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....

[FLmomof5]

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.

Search the net for genome studies and lung cancer and smoking... or anything else in that realm. It appears that there are markers on Chromosome 15 that are clearly associated with lung cancer. Having this marker means that you can get lung cancer without or without smoking.

Different studies do show that most smokers don't get lung cancer. Proving that only X% of smokers get lung cancer is not something that the medical community would emphasize. Notice when you see studies published, it says if you do X your CHANCE of getting Y is increased by XX%! Hmmmm. Ok so the average person has limited knowledge of statistics and would see this as a more serious number.

Imagine if the news reported that 80% (or 85% depending on the study) of smokers DON'T get lung cancer and that this disease only occurred among smokers with the Chromosome 15 gene! Well, everyone would run out and check for the marker and use it to justify their smoking. The tobacco companies would go right back to court and demand that those multimillions of dollars that they paid out be given back!

I would look for you but I have to leave for school. Have my Peds final in an hour.

Oh, and BTW, I have been smoking since 16...I am 48 (that is 37 yrs) and my BP is low, my pulse rate is low, chest Xray clear and no evidence of COPD.

[Ruas61, BSN, RN]

Oh, and BTW, I have been smoking since 16...I am 48 (that is 37 yrs) and my BP is low, my pulse rate is low, chest Xray clear and no evidence of COPD.

So was my brother until 62 and it all appeared. He died after 18 months fighting it just 7 months ago. He started smoking at about 11.

I have 6 months smoke free now after 26 years of puffing away myself. I am praying I stopped in time.

[pers]

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.

That's exactly what I do and it's never been a problem for me. Granted, many people I work with think I smoke but I don't care enough to correct them. As long as people get their work done and aren't running off the floor expecting me to do it for them, I don't care if they take a break (to smoke, pump, eat, or anything else).

When it's been an issue on my unit it's addressed right then. There are always at least 2 RNs on the floor at all times, if you're leaving will alter that you have to find coverage from another unit or the supervisor. If there are 2 PCAs they aren't allowed to break together as it would leave us without a PCA. If you are off the floor for 20 minutes back for 10 and gone again, someone is going to call you on it and everyone else will back them up.

I think non-smokers tend to get upset because smokers always manage to get their breaks but unless you've found that they are taking breaks without getting their work done, why is it an issue? Perhaps they are simply more efficient on the floor than the non-smokers because they want to get their breaks in. I know that's the case on my unit. We have some smokers and the non-smokers often complain but when I point out that they are also leaving on time and getting their work done (which many of the non-smokers can't manage) people don't have much to say.

[noyesno, MSN, APRN, NP]

Search the net for genome studies and lung cancer and smoking... or anything else in that realm. It appears that there are markers on Chromosome 15 that are clearly associated with lung cancer. Having this marker means that you can get lung cancer without or without smoking.

Different studies do show that most smokers don't get lung cancer. Proving that only X% of smokers get lung cancer is not something that the medical community would emphasize. Notice when you see studies published, it says if you do X your CHANCE of getting Y is increased by XX%! Hmmmm. Ok so the average person has limited knowledge of statistics and would see this as a more serious number.

Imagine if the news reported that 80% (or 85% depending on the study) of smokers DON'T get lung cancer and that this disease only occurred among smokers with the Chromosome 15 gene! Well, everyone would run out and check for the marker and use it to justify their smoking. The tobacco companies would go right back to court and demand that those multimillions of dollars that they paid out be given back!

I would look for you but I have to leave for school. Have my Peds final in an hour.

Oh, and BTW, I have been smoking since 16...I am 48 (that is 37 yrs) and my BP is low, my pulse rate is low, chest Xray clear and no evidence of COPD.

Lung cancer is just one of the cancers that smoking is linked to though...

[caroladybelle, BSN, RN]

Lung cancer is just one of the cancers that smoking is linked to though...

Not to mention, heart disease, vascular disorders, gum disease and all the other problems.

[chenoaspirit, ASN, RN]

OMG, I think we all know what risks are involved with smoking. We do have enough education to know that. Like someone said, this topic has been done to death.

[OutlawNurse86, BSN, RN]

Ironically, I've noticed (around here anyway) that Resp Therapists smoke more than nurses.

[HmarieD]

I am so tired of hearing non-smokers say "I wish I smoke so I could take a break"!

