Stupid q's: Has smoking cigarettes kept you from getting a job?

CapeCodMermaid, RN · Sep 16, 2012

That's great! Exercise, drink plenty of water and juice, and learn how to really breathe.Think of all the money you'll be saving.

anniv91106 · Sep 17, 2012

If the government truly cared about their nation's health, they would prohibit the manufacture and sale of tobacco, AND offer everyone the patch. That's never going to happen, so disqualifying smokers from employment is very hypocritical.

And what if all smokers cared enough about the health of themselves and those around them to quit (or not start) smoking??? That would put tobacco growers out of business. It would also radically raise the overcomers' self-esteem.

Then there is the question, "Is 'caring', 'love', enough to stop addiction?

KelRN215, BSN, RN · Oct 4, 2012

I would like to add something to this topic, even though it's been dead for a few weeks. I work as a Case Manager in a branch office for a growing home care agency. Nurses frequently come in to interview for private duty positions. I am not involved in these interviews because another nurse oversees those cases. Today, a nurse came in to interview and I could smell her cigarette stench from the other side of the office. The whole office smelled when she left and we had to open the windows to get the smell out. Our HR girls would not even consider her because of this and the nursing director will never see her resume or hear her name. So yes, smoking can and does prevent nurses from getting jobs.

cnmbfa · Oct 7, 2012

hindsight2020RN: They can smell it on you. Even if you wear clean clothes, your clothes picked up the smell from being in your house, or from your car. It will even be in your hair. Unless you keep clean clothes outside, and take a bus to the interview, the interviewer will pick up on it. It also shows up as yellow teeth or nails, and as more facial wrinkles that expected for your age. Your nose is desensitized to the smell, but us non-smokers can detect it from 6 feet away.

Quitting is not easy, but it really may be your only choice. There are meds, patches that make it far easier than in the past. Many states have quit lines or free resources to help you quit.

A local hospital here not only won't hire smokers, but requires employees who smoke on their lunch break to walk one block off their property to do so. Student nurses have been given a warning for smoking in their car in the structure just before going to clinical.

Why? Insurance costs. A study in the New England Journal of Medicine determined that healthcare costs for smokers can be 40% higher than for non-smokers. A report by The Department of Health and Human Services puts the average cost of healthcare per person at $8,000 and the cost for a smoker $11,200, or an additional $3,200.

Here's more:

Smokers are more likely to miss work than non-smokers: 6 days per year for smokers vs. 4 for non-smokers.

And, smoke breaks will cut into your productivity. If someone who is working full time takes three smoke breaks, that's a loss 45 minutes of work time every day. If you work 5 days per week, you probably work about 250 days per year, it adds up.

Years ago, I worked on a unit where there were days when I was the only person who didn't smoke of 4 staff. I had to "cover" for the others, who each got 2-3 more breaks than I did, and who were gone longer for lunch as well. And, I could hardly stand to take my breaks in our break room, which wreaked, and if I tried, I ended up with sinus problems.

Read more:

The Real Cost Of Smoking

Amber628 · Oct 16, 2012

Some replys on here are really out of hand! Everyone has their vice, weather is smoking, drinking, eating unhealthy foods, tanning, ect. To say that a person can or cannot smoke while they are not at work is ridiculous. I dont understand why no one sees a problem with this. If this is allowed then they will move on to other things as well. I am a smoker and I agree with smoke free facilities and also higher premiums. So essentially I am paying for my habit. Although, what I do outside of work does not concern my employer! and to the posters who said even smoke particles from someones house carry and can exacerbate asthma symptoms, seriously? What about all of us city nurses who walk/ride public transportation to work, the dust the grime ect. Seriously Its NOT just smokers. What about the cat/dog lover who brings in the pet dander ect. Its not smokers ITS EVERYONE, unless u live in some microbe-free bubble I do not know about...

