can of worms-smoking

Nurses General Nursing

Published

do smokers really take more breaks. maybe this should be a poll. seems to me that it is not really more breaks, just more smokes. i.e., when someone has to be walked out to the car, stop afterward and have a smoke. when something has to be walked down to the lab, stop afterward and have a smoke. i know that not all smokers do this, but some will make impressions for all. i know that we are all supposed to take our 15's, but on pm shift, most of us only take our dinner. smokers that i know on both of my jobs HAVE to take their 15's. everyone seems to understand this need. interested in opinions from both sides of the issue, and maybe a few x smokers can log in.

Smokers do take more breaks at my employer. We complain they still smoke. we now have cell phones so they can still be reached when needed and this has been good.

Specializes in Critical Care.

I'm a nonsmoker. I don't care if smopkers take their breaks, because I take my breaks also. One thing I've noticed is that alot of nonsmokers don't take their breaks then blame smokers. I do have a problem with anyone (smoker or not) taking extra breaks or breaks at inappropaite times.

One thing I love about smokers if that they'll always run for things so they can get a smoke. Hey that's fine with me, it keeps me from running around for stuff.

Noney

Smokers always seem to get away with more breaks at most of the places ive worked, but then in the end they'll get a nice long break sooner than most of us so go ahead an let them.

=)

Specializes in LTC,Hospice/palliative care,acute care.
Originally posted by agent

Smokers always seem to get away with more breaks at most of the places ive worked, but then in the end they'll get a nice long break sooner than most of us so go ahead an let them.

:chuckle I worked with a smoking martyr-aka the busy nurse who always goes the extra mile-works ot to finish up-tells everyone she is not taking her 30 lunch or 15 min break but her smoke breaks totalled more then the allotted 45mins for both....

I do not really care if my coworkers smoke or not. But, they definately take more breaks. They go outside several times through the night. They also take there full supper break. Some will say they only take 10 minutes for supper so they can go out a few times. This is simply not true. They take the full half hour and go out at least 4 times. It really does not bother me as long as their patients are settled and it does not interfere with my work. But, I do get frustrated when they say they do not take more breaks.

Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.

On the floor i work on there is only one smoking nurse, and she smokes on her break time, when all is quiet, and takes only 5 minutes, twice a shift.

However the nursing home that i work part-time, anyone there that smokes go whenever the urge strikes, and they've always smoked about 2 or 3. And not back in when 15 minutes are up, of course they go out 3 or 4 times, because no one is telling them not to.

That's something that is setting me off about school this year. Every hour on the hour, there are 3 ppl that whine to get a smoke break, even though the rules plainly state that you get 2- 10 minute breaks, and the designated time for it. So here every hour on the hour we wind up taking about 15 to 20 minutes because of the 3 sloth-orifices (taking their time to get back inside). We're there for 7 hours a day. Fifteen minutes every hour, that adds up to be about an hour and 45 minutes worth of break time, this is not including the 30 (or 45 to some) minutes for lunch.

Class is supposed to be out at 9pm, but we've gone up to 10:15 due to the breaktime putting people so far behind. So i get home and rush around like a fool to get ready for work, and rarely do i have the time to pack a lunch. All because of the ridiculous break amount.

Luckily this is only a problem with one instructor, the other one puts her foot down. Why am i just complaining here and you might wonder why i haven't complained to the instructor, or toher authority figure? The chain of command for school starts with the nursing program director, and she will not be back for another couple of weeks due to personal reasons with her daughter. A couple of us already have our letters of complaint ready, though.

One night when I was charging I told the aide (a smoker) I wanted her to tell me every time she left the floor because we were busy and I needed her available. She did tell me most times, but I saw her leave twice without notifying me first. With each trip I wrote down the time she left and the time she returned (even if "going to the lab" was part of the reason she was gone). She clocked in 2 hours and 10 minutes of time wasting smoking---and sometimes when we really needed her on the floor. I showed it to her later and after that, she was a little more diligent (when I was charging). She finally quit and is now a RESPIRATORY THERAPIST. No kidding.

Clearly, non smokers make better employees.

Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

no one smokes where i work (my unit anyhow)----

YEEEHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

but when i was military, YES smokers DEFINATELY took breaks all day long.........

they needed their "fix" and had to go outside for it. My "fix" was a cup of joe. Did not need to go out for that, so no break was really necessary except to pour the stuff.

I can't answer in nursing if smokers take more breaks, sorry, cause like I said no one I know/work with smokes. It's great!

Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.

Smokers breaks are more visible because they leave the floor. I see nonsmokers taking incidental time too. They stand in the hallway or nursing station talking. Take 3 hours to chart, while talking to their coworkers all along.

I am a nonsmoker and loathe smoking (not smokers, please not the disctinction).

The bottom line to me as a charge nurse is their productivity: is the work getting done, are their patients being taken care of, are they safe, being monitored, etc. That's what's more important.

I do not tolerate smokers abusing their breaks, nor nonsmokers sitting around doing nothing.

+ Add a Comment