Clients burning fingers when on smoking breaks...

[nurse210]

Expecting the state surveyors any day now. I am concerned about two clients with burned fingers and stained fingertips from smoking cigs. I want to do careplans for these unsafe smokers but don't want to set myself up. They are not candidates for supervised smoking- they go out in the yard and smoke butts. I can't find cig holders in any of the stores. Any ideas are greatly appreciated. I am in Secaucus NJ if anyone knows where I could in fact buy cig holders....Phoebe

[RochesterRN-BSN, BSN, RN]

gosh I don't know.......In NY where I am all the facilites are "Smoke Free--Inside and Out" ! lol so thank god we don't have to deal with that or taking patients out for smoke time anymore!! I know they make special "aprons" that protect their clothing if you have someone--usually more elderly patients--that is buring their clothing or at high risk of burning it.....finger tips.....the holders are a great idea!! Good thinking if you could only find them.........hey, maybe a smoke shop.....like where they sell cigars. You know like a specialty cigar shop...they should have them. Good luck and have fun when state comes!!! LOL yeah right!!! lol

[Whispera, MSN, RN]

Do you think the patients would use cigarette holders if you got them? Did they come in with finger burns? I see that you want them to be safe from harm, but this seems a bit of overkill. They aren't there for burnt fingertips. You are right, if you include this in the careplan, staff is responsible for working to resolve the problem. I would think you could work to resolve it "on the side" so to speak, through education, caring for the wounds, soap and water, and that sort of thing.

[Mr Ian]

Ask them if it's a problem to them first.

If it is - ask if they want help with it.

If they do - tell them to stop burning their fingers.