Nurses who smoke

RN_Amy, RN · Apr 29, 2004

wow the hostility is incredible in this thread. From the guard dog attack behaviour over spelling and the blistering hatred of smokers it makes me wonder what kind of nurse you can be when you are so viciously judgemental....Is this how you talk to your patients?
It is none of the nurses business..drop the holier than thou attitude and stop judging... a nursing license doesn't mean you are the better most wonderful person...it means you finished a college program.
If you have an issue with a smoking collegue stop whining and complaining about how terribly hard done by you are...say no you wont cover the patients for a smoke break if the coworker asks during a non break time and get over yourself.
This constant complaining about situations you have complete control over is ridiculous...just say no
If the coworker wants to go for a smoke during their break it's none of your business...just do your job and cover the patients...if the smoker abuses the breaks tell them and tell the manager.
I can tell you that I say god bless all smokers without them I wouldn't have a job.

Just out of curiosity... are you are smoker?

smk1, LPN · Apr 29, 2004

i just appreciate the smokers who realize that YES their smoking DOES affect others and take steps to eliminate or at least diffuse the awful smell. It causes my asthma to flare up and when i was pregnant i would vomit immediately due to the awful smell of smoke. People have a right to smoke if they want to but when you come to work and you notice peoples eyse watering and people starting to cough and sneeze around you please show some common courtesy and take steps to alleviate your co-workers adverse physical reactions to your "choice".

nursemike, ASN, RN · Apr 29, 2004

I'm a nurse who smokes. Is it healthy for me? Nope. I'm also overweight. Is it healthy for me? Nope. However, I'm not perfect, and I don't expect anyone to think I am. If I need to do smoking cessation education for a patient, I do it. I wish them luck, and believe it or not, they are usually more receptive to me than to my nonsmoking collegues because I can empathize with them.
Like has already been said, it's not positive for anyone to smoke. Too bad we're not all as great as those nurses who are smokers who can refrain from smoking at work. More power to them if they can, but if I could do that then I'd quit completely. But just because some nurses smoke doesn't mean they are less competent or compassionate. I'm not even going to go into the argument that smokers get more breaks.

Hey, I'm right! I agree with you.

HealinghandsRN · Apr 30, 2004

The point is if we judge nurse's professionalism by the habits (smoking), then why would we not judge them by how they portray themselves in print.
And why do you consider it rude? Would you rather go to court one day and see a blow up of your Charting in evidence with incorrect spellings and grammar? That would be embarassing beyond belief, but it frequently happens to nurses, and makes them look really unprofessional.

Well, I can say after reading these posts that it wasn't rude to be honest if that is what u think, but it was rude the way u wrote it to her. And the truth of the matter is spelling and grammar isn't the deciding factor of whether or not your a good nurse.....neither is smoking....

HealinghandsRN · Apr 30, 2004

wow the hostility is incredible in this thread. From the guard dog attack behaviour over spelling and the blistering hatred of smokers it makes me wonder what kind of nurse you can be when you are so viciously judgemental....Is this how you talk to your patients?
It is none of the nurses business..drop the holier than thou attitude and stop judging... a nursing license doesn't mean you are the better most wonderful person...it means you finished a college program.
If you have an issue with a smoking collegue stop whining and complaining about how terribly hard done by you are...say no you wont cover the patients for a smoke break if the coworker asks during a non break time and get over yourself.
This constant complaining about situations you have complete control over is ridiculous...just say no
If the coworker wants to go for a smoke during their break it's none of your business...just do your job and cover the patients...if the smoker abuses the breaks tell them and tell the manager.
I can tell you that I say god bless all smokers without them I wouldn't have a job.

Hello, I agree with you and think u nailed it on the head.....what kind of nurses are these who are being so judgemental...Do they judge their patients too?? So does this mean they would help smokers less.......omg, I would love to know their probable LONG list of annoyances to others...... I have heard many times Nurses who have patients with copd and breathing diff whine and complain because they ring the call bell alot and not answer it as quick as someone else too......and it really really gets me upset....and not just because i smoke they do it to people who are alcoholics etc.....and I don't like it then neither......Instead of complaining about other people why don't they educate themselves on learning how to "cope" with other people's behavior and learn how to help them instead of criticizing.......and who are we to "judge" anyone........maybe they should take a good look at themselves!!

Fivestar22 · Apr 30, 2004

Thank you so much, I felt the same way, but I was afraid to say something. I felt like I was attacked for putting up a thread regarding peoples opinions about smoking. I didn't mean to cause all of this nonsense. I just wanted to know what to expect when I graduate.

