smokers

[getoverit]

I'm not a Nazi about anti-smoking, it's a personal choice and I don't believe there are any healthcare professionals who smoke without understanding the potential ramifications.

Here's my thing: Am I the only one who thinks it must be nice to run outside every couple of hours and hang out there for 20+ minutes??? what if every few hours I said "I'm going to go downstairs and just get some fresh air and look at the sky for 20 minutes." I bet it wouldn't go over very well.

there are only 2 nurses (out of 27) I work with who smoke, but they definitely get their breaks in, regardless. I'm not angry or venting at all, but someone just came up to me and said they'll be back in a few minutes and it got me thinking.

Also, any time we are allotted for breaks is way-exceeded by people smoking cigarettes. About 14 years ago, I did an informal study on someone who was burning about an entire pack during the 12 hour work day. I documented him spending an average of 3 hours per shift outside smoking. To me that's outrageous....of course the person was a supervisor and I was accused of trying to "stir the pot" so nothing was done.

Oh well, when they get COPD I'm sure I'll still be here to hook up their O2, etc....

[realnursealso/LPN, LPN]

You know what? This topic is soooooooooooooo over done.

[BluegrassRN]

Yeah but there are state laws in place to accomodate breastfeeding mothers reasonable break time to express milk.

Not in my state. I worked with LLL and several state organizations in a recent, failed attempt to pass a comprehensive bill protecting breastfeeding mothers in public and in the workplace.

Plus, as other posters pointed out: what about the fatties who cost us so much more in health care expenses than the smokers? Should nurses not be allowed to be fat? I'd get fired.

And I, too, have a problem with being told what I can and cannot do while on break. If I want to go outside, check my facebook or text on my phone, take a walk around the block (where I can still be reached via my hospital minicell), grab a soda from machine, meet my hubby for a smooch, coffee, and some quick face-to-face conversation, I don't need to be told that I cannot do those things.

If the smokers stink, tell them. If they are abusing their breaks, tell them. They can take care of both of those things. People who are rude or inconsiderate are not going to stop being rude and inconsiderate just because they aren't allowed to take smoke breaks anymore.

[Ruas61, BSN, RN]

If someone is abusing their breaks- smoker or not- call them on it.

If you aren't getting your breaks- take them or get it addressed so that you can.

If you choose to not take your breaks than live with it.

[delilas]

So, when one considers that obesity costs MORE than smokers....how far are we away from having weight requirements to be an employee?

My father's work told him to lose weight or lose his health insurance. So...it's really not that far a stretch to say things are already happening.

It's apples to oranges for me, however. My aunt for instance, was small all her life until she was hit by thyroid disease. My grandmother gained weight with Chemotherapy for cancer. My grandfather, at the height of his kidney issues, fluctuated 10 to 20 pounds per week.

Smoking = addiction. Period. End of story. No other reasons. It's a choice.

Being overweight is NOT an addiction. It's any number of things, from medical problems to lifestyle. In some cases, yes, addiction.

Sorry. I've heard this argument a million times. I am the middle man - tired of being the employee left to cover all the smoking breaks, but also not with a corporation that tells employees that they cannot smoke in their car. But in the end, I side that your addiction shouldn't make our breaks an unfair balance. The fact that two people have already posted they took up smoking just to get the breaks shows it's a huge issue. To compare it to being overweight - or even obese - is just ridiculous.

[mamamerlee, LPN]

Many many years ago, I worked with some smokers who took frequent breaks. One day, I took a break in the nurses' lounge, and sat down to read the newspaper. The supervisor came in and asked me what I was doing - I told her I was smoking. There was a major drop in the total number of breaks by those who were abusing the priviledge.

[cherrybreeze, ADN, RN]

Not all smokers take breaks that frequently, or for that long....so don't lump everyone together.

IMO, EVERYONE deserves their breaks, not "just smokers." If someone that doesn't smoke goes a whole shift without a break, that's on THEM. For me, in a 12+ hour shift, yes, I deserve a break and will take one, even if it's 10 minutes. If someone were to say, I'm going to go sit in the lounge, whatever, for 10 or 15 minutes just to get my head together, I know I would have NO problem with that.

I DO think the comparison can be made with obesity......yes, obviously some cases are beyond the person's control, but that's the exception and not the rule. It it mostly due to bad eating habits, period. Sorry, but it is.

Flame away.