Amber628 · Oct 16, 2012

and BTW, I work as a PCT in the hospital, I get only TWO BREAKS in my 8 hr shift, a 15 minute and an 30 min lunch, I NEVER take more breaks than that ESPECIALLY

Amber628 · Oct 16, 2012

and BTW, I work as a PCT in the hospital, I get only TWO BREAKS in my 8 hr shift, a 15 minute and an 30 min lunch, I NEVER take more breaks than that ESPECIALLY to go smoke. My PTS come first, and I wear a PPE gown to go outside and smoke and shoe covers so I dont drag it back in with me

BuckyBadgerRN, ASN, RN · Oct 16, 2012

Ugh, I hear you. We have a new LPN on the home health case I work on, she follows me so I give report to her. She reeks of smoke SO badly it literally makes my eyes water. I'm sorry, but if I were the parent no way would I let this nurse work with my child who is ventilator dependant. Heck, no way would I let a smoking nurse work with my child in MY home no matter what his/her needs might be.

I would like to add something to this topic, even though it's been dead for a few weeks. I work as a Case Manager in a branch office for a growing home care agency. Nurses frequently come in to interview for private duty positions. I am not involved in these interviews because another nurse oversees those cases. Today, a nurse came in to interview and I could smell her cigarette stench from the other side of the office. The whole office smelled when she left and we had to open the windows to get the smell out. Our HR girls would not even consider her because of this and the nursing director will never see her resume or hear her name. So yes, smoking can and does prevent nurses from getting jobs.

KelRN215, BSN, RN · Oct 16, 2012

Some replys on here are really out of hand! Everyone has their vice, weather is smoking, drinking, eating unhealthy foods, tanning, ect. To say that a person can or cannot smoke while they are not at work is ridiculous. I dont understand why no one sees a problem with this. If this is allowed then they will move on to other things as well. I am a smoker and I agree with smoke free facilities and also higher premiums. So essentially I am paying for my habit. Although, what I do outside of work does not concern my employer! and to the posters who said even smoke particles from someones house carry and can exacerbate asthma symptoms, seriously? What about all of us city nurses who walk/ride public transportation to work, the dust the grime ect. Seriously Its NOT just smokers. What about the cat/dog lover who brings in the pet dander ect. Its not smokers ITS EVERYONE, unless u live in some microbe-free bubble I do not know about...

No one's saying that you can't smoke... just that, if you choose to, you might have a harder time getting a job.

The Cleveland Clinic- frequently ranked as one of the top hospitals in the country- has widely publicized that they won't hire smokers:

Why we won't hire smokers â€" USATODAY.com

The question of the OP was "can smoking cigarettes prevent you from getting a job?" It can and it does it many cases. I gave an example a few posts ago. Someone comes into our office reeking of cigarette smoke and their resume goes in the trash the second they leave.

CapeCodMermaid, RN · Oct 16, 2012

It's not just hospitals and health care facilities. My friend's husband has to have a yearly physical to get the company health insurance. They swab his mouth to test for nicotine and if it's found, his insurance premiums are higher.

tinky6233 · Oct 19, 2012

I quit smoking almost 2yrs ago(1yr, 9 months). I never thought I smelled like cigs, I would take a shower, put clean clothes on and go out....example, i would go to my son's house(non-smokers)to see my grand-daughter and would be told,"uck, you smell like cigs" and I would say, "i didn't even have a cig" etc...thought they were being picky....me thinking, "ofcourse I would never smoke in front of a child"...well, now that i quit, I can tell you I can smell a smoker right away and they do stink! As for at work, when i smoked, I would get mad when a non-smoker would say something like, "they are always on a cig break" etc....I'd think, it's their problem if they don't take their breaks,,,,,and some people just don't take them, but that's their choice...Now, I find myself saying, "they're outside again???" it does seem most do take more cig breaks than they should. As a nonsmoker, i find that I now have extra time to finish charting, and/or to help out somebody who needs extra help...

In spite of all of this, I find it wrong to not hire a smoker...it is not against the law(yet). Employers should not be able to discriminate against smokers....Where i work, a privately owned 155 bed longterm/rehab facility, we are a non-smoking facility, but they do hire smokers...??? confusing since, new patients have to sign a waiver saying that they can't smoke while here. they do offer nicotine patches though...

BlueDevil,DNP, DNP, RN · Oct 20, 2012

Yes, I agree. Most of you probably just didn't realize that you didn't get the job because you smelled of cigarette smoke. The response, if you ask, is going to be: "We decided to go in a different direction." "We found someone with more specific experience, better tailored to our present needs." "Don't worry, we will keep your resume on file."