Nicotine Test, No smoking policy

[AspergersRN]

I was just wondering what everyone else felt about the no smoking policy that is enforced to work at many healthcare facilities around the US right now.

I smoke the vapor nicotine system. It does not incur the health hazards that smoking cigarettes do. For example, no second/third hand smoke, my lungs have been clearing out the tar, my smell is returning to normal, and all the other things that relate to what happens when you quit smoking cigarettes.

Now, I called the hospital and asked if they were doing the CO2 and tar test to see if people were smoking, and they said no its just a general nicotine test. Now, many people use nicotine but in ways that do not effect you as smoking does. For example, nicotine patches, gum, vapor systems, and chew. The requirement though states that they are only excluding nurses who smoke cigarettes?

Do you think the nicotine excluded is fair because their are other ways to take in nicotine. Also, there are also other health issues caused by many self inflicted health risk factors. What about weight, alcohol intake, or multiple other things that effect our health negatively.

I understand excluding people that smoke cigarettes due to the risk that it could cause to the patients with second hand smoke, even though I always see nurses standing off hospital property smoking anyway. How is it justified to exclude nicotine all together?

[GrannyRRT]

Hospitals are still defining policies and trying to keep up with all the changes as new products and new literature comes out. One day it is a great idea and the next it is declared the worst thing ever. Smoking cigarettes prior to 1980 was the coolest thing and some TV actors took up the habit to get roles. Fashion included smoking a cigarette.

We've gone through this and are still going through it with cell phones, the Internet and social media. If humans could exercise good judgment and commonsense, most of this would not be an issue. But, there will always be those who fail to respect what right they may have and those of others thus screwing it up for everyone.

Almost every hospital which has a tobacco free policy also has a program setup where you declare your Nicotine Replacement Therapy which could also include e-cigarettes. Some new hire applicants can be considered if they declare their NRT.

But, with the recent patient fire at a Syracuse hospital, e-cigarettes has been shown to be hazardous to oxygen users. That will make hospitals reconsider if e-cigarettes are acceptable as NRT_ on campus which includes employees.

The policy terminology has to be considered and reconsidered. Nicotine free, tobacco free, tobacco product free and vapor free are all terms which can be controversial regardless of the intent. Buildings which banned e-cigarettes had to be careful with their wording since some of the initial policies were interpreted to include medication nebulizers which cover a wide variety of products with some working off of a similar principle as the e-cigarettes.

[mvm2]

I can feel for a smoker if they get passed up for a job because they have decided to have the habit as a part of their lives but the facts remains that some people can get very ill around those that smoke. A previous poster asked if it would be ok if they would only smoke before work. Even if you smoke outside, you walk back into the building and start to work with patients the orders are still on you. in your clothes, hair, extra, and before you know it the patient is having a reaction to it. I know someone that was at work, and someone walked up to her after just having one either in their car or outside and she reacted to it so bad that she had to go home. So sometimes I feel certain nursing jobs especially those that work with those with respitory problems should perhaps be non smokers for the health of the patients.

[Ruas61, BSN, RN]

E-cigs are not a stop smoking aide.

[Spangle Brown]

What if you only smoke before or after work?

IT is a drug that many use to help calm their stress, etc. Hence, they might be fine with smoking before or after work when hired. Then later, their addiction kicks in harder and they feel the need to have it more often than then. When I was really stressed, chain smoking seemed to help ALOT.

I worked a job years ago that if you felt stress and needed a break, you walked away and took one. Those of us that smoked did so. Many of us knew it only took 5 minutes to quickly smoke 1 cig, so we would cut up or 15 minute breaks into 2 quick ones. But the non smokers seen all the breaks, so they started taking 2 15 minute breaks, to even things up. Only fair, right??

I don't smoke now, but I do have to cover for those that do in the job I have now. No matter how 'quick' they think their little break is, it adds up and it gets old doing someone elses job and your own at the same time. Once is a favor, after that, it's taking advantage.

Before or after work only? Why not go ahead and quit. End the addiction, stop letting it control.

[Spangle Brown]

There is a commercial here about a bully. It talks about the bully demanding they go with it NOW and that they have to do this NOW, etc. It's about smoking.

