Hospital will not hire smokers

Ruas61, BSN, RN · Jun 20, 2014

Not surprising. A lot of places are upping the employees price of insurance contribution if they smoke.

hope3456, ASN, RN · Jun 20, 2014

The problem with "smoke free campuses" is that it doesn't really deter the smokers. They just take longer breaks by leaving the hospital property.

It is also an issue of having healthier employees, lowering insurance premiums and fewer call offs due to smokers increased risk of sickness.

I am so over picking up the slack for coworkers smoke breaks.

Spangle Brown · Jun 20, 2014

IT has been coming to this for 20 years. Back then, before going to a professional interview no smoking. It was known that in many places, just smelling smoke would ensure no job offer.

Then it moved to controlling where smoking could take place. Even some places saying you can't smoke in your car.

Now that there is a test for it, nothing to prevent them for using it. And it's not like there hasn't been a major push to help folks stop smoking. There has been plenty of warnings.

I"m a 2 pack a day ex-smoker.

sharpeimom · Jun 20, 2014

No smokers hired? GOOD! I have a violent allergy to cigarette smoke. Cigar and pipe tobacco bother me a little bit but nothing like cigarette smoke does. I'd like to see ALL tobacco products made illegal but since so many states depend on tobacco and tobacco product sales, I know it will never happen.

Ruas61, BSN, RN · Jun 21, 2014

IT has been coming to this for 20 years. Back then, before going to a professional interview no smoking. It was known that in many places, just smelling smoke would ensure no job offer.
Then it moved to controlling where smoking could take place. Even some places saying you can't smoke in your car.
Now that there is a test for it, nothing to prevent them for using it. And it's not like there hasn't been a major push to help folks stop smoking. There has been plenty of warnings.
I"m a 2 pack a day ex-smoker.

Amen. I will have 5 years in October. I am so glad to be done with it.

Been there,done that, ASN, RN · Jun 21, 2014

This is definitely new to me, apparantly this will be the first hospital in MD that will do this. I just believe what people do in their private homes shouldn't matter. What is next, no hiring nurses with a BMI higher than 29???

The health system I work for does not " hire " smokers. The main rationale for this is ,smokers develop health problems, take time off, and cost the corporation money.

The nicotine testing is a joke. If you want the job, don't smoke for 4 days and your urine will be clean.

You are correct that the next hiring standard will exclude obese candidates. This has been already been attempted at another local health system. For the same reason, obese people have a higher rate of illness.

Corporations have their choice of candidates, they will hire the ones that will cost less in the long run.

malamud69, BSN, RN · Jun 21, 2014

Guess if you want/need a job bad enough you will quit? At this point why are we still arguing about smoking as healthcare professionals? It WILL kill you...no debate. I assume we could argue the validity of individual rights etc...but yet again that brings us around to the whole labor union vs. corporation vs. workers rights etc...etc...personally the "rights" we/unions "should" support should not be focused on supporting the right of a large corporation to take your money, cause your death (again-no debate) and drain our healthcare system...of course our right to our own natural death-of our choosing-would be a nice start in this country!

damrcngrl95 · Jun 21, 2014

My boys are very sensitive to smoke. It even being on someone's clothes has caused an asthma attack. I would hate for one of them to be in the hospital and someone taking care of them smokes. It would just make things worse.

Delicate Flower · Jun 21, 2014

The health system I work for does not " hire " smokers. The main rationale for this is ,smokers develop health problems, take time off, and cost the corporation money.
The nicotine testing is a joke. If you want the job, don't smoke for 4 days and your urine will be clean.
You are correct that the next hiring standard will exclude obese candidates. This has been already been attempted at another local health system. For the same reason, obese people have a higher rate of illness.
Corporations have their choice of candidates, they will hire the ones that will cost less in the long run.

Smoking is a behavior; obesity is a body size.

If we are going to exclude obese people as job candidates because they "have a higher rate of illness," then we will need to calculate every candidates risk of illness based on a variety of factors and then use them to determine who will be the lowest risk to employ.

Who wants a society where not only do we give potential employees health "screenings," but we use those results to exclude the candidates with less favorable results? How would you like your employer to use:

your BMI,

your cholesterol,

your FBS,

your BP,

your health history,

your family history,

your genetic risk panel? in deciding whether you are at risk for a "higher rate of illness."

If we are going that far, of course we would need to disciminate against anyone who engages in high risk recreational activities such as riding ATVs, skydiving, skiing, motorcylcing...and anyone who drinks, drives fast, j-walks...

Welcome to institutionalized discrimination.

Delicate Flower · Jun 21, 2014

My boys are very sensitive to smoke. It even being on someone's clothes has caused an asthma attack. I would hate for one of them to be in the hospital and someone taking care of them smokes. It would just make things worse.

I agree, but is it really necessary to ban smokers from hiring eligibility based on the issue of some (heavy) smokers who carry the odor with them?

I have never smoked a single cigarette, and personally I detest the smell of smoke. No one in my family smokes. Nothing bugs me more than when there is a pack of smokers gathered right outside the entrance to a building or restaurant and I have to walk with my children through their cloud of carcinogens to get into a place. But I have known and worked with several amazing nurses who I never would have known they smoked unless they either told me, or I happened to see a pack of cigs in their locker. Never would have known. No odor, no reeking, no cloud, no excessive breaks.

Here is how I feel about it: Is it that big of a deal to treat people as individuals?...if someone does have a break-abuse problem or a smoke-odor problem, deal with that directly. What people do in their time at home is their business.

This is a dangerous road to go down, IMHO.

Delicate Flower · Jun 21, 2014

I know someone is probably going to bring up the "modifiable risk factors" point, so I'll say here that if we are hiring based on reducing illness, reducing lost work time, saving money, and setting an example as the shining picture of health, does it really matter whether something is generally "modifiable" or not?

damrcngrl95 · Jun 21, 2014

I agree, but is it really necessary to ban smokers from hiring eligibility based on the issue of some (heavy) smokers who carry the odor with them?
I have never smoked a single cigarette, and personally I detest the smell of smoke. No one in my family smokes. Nothing bugs me more than when there is a pack of smokers gathered right outside the entrance to a building or restaurant and I have to walk with my children through their cloud of carcinogens to get into a place. But I have known and worked with several amazing nurses who I never would have known they smoked unless they either told me, or I happened to see a pack of cigs in their locker. Never would have known. No odor, no reeking, no cloud, no excessive breaks.
Here is how I feel about it: Is it that big of a deal to treat people as individuals?...if someone does have a break-abuse problem or a smoke-odor problem, deal with that directly. What people do in their time at home is their business.
This is a dangerous road to go down, IMHO.

It's actually worse than that. The person doesn't have to be a heavy smoker at all to cause them to have an asthma attack. Just having the small hint has been enough at times in their lives. If they are already having breathing problems a person who has been around smoke can cause an attack.