No smoking policy

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Today, my hospital went "no smoking" any where in the hospital or on the grounds (not even in your car). It is now a state law that all hospital s are "smoke-free". I think it's great, but I don't smoke. Some of the staff do and alot of our pts do. We will have orders for nicotine patches as needed for pts. But I was wondering how many other hospitals are going smoke-free and how they are handling the changes.

I remember at my first job, the nurses could smoke in the break room and pts could smoke in the rooms (w/o O2 of course). The times they are a-changing!

Our hospital is smoke free. Staff can smoke in their cars only. The adjoining clinic is no smoking end of story. If an employee even smells remotely like smoke, they will be disiplined. Our county recently became smoke-free. There was some concession for the bars where you can smoke after 8pm. It's all good with me. I don't smoke at work, I don't smoke in the car, I don't smoke in the house or at restaurants. It's working out pretty good for my pocket book. I might just quit someday.

Specializes in Babies, peds, pain management.

The non-smoking policy at my hospital is just complying with a new state (!) law forbidding smoking on any hospitals' property. I think the not smoking in your car is to decrease the smoky smell and to "fulfill" the illusion of a non-smoking health care facility. The first night of the policy, 2 of my co-workers found a special place to take their "break".

I guess the next step in promoting health and saving us from ourselves will be having only water and vegetables in the vending machines! :p

Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

I miss working on a non-smoking campus. The stink the smokers drag up w/them is horrendous and can even cause allergic reactions in some of our patients. And I am sorry, it's not washed or rinsed away. It's in the skin and on the breath, no matter how much gum one uses to get rid of it.

I found Most patients were very understanding and ok w/it, as well as family members. We gave patients patches if they were smokers to help them cope. A few others signed out AMA. But maybe, if healthy enough to run out every hour to smoke, some of these folks don't need to take up hospital bed/space anyhow; that is just my feeling. Staff don't have the time to escort smokers downstairs to smoke......butts litter the grounds where hospitals allow smoking right outside, plus, it somehow detracts when one sees health care professionals puffing right outside the doors of the hospital----- not to mention the smoke coming in those doors as people enter/leave. It's not good.

Now in cars? I think that ought be an option, but ON the grounds outside a hospital, off-limits. I am all for it (nonsmoking campuses).

Specializes in ICU, PICC Nurse, Nursing Supervisor.

I agree 100%. I think smokers should have a designated place to smoke... When did cigs become illegal? I would never smoke any where near a patient and think a hospital ban on smoking is with in normal limits. However, when I leave after my shift I fully intend to light a cig in my car and may do so on my way to work as well. So what if I smell like smoke, I also smell like sweat from busting my orifice all day taking care of patients. Even if I didnt smoke ,my husband does and heavily. I would still have some degree of cig smoke on my clothes and such. What's next having to bring your potential spouse to a pre employment screening so you can keep your job. The bar ban is just way to far. If ya dont like the smell of smoke while participating in bar activites either drink at home or breath through your mouth.. As for me Ill keep on

smokin....:smokin:

When the hospital pays my car payment, they can tell me not to smoke in it.

Any company that demands no smoking at any time should also demand no drinking, reckless driving or speeding would be grounds for firing, and obesity should be considered a form of suicide.

Sorry, but my southern sense of personal freedom would be pushed to the max here.

Since when do patients care how they smell? So as long as I am clean, look professional, and act in a like manner, my smell unless too offensive, should be left alone. :angryfire

Specializes in cardiac/critical care/ informatics.

As far as smoking in your car, I think, at least at my hospital, you can't smoke in your car on hospital grounds, which IMHO is OK, Otherwise I don't think any could say you can't smoke in your car on your way to work. I think they don't want people sitting in the parking areas smoking.

I want to address two things that have come up on this topic:

1. The smell of people that smoke - Whether I am a patient or not, the smell of cigarettes bother me. It just plain stinks. It's just as obnoxious as bad BO or bad breath. Would you want someone with bad BO leaning over you for ANY amount of time? Honestly, either smell makes me want to yack. If you smoke and are used to living with cigarettes, you may not realize how bad it smells, but I know may a former smoker that can no longer tolerate the smell of cigarettes in the air or on someone else's clothing.

