue. If we make smoking illegal what is next, drinking, obesity, being a couch potatoe, biting your nails.

It is one thing for government to encourage postive behaviors and discourage negative behaviors. It is different to legislate behaviors.

It is a messy issue and everyone has an opinion and no one has an answer.

OneChattyNurse

148 Posts

Specializes in LTC, MDS/careplans, Unit Manager.

OK...I have read and read and now have to reply. I am a smoker. I admit it freely. I HATE being lumped in with "all you smokers".

We too have Smoke shacks, but I do not use them. They are stinky and I feel like I just came out of 6 hours in a bar.

I do not take advantage of my breaks. I work in a pretty laid back environment, and there are ALOT of people on my unit that take advantage of breaks. BOTH smokers and non. I get really upset when a non smoker starts in about smokers' breaks when THEY have been in the breakroom for a 15 minute break that has now been going on for 45 minutes!!!

Everyone needs their breaks, not just smokers. If the non-smokers CHOSE to not take their breaks, they are to blame...NOT the smokers. What ever happened to teamwork. I just think there are MANY other more important issues we should be fighting about.

And as for the breath or odor issue. I have worked with many non-smokers that have far worse breath or body odor due to lack of hygiene than some of the smokers I have encountered. Breath mints can take care of smokers breath. A shower would take alot longer than a smoke break!!!

Sorry to get on a soapbox, but not all smokers are inconsiderate!

Shari

momrn50

75 Posts

I am truly sorry that my simple question turned into the great controversy between smokers and non smokers. :D I had forgotten what strong feelings there can be on this subject!!! Thanks for all the replies. :D

RiinaLiblik

13 Posts

Originally posted by momrn50

Just wondering if anyone knows why so many of us nurses smoke??? Couldn't be the STRESS could it?? At all of the places I've worked, almost all the nurses smoked, including me. Seems kind of odd being in healthcare and all.:confused:

Actually im wondering allso this thing.And the same i can say about doc.And sometimes is situation like that: doc explain to patient how bad is smoking but when doc makes breath you can feel the smell of smoke.I dont smoke,so im really sensible to smoke smell.

thisnurse

657 Posts

If your behavior (smoking) triggers my asthma, then I have something to say ....If my behavior (too much cologne) triggers your asthma, then you

have something to say.

I absolutely agree although I dont know what id say to someone doused in perfume...excuse me, your perfume is making me ill, please bathe.

Im a very considerate smoker. i understand how non smokers feel, but i am not sure nonsmokers understand how we feel.

i am tired of having my rights taken away by others who "know whats good for me".

i dont think that nonsmokers have the right to tell me if i can or cant smoke.

they DO have the right to tell me where i can/cant smoke, open air excluded. it is a dirty, smelly, habit and i would never want to subject anyone to it. for the most part i dont think there are very many smokers who try to tick nonsmokers off.

the other arguments...the smell, the extra time off the job, throwing butts out the window...these are arguments that nonsmokers use to justify taking away our rights. it all boils down to mandating "offensive" behavior.the word offensive is subjective. as ive said before...where does that end? maybe its smoking for me today but maybe it will be drinking for you tomorrow. and who is going to decide?

i smoke. you dont. ill keep my smoking away from you, you keep your bytching away from me. and please dont confuse inconsiderate behavior with generalized behavior of smokers. they are not the same thing.

Brown_1057

9 Posts

hI all, need to comment here all behavior is learned psy nursing.

How do you handle streeser in you life is the answer. Being a health care provider we all know the pitfalls of smoking. I'm a smoker of 26 years, december 15th I started using a patch 21mg a day after 2 days the physical need to smoke was gone but the

psychological need remains to be the hardest to handle to which the patches help out a lot. January 15th I started to experience

the more serious side effects of using the patch i've since stop using the patches guess what I'M SMOKE FREE:D

KC CHICK

458 Posts

Congrats Brown!!!!

:D

thisnurse, I have to comment on what you said about other rights not being taken away......i.e. drinking. There already are restrictions regarding the use of alcohol on the job. As I recall, the consequence to that behavior was the loss of one's job... and probly one's RN license. Am I right?

Then off the job....you can smoke while driving. It's against the law to drink and drive.

I think it's legal for people to smoke, or at least purchase cigarrettes, at the age of 18.

Legal drinking age?? ;)'21'

Smokers are not persecuted. They are not singled out. Try again.

Anne

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