Thanks again,

five=star

wow the hostility is incredible in this thread. From the guard dog attack behaviour over spelling and the blistering hatred of smokers it makes me wonder what kind of nurse you can be when you are so viciously judgemental....Is this how you talk to your patients?
It is none of the nurses business..drop the holier than thou attitude and stop judging... a nursing license doesn't mean you are the better most wonderful person...it means you finished a college program.
If you have an issue with a smoking collegue stop whining and complaining about how terribly hard done by you are...say no you wont cover the patients for a smoke break if the coworker asks during a non break time and get over yourself.
This constant complaining about situations you have complete control over is ridiculous...just say no
If the coworker wants to go for a smoke during their break it's none of your business...just do your job and cover the patients...if the smoker abuses the breaks tell them and tell the manager.
I can tell you that I say god bless all smokers without them I wouldn't have a job.

Fivestar22 · Apr 30, 2004

If people who smoke want to smoke while they are at work that is their right. Smoking is an addiction, and I wouldn't want to work with anyone who smoked, if they were not allowed their smoke breaks. Can you say Crabby? I worked at a hospital that was smoke free, the smokers just went to the curb, or across the street to smoke. It is not going to solve any problems if your campus goes smoke free, it will probably just make it worse.

It IS my business if I have to gag the minute said coworker comes back from her smokebreak...and causes allergic responses in me or my patients. That much IS my business. I don't care if they smoke. I am not assigning a moral judgment on him/her for smoking cigarettes. I just with they do it ON THEIR TIME AT HOME----it's all I ask.
I am gonna celebrate when this hospital, in which I currently work, goes nonsmoking on-campus the way the one I used to work at did. Then, it wont' be an issue of covering the stench with febreeze, gum or other weak means that do not work. It won't be a matter of abuse of breaks to smoke. It WILL mean I won't I have to walk through a gauntlet of smoke to get into my own work place. How nice that will be....one day.

Fivestar22 · Apr 30, 2004

Very Well Said! I am afraid to post a thread now, b/c I am afraid I am going to be judged. I was looking for an opinion, and I did say I was sorry for the mis spelled words (several times) It wasn't that I didn't know how to spell them, it was late, and I had some typos. oooopppps....... I tried. I may not be the best speller, but I know that I am good to my patients, and I don't judge them b/c they smoke or do drugs. I even have cared for patients who have babies in the nursery who are with drawing from Heroine, or Crack. A pt is a pt is a pt. Lets just care for them all, like we are supose to, and not judge them for the things they do wrong. Just think if pts, were not alcoholics, or drug abusers we may not need as many nurses. Thank you for the reply, I thought it was very well said, and that it came straight from the heart.:)

Hello, I agree with you and think u nailed it on the head.....what kind of nurses are these who are being so judgemental...Do they judge their patients too?? So does this mean they would help smokers less.......omg, I would love to know their probable LONG list of annoyances to others...... I have heard many times Nurses who have patients with copd and breathing diff whine and complain because they ring the call bell alot and not answer it as quick as someone else too......and it really really gets me upset....and not just because i smoke they do it to people who are alcoholics etc.....and I don't like it then neither......Instead of complaining about other people why don't they educate themselves on learning how to "cope" with other people's behavior and learn how to help them instead of criticizing.......and who are we to "judge" anyone........maybe they should take a good look at themselves!!

moia · Apr 30, 2004

What is the relevance of me being a nonsmoker or a smoker? Does it change anything I said?

I think you use that trick a lot on people in the hopes you can dismiss anything they say .....I think you probably use that trick on family and patients and when you get the answer you want you become nicely self satisfied and ignore everything they say...

It is your chance to be morally superior, your chance to dismiss and it is arrogant and sneaky.

Why don't you pay attention to what people are actually saying instead of sneakily looking for some way to undermine them and their opinions. If you disagree with what I said comment on that but drop the sneaky crap because it demonstrates your utter lack of interest in the topic and underlines your interest in any opportunity to undermine and dismiss.

My comments are directed to people who cant stop complaining and revel in the moaning and groaning but would never ever confront ANY problem.

You all know who you are and I can tell you listening to it is not only irritating it disrupts the workplace and causes a drop in morale.

If you have a problem with odors let management and your coworkers know.

The poor martryed nurse who sits and suffers loudly and obnoxiously gets no sympathy from me.

Energizer Bunny · Apr 30, 2004

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Krissy NY · Apr 30, 2004

Five Star,

I think that you started a good topic. You should feel comfortable posting your thoughts.

I feel this is a very stressful field to work in, whether you are an RN, LPN, CNA, EMT...etc. I know when I am stressed I reach for comfort. I do not smoke...I have other vices...sometimes food, sometimes wine..sometimes shoes I cannot afford...sometimes the ex boyfriend I promised myself I would not call

I absolutely can emphathize with smokers. I don't like it, I don't want it in my home or my car...but most of you probably wouldn't like me after too many wines calling my ex in a pair of strappy heels I sure as h*ll can't afford

To each his own.

Energizer Bunny · Apr 30, 2004

Krissy...you've got a way with words, sister! LOL!