Do patients

whereslilly · Oct 25, 2011

When I was in Nsg school then first started working, yes the majority of nurses smoked. Heck,the Doc's smoked, the Pt's smoked, Doc's smoked in the charting room. I smoked while preparing IV bags. Yes, a very different world. Thankfully this generation (majority) has never picked up the awful habit. As far as breaks tho.. I think the smart phone breaks outnumber the quick smoke breaks for sure. Most smokers if they smoke on the job at all will get away once. On there "lunch break". Other than killing themselves its no one's business.

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Oct 25, 2011

Oh...honey.......you have so much to learn about hospitals and that they could care less about the nurses and the reason why they have "smoke free" campuses is to save money. As a student, I know everything is comming up roses but remember roses have thorns that will hurt you.

I am from the days that we smoked at the desk, doctors smoked at the desk, patients smoked in their

rooms.....heck the Doc's would put thier cigs out in the patients ash tray on the bedside stand. We are human too and have human flaws. I have huge issues with "big brother" telling me what to do with my personal time in my own home. I used to smoke and no one cared if you didn't eat, drink, or pee.......but no one stopped you from catching a quick smoke.

This subject has been beaten to death here

https://allnurses.com/gsearch.php?cx=partner-pub-9350112648257122%3Avaz70l-mgo9&cof=DIV%3Acacaca%3BBGC%3AF8F7F5%3BFORID%3A11&ie=UTF-8&as_q=should+nurses+smoke&sa=Search#1661

https://allnurses.com/gsearch.php?cx=partner-pub-9350112648257122%3Avaz70l-mgo9&cof=DIV%3Acacaca%3BBGC%3AF8F7F5%3BFORID%3A11&ie=UTF-8&as_q=drug+testing+for+nicotine&sa=Search#1731

and on the obese of which I am a club member.....

https://allnurses.com/gsearch.php?cx=partner-pub-9350112648257122%3Avaz70l-mgo9&cof=DIV%3Acacaca%3BBGC%3AF8F7F5%3BFORID%3A11&ie=UTF-8&as_q=obese+nurses&sa=Search#1724

Welcome......

diva rn, BSN, RN · Oct 25, 2011

You really should have searched for previous forums on this topic. There are probably 658,324,917 previous threads on this topic. And I highly doubt as a student that you even have the time to make this observation.
Now you're bringing up obesity as well? Please use the search forum for that. You'll get all you questions answered reading the 75 gajillion posts on that.

Thank you for bringing this up....well stated.

bluemushroom · Oct 25, 2011

I see nurses smoking quite often. Do you think that patients see this and wonder why we are telling them to quit? Should nurses not be allowed to smoke? I understand that nurses are stressed out, but we know that smoking is harmful. Also, do you think employers should provide help for smoking cessation rather than just insitute new policies about not smoking?

I'm not a smoker, but I don't see what the big deal is about nurses who smoke. The fact that you asked if nurses shouldn't be "allowed" to smoke is what bothers me the most. My job does not dictate what I do in my personal life. I don't need anyone telling me I'm not allowed to engage in a perfectly legal activity just because of my chosen profession. It's my job, not my life. I like what I do, but I'm sick of this idea that nurses should be special beings who devote their lives to being perfect and having perfect health habits. Being a nurse does not mean I should be the perfect example of health for patients. Honestly, I wouldn't care what a patient thinks of me if I was a smoker and was educating them on the benefits of not smoking. Educating patients is simply a requirement of my job. It doesn't mean I have to practice what I preach.

What else do you think nurses shouldn't be "allowed" to do? Should we not be allowed to eat junk food, to consume alcohol, or to party until the wee hours of the morning? I mean, because, ya know, we teach about the benefits of healthy eating, the unhealthy effects of alcohol, and the importance of proper rest. If I do these things, then tell a patient why they shouldn't, what would they think of me? :rolleyes:

I think employers should neither provide help with smoking cessation nor have new no-smoking policies. The only thing employers should ask is that smokers don't come to work reeking of cigarette smoke. Just like you shouldn't come to work with horrible body odor, you shouldn't come to work smelling like you just rolled around in an ash tray, simply because they're both offensive odors. I think that's as far as their policies should go.

LadyinScrubs, ASN, RN · Oct 25, 2011

Smoking vs. not. I don't care whether a nurse smokes or not. BUT at shift change at report when a nurse that has the long-time chain-smoking odor --

I am not talking about her clothing smelling of smoke. What I am talking about the odor that surrounds the nurse when he/she exhales--makes me wonder if cancer is about to makes it presence known --

I often wonder what the patients are thinking when the nurse works with them.

anotherone, BSN, RN · Oct 26, 2011

Are you overweight, underweight, do you follow up with all of your healthcare appointments, get your teeth checked/cleaned, your eyes, yearly pap if applicable, eat properly, exercise 60minutes everyday, even after the 16 hour shifts? how much crap food do you consume, almost anything out of a box or frozen essentially. ? stay in a negative relationship/friendship ever? any alcohol?Do you sleep 6-8 hours a night ( forget it if you work nights). no one can do everything all the time. A health care provider's job is to teach patients about what is optimal and advisable for better health, not to be the beacon of light living that example for a patient to follow.