Smoking ban
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The healthcare corp I work for has decided to ban smoking at all of it's facilities.....no smoking by anybody, anywhere on the grounds.......No smoking for patients.....I actually think they shouldn't.....none for the doctors, nurses, none for visitors, expectant family members, etc, etc.....We've even been told that there will be No smoking in cars or in the parking lot.
I'm a former smoker, but I still believe that if a person wants to smoke, it's their life and they should have a place to do so.......even if it is in their own cars.
Other hospitals in the metro area are starting to capatalize on this idea by advertising that they 'have new & improved smoking areas'. I work with alot of nurses/doctors who smoke and they are all talking about a 'smoke out' day........like a blue flu day..........
What are your opinions about this???
Mar 29, '04Joined: Apr '02; Posts: 38,763; Likes: 16,343worked great where I used to work. NO people trying to get nurses to take smokers down for a cigarette. They got a patch and no one smelled like smoke having just come up from smoke break (esp nurses/employees). I loved it.
Mar 29, '04Joined: Feb '03; Posts: 900; Likes: 45They tried that at our hospital for about 6 months..didn't work..the staff,pts,families hung out on the street corners looking like hookers..lol..they now let smokers smoke in the enclosed courtyard area outside.
Mar 29, '04Occupation: ER RN Specialty: 11 year(s) of experience in LTC, ER ; Joined: May '03; Posts: 524; Likes: 189i am not now, nor have i ever been a smoker so i don't know what it would feel like to go 8-12 h w/out a smoke. i do think that more health care facilities should do a total ban on smoking. whenever a co-worker comes in from smoking, the smell is overwhelming. i dont think that the majority of smokers really appreciate how offensive cigarette smoke is to others, or maybe they just dont care. making employees go the whole shift without smoking will greatly benefit the patients and coworkers who have allergies and respiratory illnesses by eliminating the major irritant of cigarette smoke. i think at some point smokers need to quit thinking only of themselves and what they want and be considerate of those of us who dont want to be bombarded by clouds of smoke when we walk through an entrance to the hospital.Mar 29, '04Occupation: ER RN Specialty: ER,ICU,L&D,OR,ETC ; Joined: May '01; Posts: 5,588; Likes: 566Non smokers picking on smokers
Mar 29, '04Occupation: Operating Room Nurse Specialty: 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER ; From: US ; Joined: Jun '03; Posts: 17,036; Likes: 1,007A smoking ban? Wonderful!Mar 29, '04Occupation: RN Joined: Mar '04; Posts: 25; Likes: 1I agree with the ban...We had one guy with cancer ajust had to have a smoke and one day out in the smoing area he collapsed and someone called a code! The guy had doctors coming to the floor to see him all the time and where was he? out smoking. Our hospital offered the patch and he said to "go to ----" I don't know if he is still alive, but he left the hospital AMA one day......oh, well. I am not or have ever been a smoker, but I agree with you all who have responded complaining of the rank smell. Smokers don't realize or don't want to know how bad they really smell and how offensive it is.
Mar 29, '04Joined: Oct '02; Posts: 60,456; Likes: 16,891I don't smoke and work in a nonsmoking facility. No smoking by anyone, anytime, anywhere.
It's a pain because staff still leaves to smoke, walking all the way to wherever their cars are taking more time, hiding in corners outside.
Wasting time arguing with patients is a pain too, and they still go outside and smoke regardless.
It's only a surface bandaid making them look good like they are promoting health, but the reality is smokers are still going to smoke.
However, they do offer employees free patches and gum, etc. and that's a plus.Mar 29, '04Joined: Apr '02; Posts: 38,763; Likes: 16,343Quote from terri0318rnSmokers don't realize or don't want to know how bad they really smell and how offensive it is.
nope. and that is not picking on smokers, just pure fact. for my allergies, cig residues are PURE misery. Imagine how patients feel, trapped with that stench from their nurses....just imagine how awful it would be when you are sick.Mar 29, '04Occupation: Operating Room Nurse Specialty: 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER ; From: US ; Joined: Jun '03; Posts: 17,036; Likes: 1,007I notice on our floor it affecrts the migraine pts. very bad.Mar 29, '04Joined: Jan '04; Posts: 5,016; Likes: 14aarh they tried that at the local hospital here, it didn't last, had alot of problems specially with the mental health patients.Mar 29, '04Occupation: Nurse Tutor and practising Nurse Joined: Nov '03; Posts: 112; Likes: 2What about relatives who have just lost there nearest and dearest?
We have a ban although no-one takes any notice but Ward sisters can allow relatives in this situation to smoke in the relatives room.
Mar 29, '04Joined: Dec '02; Posts: 41,761; Likes: 48,081It has been working at the two large hospitals in my county and works well. Like the smoking ban in restaurant and bars in California . . .people whined and complained but it is still in effect and we non-smokers love it. Took my daughter to Reno though a couple of years ago and she was shocked to see people smoking in the casinos.
No smoking in our facility but there are designated smoking areas . . one outside the kitchen where you walk by to get your lunch and someone opens the door and smoke wafts in . . . and by the ER door, ahhhhh, that is so nice for the patient on the ambulance to smell on the way in the door.
I've never smoked. Both my parents did - and my siblings do. I cannot stand the smell. I hated going to school stinking like cigarettes. I do not pretend to be fair here . . . . I guess as Tom said, I'm picking on smokers.
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