Nurses and smoking......

Nurses General Nursing

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Ok kinda touchy subject......

Shopping for scrubs this morning, and yes I'll be the first to admit I smoke. Friend walks up to me and says "Aren't you a nurse??? Don't you know what that does to your body???" :nono:

Ok, now I'm not giving it to my patients or blowing it in their faces..... :smokin: and I know what I'm doing to my body.

Does anyone else know why nurses are frowned upon for smoking?? :confused: Yes, I do plan on quitting, but I don't want to RIGHT this second b/c I passed my boards..... :banghead:

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Sadly at my place of work, about 90% of the nurses & aides are smokers. I don't have a problem with their smoking habits, to each their own.....but what i do have a problem with is the fact that the aides that smoke in MY facility are ALWAYS gone for a "5 minute" smoke break(once every half hour on eve shift).............guess who's left watching the floor???:stone

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Sadly at my place of work, about 90% of the nurses & aides are smokers. I don't have a problem with their smoking habits, to each their own.....but what i do have a problem with is the fact that the aides that smoke in MY facility are ALWAYS gone for a "5 minute" smoke break(once every half hour on eve shift).............guess who's left watching the floor???:stone

Woah, that's a lot of time off the floor!!!! :uhoh3:

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Specializes in LDRP.
Does anyone else know why nurses are frowned upon for smoking??

probably b/c nurses see what smoking does to people, nurses are supposed to promote health, nurses are supposed to educate their patients (as needed) on the detrimental effects of smoking and if they smoke, then they are being hypocrites.

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Well, it's the obvious, apparently, we're supposed to be promoters of healthy lifestyles.

I used to smoke, but I was sick with bronchitis all the time, and I just had to quit,

the doctor told me if I didn't I'd end up with COPD, and I didn't want an 02 tank strapped to my back all the time.

Debbie, I bet if truth were known, your friend has a bad habit or two also.

Most everyone has their vices.

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Woah, that's a lot of time off the floor!!!! :uhoh3:

Tell me about it, i'm quitting in march.:( Sadly, i've talked to the DON and have gotten nowhere. Thinking about home care until i get my licence.

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Tell me about it, i'm quitting in march.:( Sadly, i've talked to the DON and have gotten nowhere. Thinking about home care until i get my licence.

Does she smoke, too??? (LOL)

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Specializes in Emergency.

Its worse -- respiratory therapists who smoke. Now if there isnt someone who should never think to ever light up after one shift at work.

Rj:rolleyes:

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Make me gag. The smells is awful when they come back from breaks. Hope you find the strength to quit soon!

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Yes, I do plan on quitting, but I don't want to RIGHT this second b/c I passed my boards..... :banghead:

Okay, I'm missing something...what does passing your boards have to do with your decision to quit smoking?

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I am a nursing student and am amazed at the number of my fellow students who smoke, are obese, don't exercise, don't eat right...but, you know, nurses are human like everyone else.

In school we are constantly being taught how to teach our patients about diet, exercise, smoking cessation, etc. But I've noticed that nursing school doesn't exactly promote healthy behaviors in future nurses -- I would love it if there was some aspect of nursing school that addressed helping nurses be healthier.

In a perfect world nurses (and doctors, too) would model perfect healthy behavior. Until then...just know that when you do decide to quit you will have the life experience to truly help your patients that are ready to quit!

---a former smoker

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When I first joined allnurses there was a lengthy thread about this. Very interesting reading . .but I have no idea how to access it.

The bottom line is people look at those of us who are in healthcare and see the results of what smoking (overeating, excessive alcohol use, illegal drugs) do to folks and therefore expect that would make us strong enough to make the choice not to do those things.

Ah but we are human just like everyone else and the truth is EVERYONE already knows that smoking kills you. Healthcare workers don't have special abilities that the general public does not.

I've never smoked. I hate smoking - my whole family smokes, I grew up with the reeking smell of cigarettes, my Dad has HTN and had a bypass in his 60's and mom has emphysema. They still smoke.

steph

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