2. I live in NYC and remember when people could no longer smoke in restaurants at all . There was a big uproar on how smokers would no longer eat out in restaurants and how restaurants would lose business. :stone Well, how stupid was that thinking? Like people would choose sitting at home and smoking a cigarette over outside entertainment. The same thing happened in bars and clubs. Of couse people continued to eat out, go to bars and went clubbing. The only difference is that if they needed a quick smoke, they went outside.

The good thing about this ban was that non-smokers had a chance could go to bars and restaurants without smelling like cigarettes by the end of the evening. Also, the number of smokers across the city has decreased by 10%! :) I guess with the cost of cigarettes and the hassle of finding a place to smoke it just wasn't worth it anymore.

Specializes in Urgent Care.

Our local hospital has banned smoking on campus and in cars too.

now you just see the nurses, rt's (amazing how many of them smoke) etc. and even an occasional doc or sick guy out front of the hospital on the sidewalk smoking and broadcasting to the public in general "Hey look even we health care pros smoke"

and employees, patients, visitors still smoke in thier cars some, 'cause who is out there to enforce it?

and on the smell, while it cuts down on it a bit, they still smoke and they still smell.

I think it was much better when they had a pt smoking area and an employee smoking area (seperate) in an isolated courtyard in the hospital.

just a bunch more of that PC whowaa bull.

Specializes in Critical Care.
I support the no-smoking policy. The hospital I'm working for doesn't employ smokers and pre-screens with labwork before hiring. I think it's a good policy.

I would think this could be construed as discrimination. Smoking is not illegal and not hiring someone because they smoke is as bad as not hiring someone just because they are obese. If it doesn't interfer in the job performance then I feel they shouldn't be able to exclude from the job because of it.

Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

I think disallowing smokers to the extent of lab work is way over the top and discriminatory.

I have been reading these posts with interest. ITA, not hiring smokers and using labs to back up no hire is discrimination. What happened to the best ualified person for the job?

Bars, still adult areas to me, smokers need a place in them.

Casino's, adult areas too. I bet there are plenty of places the "Big Rollers" smoke w/o a problem.

My car, if I pay for something, it is mine, I do what I want when I want in it, unless it is a felony.

I really resent personal freedoms and choices being made by Big Brother. I am an adult, if I do something I should not do, I have to answer for that, if I am willing to accept that responsibility, WHY does the government think it can tell me otherwise? That may seem like a simple statement to many of you but freedom of choice and personal responsibility is one reason this country was founded. I am a reformed smoker but I still support the individual choice not a government edict. :angryfire

I live in New York, and I have to say, it's really nice to go out to the bars/restaurants and not come home smelling like an ash tray. When I travel, I really notice the difference between smoking and smoke-free bars.

As for not being allowed to smoke in your cars while you're at, well, I think that's over the top. Although, I admit I am jealous that the smoking nurses at work take frequent smoke breaks and us non-smokers who cover for them rarely get to leave the floor.

Our hospital has a total no smoking anywhere on campus rule. It was instituted a few years ago. No one pays any attention to it. Patients drag themselves out and smoke right at the ER entrance. As a new RN, I refuse to take patients out to smoke. I respect patients' right to smoke, but I do not want to be an active participant and we have a strict no smoking policy in place. Most of the CNAs, however, don't seem to have a problem wheeling people out to smoke. Our hospital is short an acute care manager, so there is basically no one even paying attention to this. Now there's a new "smoke shack" being built. Right next to the NO SMOKING ANYWHERE ON CAMPUS sign.

Obviously it's a difficult issue, but personally, I will not take my patients out and I explain this nicely to them and they understand. I offer to get an order for a nicotine patch. As nurses, we are responsible for promoting health and helping a sick person out to smoke is not promoting anything but illness and misery.

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