cigarette breaks

eriksoln, BSN, RN · Jan 17, 2009

LOL Zoo. Going out in the cold is my biggest motivator for quiting. I did quit once, for 3 years, cold turkey. I should again.

Indy, LPN, LVN · Jan 17, 2009

What I did was discuss the issue with the co-worker. Then I tallied up the time spent in a shift off the floor for that nurse. It was around 3 hours worth of breaks alone. That is not acceptable for a 12 hour shift. The unit director was notified via the shift supervisor. Problem is improving, coworker is not so happy. Call lights are being answered in a better fashion now.

Mr Ian · Jan 17, 2009

Groups of nursing sitting at the desk talking for 30 min or more, idle chatter. This goes on several times a day. Difference, the smokers leave the unit, the others chatter but do not see this as a break.
The off nursing time is much longer for the chatters than most of the smokers I work with. Drives me insane.

My sentiments exactly. It's one thing to be complaining when there's work to be done - but another when everyone else gets as much break time as the smokers.

My problem is my colleague and I run our unit and she's one of those very efficient health-conscious and super duper nurses - so I have very little argument with her because she sets an exemplary role model - which I think gives her the right to tell the smokers to watch their breaks.

I need to get her into some bad habits. :chuckle

BabyLady, BSN, RN · Jan 17, 2009

Smoking, is a drug addiction to nicotine. When that addiction cannot be managed during the breaks that are given, then that employee has a problem that has escalated one step higher.

The nurse should wear a nicotine patch if she cannot get her habit under control.

I am with you...you shouldn't be inconvenienced, nor should her patients, on her lifestyle choices.

Can you imagine what she smells like after she has come back?

eriksoln, BSN, RN · Jan 17, 2009

I dont see the difference between parking at the nurse's station doing nothing and leaving the floor for 10 minutes (now, mind you, I dont defend anyone who takes a LONG cigarette break, I'm talking about people who are gone like eight, ten minutes).

I worked the midnight shift at my first ever RN position. The midnight shift was famous for its cliche'ish ways and venomous practices. It was one of those situations where they had too much time on their hands, sat around forever talking about what is wrong with the hospital and everyone else and how victimized they are....and lost sight of the purpose of being there and who was truly in charge.

No kidding, they would start one of their little pow wows and it would last three hours. No call bells answered, and the ones that were were greeted with a "Its one o'clock in the morning, its not time for that" response. Hours of pointless jibberish: "Next time that nurse forgets to sign the form, I'm going to write her a nasty letter", "If that CNA calls off one more time, I'm going above the DON's head to complain about it", "I heard so and so got a bigger raise than so and so. I'm going to write an anonymous letter, its not right", "I think so and so has a drinking problem", "The daylight shift would get more done if they knew what they were doing". The list could go on forever. I had never witnessed such venom. They really needed more to do.

Now, OK, on that shift I went out, oh.....about four times during the 12 hour shift. Each time I spent, almost down the the second, ten minutes. Thats 40 minutes. I dont eat on mid. shift and take no lunch, which is 45 minutes soooo.......whats the problem?

I actually think that me not joining in the pow wows and going outside was to my benefit. What is there to gain in such conversation? I appreciated the fact that I was not in the cliche. What good would such venom and rightousness done me?

lindarn · Jan 18, 2009

At my previous job, we had several nurses who smoked. And yes, they were always taking smoke breaks, and the other nurses, or breakpartners, were forced to watch their patients.

If I was in that situation again, I would start to discreetly keep track of when the smokers were off on smoke breaks, when they came back, and tally it up every shift. This shows concrete evidence just how much "extra" break time, that smokers were taking, in addition to the regular 15 minute breaks and 30 minute lunch/meal breaks.

If you do not keep track, when you go to management, it sounds like sour grapes whining, if you have nothing concrete to show them. "So and so, has taken an extra 2 hours of smoke breaks this week, in addition to the permitted breaks during her/his shift. This is an undue burden on me as his/her break partner, as I am responsible for their patients, as well as my own while they are gone". This is much more effective to bring to management, and/or the union. Quantifying just how much this is abused by the smokers will bring you more action, than just a complaint. JMHO and my NY $0.02.

Lindarn, RN, BSN, CCRN

Spokane, Washington

coolpeach · Jan 18, 2009

I am just a nursing student, but clincials have been very hard because of the smoking situation. Most hospitals here in the Dallas area have rule about smoking anywhere on the property even in your own car in the parking lot. If we get caught we can get kicked out of the RN program.

Well I also get to 15 minute breaks, and a 30 minute lunch. Its almost impossible to get to the elevators, down to the first floor, through the hospital, across the parking garage, out of the parking garage, across the street, smoke a cigarette, drive back to the parking garage, find a spot, walk back to the hospital, walk through the hospital to the elevators, get up to my floor, and back to the nurses station in 15 minutes. I know that seemed long to read, but you should try doing it.

They make it very difficult for those of us who smoke, and apparently for those nurses who don't.

lovehospital · Jan 18, 2009

At my previous job, we had several nurses who smoked. And yes, they were always taking smoke breaks, and the other nurses, or breakpartners, were forced to watch their patients.
If I was in that situation again, I would start to discreetly keep track of when the smokers were off on smoke breaks, when they came back, and tally it up every shift. This shows concrete evidence just how much "extra" break time, that smokers were taking, in addition to the regular 15 minute breaks and 30 minute lunch/meal breaks.
If you do not keep track, when you go to management, it sounds like sour grapes whining, if you have nothing concrete to show them. "So and so, has taken an extra 2 hours of smoke breaks this week, in addition to the permitted breaks during her/his shift. This is an undue burden on me as his/her break partner, as I am responsible for their patients, as well as my own while they are gone". This is much more effective to bring to management, and/or the union. Quantifying just how much this is abused by the smokers will bring you more action, than just a complaint. JMHO and my NY $0.02.
Lindarn, RN, BSN, CCRN
Spokane, Washington

Wow I think this is the first time I saw you writing something...