CNA'S suffer second hand smoke

[nurseblob]

At my LTC facility, the CNA's are REQUIRED to supervise residents who smoke, as part of their job. The admin. say to send someone else if a person doesn't want to go, but there never is anyone else to send. I feel so bad that many of them have never smoked, and are forced to inhale cig. smoke for their freakin job! Does anyone know if employees have any say in this matter?

[JDZ344]

I'd try to find a CNA that smokes as well to take them out. :)

that is a catch-22 because most workplaces you are not allowed to smoke anyway.

[starzrn]

Well honestly I think Residents/Patients should have the right to consume cigs its there choice and they have free will just like me and you...... ask someone who smokes to take them ?

If the owner of a facility doesn't want smoke in or near their building, they should have the right to choose that as well!

[starzrn]

I am happy to say I work on a smoke free campus. I would absolutely refuse to smoke a pt. I do not smoke, or allow smoking in my home or yard. Smoke is a migraine trigger for me. If a facility has this as a policy, they better hire several CNAs and nurses who are smokers. I would also make it clear at my hiring that I would refuse to do this. See, now I have another reason to be happy in my workplace. Thank you all for the uplift.

Have you heard of third-hand-smoke? If they bring it back on their clothing, we are exposed!!!

Polonium is a rare, radioactive element and polonium-210 is its most common form. Polonium strongly emits a very damaging type of radiation called alpha-radiation that can usually be blocked by thin layers of skin.

But tobacco smoke contains traces of polonium, which become deposited inside their airways and deliver radiation directly to surrounding cells.

The lungs of smokers can be exposed to four times more polonium than those of non-smokers and specific parts may get a hundred times more radiation. One study estimated that someone smoking one and half packs a day receives the equivalent amount of radiation as someone having 300 chest X-rays a year.

[Angie O'Plasty]

Our residents do smoke outside. Usually another CNA who smokes goes out with them

That's how I've usually seen it done...why so many CNAs (and nurses!) smoke I do not know, but there always seems to be someone. This thread reminds me of one facility I worked in where there was a resident who smoked and the nurse had to give him a cigarette every two hours and then he would go outside and smoke. Mind you, this guy would get his meds (which included Advair and Spiriva for his COPD) and then ask for a smoke right after. . He had the junkiest cough all the time too. I understand they have the "right" to do that, but having to be the one to hand him the butts really rubbed me the wrong way.

[DDdove, LPN]

I think they need to band together and speak with an attorney about a hostile work environment.

Just let them know how you feel about being around second hand smoke. I don't think it is a hostile work environment because someone wants to smoke:) YOur bound to get a communicable disease or illness from someone there before you would ever get lung problems from going out side with a smoker once in a while :)

[CapeCodMermaid, RN]

FinlyOne, I respectfully disagree. I used the proper precautions when I deal with residents since I don't know all the diseases they have and I want to protect myself. There is no way to protect oneself from second hand smoke except for avoiding it. If I am FORCED to take someone to smoke and therefore am forced to expose myself to the carcinogens present in the second hand smoke, it is, indeed , a hostile work environment and I would call an attorney.

[starzrn]

I think the hospital should make the pt buy their own electric cigarettes that have nicotine in them, but that don't harm others around them and insist this is what the patient must use while there. Where do we draw the line on other addictions...next we will have to sit there outside with them and watch them shoot up too...or finish another beer...give me a break! And yes, I think you should get an attorney!!!