Nurses General Nursing
Published Apr 19, 2003
392 members have participated
Just curious to know how many nurses smoke (or at least admit to it)!
Ortho_RN
1,037 Posts
Well I voted to each their own.... And I am a non-smoker.. Can't stand the stuff, doesn't come in my house, don't allow people to smoke in my car... But
These people who smoke are NOT children, well some are... But as nurses they KNOW the effects that it can possibly have on them and I am sure they have seen people very sick and dying b/c of the smoking... You would think that would be enough to sway someone.. But if it isn't then it is their business...
We had a pt who had a total knee and was unable to go outside and smoke... They lit up in the room, with O2 running through a nasal cannula.. I smelt it right away, and walk in and he tried to hide it.. I told him I didn't care what he did to himself, but I am the one taking care of him and will NOT come in this room while he is smoking, wearing oxygen.. and it was more the oxygen than the smoking that bugged me.. Nurse supervisor walked by and said... "Well we can't stop someone from smoking if they want to and can't go outside".. And this is a TOTALLY No Smoking hospital..
The ONLY major problem I have with nurses who smoke, are the ones who think they need a cigarette every couple hours.. But they are the ones that piss and moan when you want to take a pee break.. go figure :)hehe
tattooednursie, LVN
660 Posts
LOL! Ditto to the pee break thing. Some busy nights for me its like I can either have pee break or a smoke break, no time for both. If I have to go, then I will choose the pee break. I may not feel well if I don't get a ciggarette, but if I pee myself transfering a patient (or cough too hard from smoking lol), I will never live that down at work. Too embarassing to even think of. Wouldn't that be a good story for the embarassing moments board!
ernurse728, LPN
130 Posts
No... I do not smoke. I don't like the way it smells, and all the stains that it puts on your teeth. Plus all the stuff that it does to your lungs. Smoker's cough is the worse. All that hacking! Yuck. I don't say anything to my friends that smoke...well occasionally I tell them that in 25 years I will refuse to give them their neb treatments! The thing that I hate most though is the fact that the non-smokers never leave the floor while the staff that do smoke go outside atleast 4-5 times a shift!
tris
32 Posts
Ok, bad as I hate yes I do smoke---not that I like it---but a very bad habit to break---I hate the way it smells , hate dirty ashtrays and do my best for no-one to smell it on me--not to mention the cost and what it is doing to my health, so----hopefully someday I will kick the nasty habit.
Disguting smoking nurse!!!!!!
shrek
19 Posts
As long as non-smokers don't have to breath it...it's your body. There are defnitely no re-deeming factors to smoking. I never have smoked ...and I cannot think of any reason whatsoever I would ever smoke. We won't go into the long list of health reasons not to smoke, just suffice it to say even those of you who do smoke...it's a nasty habit. I am sure I will get static for this, I am entitled to my opinion.
jadednurse
435 Posts
No static shrek...you are right...it is a disgusting habit. And this is coming from a smoker!
I understand the frustration of non-smokers who feel like smokers take more breaks. But, even back when I didn't smoke, I've always felt that you should manage to take your breaks no matter what. I realize on rare occasion it's impossible, but somehow you should make that the exception rather than the norm. I find I need that 10 or 15 minutes away from the chaos of the unit. I just function better that way!
healingtouchRN
541 Posts
I have some staff (prn's) who go out hourly!!!! & we work about a 3-4 minute walk from the smoking area! so add that up! But what to do? in this day & age of people going else where, we are strapped for help, & prn's do cover alot of shifts, if I council them, they get pissed off & dont' come in......I just have to grit my teeth, sometimes I go out with them. even though I am itchy to get back in & see who is climbing over the rails!
Cheyenne RN,BSHS
285 Posts
Breaks? I would love one. I smoke and work 12 hour shifts. I am so busy that time off the floor is rare. I can't even get caught up enough to take a meal break yet.
I find that if I smoke one in the morning and one in the late afternoon that I am doing good. I can't afford to get behind on things, so rather than have it be an issue I wear the nicotine patch the days I work.
With the patch I am not as edgy or irritable. When I do smoke I put on a jacket and then remove it when I return to the unit. I wash my hands and use a body spray with a nice fruity scent and listerine breath things for my breath. I try to be considerate of those who do not smoke or care for the smell.
I also go outside to smoke for all of that 5-8 minutes. I wear a timer so I am not off the unit even a full break time and then the non-smokers won't have anything to say.
I find the opposite complaint for me. I wish I had the time to have a meal, or even that full 15 minute break, without being called back for a patient.
Cath Lab RN
4 Posts
Interesting that you have 5 yes and 3 no's to your smoking ?. No I don't smoke and No it isn't for any of the polled reasons. The #1 killer of both men and women in this country is heart disease. Once again nurses misssed the boat. Look around at the MD's rarely do you find one that smokes. The #1 thing we say to all our cath lab & stress lab patients is YOU HAVE TO GIVE UP THE BUTTS!!!! I really should not be saying tha because I would be out of a job. More to the point , when are we going to start taking proper care of ourselves?
Originally posted by Cath Lab RN Interesting that you have 5 yes and 3 no's to your smoking ?.
Interesting that you have 5 yes and 3 no's to your smoking ?.
Interesting point. I suppose the smoker in me subliminally skewed the poll...
nursechris1
104 Posts
My husband's ex wife holds a cigarette in one hand, and her nebulizer tx in the other, how smart is that?
Caitlin's Mommy
16 Posts
I am not a smoker allthough I did try it one time. It just was not for me.I thought I would cough up my lungs,it took me about three minutes to quit gagging.Besides the health risks ,the coast alone is a great motivation to keep me away from them
I don't have anything against people who smoke as long as they are an adult,not pregnate,and don't blow the smoke in my face I'm happy.
I can somewhat understand why some nurses would smoke.I think it helps relieve stress some what in my opinion.I'm a CNA and while I do have a somewhat stressfull job,I think nurses have it ten times more stressfull.If I had to put up with alot ungratefull patients all day on top of getting blamed for a doctors mistake ,working long hours,and then only get paid anywhere from 17.00 to 25.00 an hour I'm not so sure I would still be a non-smoker.