Even if you only smoke before and after work, if the need creeps in, it's on your mind. You feel the need. It rises the level of grrrr. The more you are told you can't, the more you feel the need.

I've been there. I know. It was life or death, yet I still chose it. That is addiction. It's a bully.

[GrannyRRT]

E-cigs are not a stop smoking aide.

I believe that is dependent on the person. I have had COPD patients who could not qualify for Pulmonary Rehab because they were smoking 2-3 packs per day. As part of their smoking cessation plan we suggested they walk to an e-cigarette lounge or even drive if they were able. We just wanted them to move. With the manager of the lounge, a tapering program was started. Just getting them out of the house and moving was a big help. Some of these people were also big hookah smokers from their native country. One hour on a hookah is like 200 puffs on a cigarette and 90,000 mls of smoke. The patches and chantix_ were not going to do the job. Our goal was to get them to cut down and get moving. It is like loosing wait. Once you see and feel a difference, you can get more motivation.

For others, e-cigarettes might not be a good option and could become another addiction. This is why smoking cessation plans need to be based on the individual rather than a generic handout to complete a check mark in the charting.

[Ruas61, BSN, RN]

E-Cigs are still a better option than smoking. I won't argue that at all.

However, I hear from a lot of people that they use it as a substitute for when they can't have a real cigarette.

I am not going to debate the topic of smoking aides for cessation.

However, unless you are a smoker or ex-smoker you really can't understand the dynamics of it all.

[GrannyRRT]

E-Cigs are still a better option than smoking. I won't argue that at all.

However, I hear from a lot of people that they use it as a substitute for when they can't have a real cigarette.

I am not going to debate the topic of smoking aides for cessation.

However, unless you are a smoker or ex-smoker you really can't understand the dynamics of it all.

Ex-smoker, educated and trained on the dynamics.

But that does not mean those who don't smoke do no understand addiction and they are able to competently educate those who smoke on the options out there.

The old "you don know how I feel" argument really does not hold that much validity today with all the resources available.

[Ruas61, BSN, RN]

I smoked half my life. I quit cold turkey because I came to the wall. So I am not talking a spiel, I have walked the line.

You can certainly educate, support etc... on cessation but to get to the down and dirty of it- having lived the experience gives an insight that theory cannot reach.

Just my 5 cents on the matter.

[PMFB-RN, RN]

I can feel for a smoker if they get passed up for a job because they have decided to have the habit as a part of their lives but the facts remains that some people can get very ill around those that smoke. A previous poster asked if it would be ok if they would only smoke before work. Even if you smoke outside, you walk back into the building and start to work with patients the orders are still on you. in your clothes, hair, extra, and before you know it the patient is having a reaction to it. I know someone that was at work, and someone walked up to her after just having one either in their car or outside and she reacted to it so bad that she had to go home. So sometimes I feel certain nursing jobs especially those that work with those with respitory problems should perhaps be non smokers for the health of the patients.

I don't think you read the OP. The hospital mentioned in the OP isn't refusing to hire smokers, but rather all nicotine users. Two very different things.

Several nicoteen routs of administration would have absolutly zero impact on patients or co-workers. I am thinking of nicotine gum, patches, and for that matter tobacco dip.

[LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN]

I don't think you read the OP. The hospital mentioned in the OP isn't refusing to hire smokers, but rather all nicotine users. Two very different things.

Several nicoteen routs of administration would have absolutly zero impact on patients or co-workers. I am thinking of nicotine gum, patches, and for that matter tobacco dip.

Unfortunately, this rule is espousing a while lot of qualified workers.

In my area, two of the major health systems are not hiring people because they have a no-nicotine policy. I just accepted a position with one; they had me sign a form stating that I attest that I don't use nicotine products.

I wonder if they will still test me to see if I actually have nicotine in my system. I will update with the results after I go for the physical.

[mvm2]

I don't think you read the OP. The hospital mentioned in the OP isn't refusing to hire smokers, but rather all nicotine users. Two very different things.

Several nicoteen routs of administration would have absolutly zero impact on patients or co-workers. I am thinking of nicotine gum, patches, and for that matter tobacco dip.

My post was kind of for the person who asked if it was ok to just smoke before and after work. I was talking about smoking more so then all of nicotine.