[OutlawNurse86, BSN, RN]

I'm a smoker too (I'm trying to quit though). Our hospital banned smoking on campus a few years ago, but we can walk across the road to smoke ( a 1 minute walk). Personally I (and most others I know) only smoke 1 and then head back inside, maybe 2 if someone else is with us so we can talk. We're gone a max of 10 minutes, mostly only 5. I also know some people who will sit and chain smoke 3-4 at a time. Those are the people I can't stand. I like to get my 1 or 2 in and be gone. Where I work, the smokers (or the people who walk outside with the smokers) are the only ones who get a break. Out of a 12 hr shift, I may go 3-4 times depending on how busy my night is. That's about 15-20 minutes I spend off the floor for 12hrs. Less than most people's lunch breaks.

Shoot, we even have an ED doc that smokes. Nobody is gonna tell him anything:D

[teeniebert, LPN]

Many many years ago, I worked with some smokers who took frequent breaks. One day, I took a break in the nurses' lounge, and sat down to read the newspaper. The supervisor came in and asked me what I was doing - I told her I was smoking. There was a major drop in the total number of breaks by those who were abusing the priviledge.

*looks at the week's worth of unread newspapers piled on the coffee table*

Great idea! Thanks!

[cherrybreeze, ADN, RN]

The other thing I have an issue with is based on our hospital's policy...you can't smoke in your car, but then, they say they are not responsible if your car is broken into when parked in a lot or in our ramp. If you don't take responsibility for what happens to your car, then IMO, they can't tell you what you can or can't do in your car. A little O/T, but this has always bugged me.

[sunkissed75, CNA]

i am a ns and the hospitals we do clinical at are non-smoking campuses. because i am in the eve/we program, out clinicals are 12 hr shifts. i usually smoke on the way to work, during lunch and on the way home. i have altoids on hand at all times!

back when my mom was a gn she actually started to smoke because only smoking nurses got breaks! of course, she quit when she got pg with my sister. we joke about her now....because out of the blue she will take one of our smokes and smoke it and then not do it again for a year! lol

yes, we know that smoking is bad for us. just like all the overweight nurses know how bad that is for them.

not to justify the choice, but the reality is that only 15% of smokers develop lung cancer or emphysema. nurses see that 15% and we (yes, the smokers too) think about how could someone do this to themselves. denial is a powerful motivator.

imho, banning smoking from the workplace is justifiable. i have a personal issue with the "you can't smoke on campus" thing. it is a back door method of controlling the smoker. would anyone think it fair for the hospital to say all overweight personnel are not allowed to eat on campus? they have to walk a 1/2 mi to get to a restaurant so that they can eat (shortening their lunch break). heck it would be healthy for them to have to walk there and back.

there are employers who will not hire smokers at all. the employees are tested and if there is evidence of smoking, you are fired. they justify it with the money saved in medical insurance and the increased productivity of the employees. so, when one considers that obesity costs more than smokers....how far are we away from having weight requirements to be an employee?

another thing that i think odd.... the medical community will think that a fellow medical person who became an addict has an illness. we look at the overweight and have empathy. why is it that folks look at a smoker with hostility? isn't that a tad hypocritical? nicotine is addictive.

climbing off soapbox! :spbox::chair:

that was a really good post! you gave me lots to think about?!!

[blondy2061h, MSN, RN]

Not to justify the choice, but the reality is that only 15% of smokers develop lung cancer or emphysema. Nurses see that 15% and we (yes, the smokers too) think about how could someone do this to themselves. Denial is a powerful motivator.

Can you share where you got this statistic? I'm honestly curious. It seems way higher than that. Maybe that's the number of people actually diagnosed? I would bet everyone who smoked for say, at least 10 years, has a degree of COPD.

[annacnatorn]

Me, an ex smoker, I started at the tender age of 16...did that for about 7 months, landed up in the ER, had a CXR, was asked if I smoked, said yes, the Dr. told me that If I continued to smoke I'd be dead by my 30's. I quit. I have grown up around smokers, victim of second hand smoke all my life. I think I was conceived on a cigarette. I have Asthma, and have a terrible time with URI. I get the sniffles, I've got to go to the MD pronto so as to avoid Bronchitis. My Father smoked Camels, non filtered for 40+ years, quite 13 yrs ago, but has early stage Emphasemia (spelling?) My Mom has smoked for at least 45 yrs and has multiple medical issues and signs of mid stage emphasemia, copd, chf etc but wont go to MD to get checked, or at least she is not telling me anything. Smoking is addicting. It is a drug. It should be treated as such.

I don't have anything against smokers, but don't like to smell the stuff, It makes it hard for me to breath. I think as people in the medical field we are all held up to a higher standard of "caring for yourself" but in reality we are all the same.

This topic can get out of hand, but the op was regarding break times...I believe that what you need to do on your standard breaks is your business, but when you have to take extra breaks to get a fix..It is wrong. A smoking break is not the same as a lactation break. Two totally different areas. Do we condone people going out for a "shot" in order to complete the day? No we don't.

Lets try and not let this topic get out of hand.