Caregiver smoking with patient on oxygen

[Alnitak7]

One time I went to stay with a lady that had sleepover aides. She complained that the one who came prior to me had been smoking even though she was on oxygen. When she asked her to stop, she got

defensive. We had all been told not to take abuse from this lady, but I thouhgt this was going a little too far.

I read the notes and they read, "She had to be put in place twice today, once about smoking and later....."

She said she wanted me to stay with her instead and I called my agency. I did not follow their directions about, "putting her in place." It's hard to understand why everyone hasn't been taught that you can't smoke

or create sparks near oxygen.

[mamamerlee, LPN]

I am slightly confused. The caregiver smoked but the CLIENT had to be 'put in her place'? And who writes a note that the client had to be put in her place about asking the caregiver to stop smoking???

Are you in the client's home? Then there is NO SMOKING. With or without Oxygen. Are you all unlicensed, uncertified caregivers? Is there no one supervising the caregivers, telling them the obvious about not smoking when there is O2 present in the area?

This is too scary.....

[Kyrshamarks, BSN, RN]

Oxygen DOES NOT EXPLODE!!!!! it is an accelerant only. It causes things to burn faster and hotter. It will not catch fire because of a spark or a cigarette.

[happy2learn]

The lady is on oxygen for a reason. I'm sure the smoke bothers her and will affect her health. That's what matters. A caregiver should never smoke around the patient. I'd be furious if I were that patient and that family.

Whether or not the tank will explode doesn't matter.

[rn/writer, RN]

Oxygen DOES NOT EXPLODE!!!!! it is an accelerant only. It causes things to burn faster and hotter. It will not catch fire because of a spark or a cigarette.

Thanks for clarifying, but this is beside the point.

Are you in the client's home? Then there is NO SMOKING. With or without Oxygen

Absolutely.

The caregivers may need to set good boundaries on some issues, but how can they talk about putting the client in "her place," when the home they're coming to is HER PLACE?

Caregivers shouldn't be smoking on the job. They really shouldn't be doing it around someone who needs to be on oxygen (not because it will explode, but because of the patient's respiratory status). And they really, really shouldn't be smoking in someone else's home, especially after they've been asked not to do it.

This is bizarre.

[HiHoCherry-O]

Oxygen DOES NOT EXPLODE!!!!! it is an accelerant only. It causes things to burn faster and hotter. It will not catch fire because of a spark or a cigarette.

Correct, oxygen is an accelerant. The fire triangle is "heat, oxygen, fuel". The cigarrete is the "heat" source, the person is the "fuel" source and obviously "oxygen" is the oxygen source. By smoking around oxygen, this person is putting him/herself and others at risk of fire. I have seen first hand the very distinct burn marks to a person's face who was smoking while on his nasal cannula. The burns very distinctly outlined the nasal cannula (which he was wearing while smoking), burns up around his ears, singed nose hair, singed eyebrows and singed hairline.

[leslie :-D]

Oxygen DOES NOT EXPLODE!!!!! it is an accelerant only. It causes things to burn faster and hotter. It will not catch fire because of a spark or a cigarette.

what's your point?????

leslie

[Dorito, ASN, RN]

I think you need to speak to the director of the agency providing this staff. (if you are all from the same agency). If the staff providing care to the patient are the ones smoking they should be reported and receive some remedial education. Perhaps posting a no smoking sign in the home. If that caregiver wants to smoke she should be stepping outside on her break to do so....not exposing the patient to the smoke.

[healthstar, BSN, RN]

Oxygen DOES NOT EXPLODE!!!!! it is an accelerant only. It causes things to burn faster and hotter. It will not catch fire because of a spark or a cigarette.

\

Totally true. If oxygen could explode non of us would survive ,especially now that everywhere you go you have one or two people next to you smoking. Anyway, the care giver shouldn't smoke when caring for a patient period. It is unprofessional and not safe. The problem is not the oxygen, it is the caregiver who needs to stop smoking while working.

[Kyrshamarks, BSN, RN]

I totlaly agree with the non smoking part. I am a vehamently anti smoker who hates cigarette smoke and the smell. The point I was making is that I see people smoking everyday while on 02. It is a concern but it does not explode like some people are so afraid of.

[Alnitak7]

I am slightly confused. The caregiver smoked but the CLIENT had to be 'put in her place'? And who writes a note that the client had to be put in her place about asking the caregiver to stop smoking???

Are you in the client's home? Then there is NO SMOKING. With or without Oxygen. Are you all unlicensed, uncertified caregivers? Is there no one supervising the caregivers, telling them the obvious about not smoking when there is O2 present in the area?

This is too scary.....

These were actually the most shocking patient notes I ever saw. I am one that NEVER smokes around a patient or any other type of client. I can't imagine arguing with someone who asks that you not smoke in their house.

I picked this up in training but would have known it anyway.

As far as, "putting her in place," she was snapping at me all day. The office staff told us we could ask her not to talk to us that way but I did not follow that request.

[Intern67]

Oxygen DOES NOT EXPLODE!!!!! it is an accelerant only. It causes things to burn faster and hotter. It will not catch fire because of a spark or a cigarette.

When combustion is accelerated fast enough, that is pretty much an explosion. What happens is the oxygen can soak into bandages, blankets or clothing and when ignited, accelerate like a mofo.

I'm sure if you ask the lady I met whose face caught fire when she was smoking with O2 on, she would describe something very similar to an explosion. She had a gauze bandage on her nose that became saturated with O2 and she decided to have a smoke.

(No, the tank is not going to explode.)