What? It's not as if this cigarette is a key to the outside world. Get up, walk outside, and take your break. What's stopping you, seriously?

[cherrybreeze, ADN, RN]

I am so tired of hearing non-smokers say "I wish I smoke so I could take a break"!

What? It's not as if this cigarette is a key to the outside world. Get up, walk outside, and take your break. What's stopping you, seriously?

Yup, this was my point exactly. If you want/need a break, TAKE ONE, smoker or not. No one is stopping you. Some people choose not to take them if they have too much to do....if that too much is charting, I know for me, if I'm not going to be done on time anyway, that makes my shift even LONGER than 12 1/2 hours, so I'll take an extra 10 minutes to take a break and decompress. Simply.

[Up2nogood RN, RN]

Search the net for genome studies and lung cancer and smoking... or anything else in that realm. It appears that there are markers on Chromosome 15 that are clearly associated with lung cancer. Having this marker means that you can get lung cancer without or without smoking.

Different studies do show that most smokers don't get lung cancer. Proving that only X% of smokers get lung cancer is not something that the medical community would emphasize. Notice when you see studies published, it says if you do X your CHANCE of getting Y is increased by XX%! Hmmmm. Ok so the average person has limited knowledge of statistics and would see this as a more serious number.

Imagine if the news reported that 80% (or 85% depending on the study) of smokers DON'T get lung cancer and that this disease only occurred among smokers with the Chromosome 15 gene! Well, everyone would run out and check for the marker and use it to justify their smoking. The tobacco companies would go right back to court and demand that those multimillions of dollars that they paid out be given back!

I would look for you but I have to leave for school. Have my Peds final in an hour.

Oh, and BTW, I have been smoking since 16...I am 48 (that is 37 yrs) and my BP is low, my pulse rate is low, chest Xray clear and no evidence of COPD.

My MIL didn't have any issues after smoking for 40 years either until they found an inoperable lung cancer with brain mets and she was gone within the year.

It's quite impressive all the data you've compiled to justify smoking. Please ask yourself is it really worth the risk?

For what it's worth I started when I was 14 and haven't smoked for nearly a year. Best thing I ever did for my health, family, and I can smell again (not always good on a abd surg floor :)). I didn't have any health issues either but just tired of being a slave to something, tired of witnessing preventable deaths, and mostly just tired of putting dozens of unknown chemicals in my body that will cause one problem or another some day.

Yes, I agree this is a old beat down subject but it's interesting to hear new voices on the subject IMO.

When I smoked you bet I bust ass to get done to run out for a quick smoke. But I was also a grade A witch if I didn't get one.

Now I bust ass to be able to take a real, whole break and put my feet up and chill for a bit. I don't mind if my buddy steps out for a smoke, I'll cover her pts, because I know she's not taking any more breaks than I am and she'll cover me for my mine.

[silverbat]

When I work with a bunch of smokers, I take "NON-smoking " breaks as a joke if the smokers start taking too many extra breaks. I don't mind the breaks we are all supposed to get, its the "EXTRA" ones, like "the Looooong way to the lab", or the trip to the pharmacy that should take 5 min and it take 15-20, IN ADDITION to their regular breaks. THAT is when I take my non-smoking breaks. Gets the point across.

Also, as far as addicting...yes, smoking is. It is a choice. You can chose NOT to be addicted.

as far as "Fatties"(objectionable term here)- You do have to eat to live, you just have to make good choices. You don't have to smoke to live.

My opinion.....

[flashpoint]

I am so tired of hearing non-smokers say "I wish I smoke so I could take a break"!

What? It's not as if this cigarette is a key to the outside world. Get up, walk outside, and take your break. What's stopping you, seriously?

What is stopping us? Charge nurses that, when you ask if you take take a break, say things like, "Well...you'll need to wait until Deb comes back. She looks like she needs a cigarette" even though Deb is only halfway done with her patient. Or who will allow a smoker to take three five minute breaks instead of one fifteen minute break, but tell the nonsmoker they can't go grab a soda because they have already had a break. I seriously worked with a charge nurse who did this.

Most of the time, nonsmokers are not getting their breaks because they do not make a point to take their break. Sometimes they feel guilty because they worry about who is caring for their patients while they are gone...sometimes they just get so busy that they don't realize they need a break...smokers get the nicotine craving to remind them.

Nonsmokers own fault most of the time, but not always.