No Nicotine!

[Brikkz]

I start school next Wednesday and at orientation we were told that before you get hired at many of the hospitals you get your hair cut and checked for drugs including nicotine because they wont hire cigarette smokers. I don't smoke so it isn't a big deal for me but my husband smokes around me. I asked about second hand smoke and the insstructors doing the orientation said even second hand smoke can prevent you from getting hired if they find tracdes of it in your hair. So my husband is going to have to smoke away from me when I get close to graduation. I guess you'd want to quit out here because you can't smoke within so many blocks of a hospital out here anyway.

I was just wondering if anyone else was informed that they'd have to quit smoking in order to get a job where they live? I don't have to quit because I don't but my husband is going to either have to quit or just not smoke around me.

[HeartsOpenWide, RN]

Not at my hospital, but we are a smoke free campus...no smoking anywhere, this includes patients. I do know some places, not just hospitals, will not hire smokers as well as people in poor health because it will cost the employer more for health benefits.

[JGuenther]

The hospital I work at(as a CNA) also did hair analysis testing when I was hired. They are not going to test for nicotine...they only test for marijuana and other ILLEGAL drugs. If someone says the insurance thing, then no hospital would hire obese nurses. Don't sweat it, but getting your hubby to quit would be pretty awesome, huh? If you are really worried about it, make sure you keep your hubby's smoke away for 3 months because that's how long it lasts in your hair.

[carolinapooh, BSN, RN]

I actually talked to an ER nurse at a hospital while my niece was getting checked out after having a cop physically assault her (she was unarmed) and she said the same thing "You can't be a smoker if you work in a lot of these area hospitals." And we both looked at each other and her and I said "I don't smoke at all." And my niece said "All I smoke are cigarettes." And the nurse said "Not even allowed to smoke cigarettes if they decide to hire you."

We were in shock but the orientation instructor confirmed it yesterday when she said that if we smoke now we might want to consider quitting at the end of the program because they won't hire anyone and she listed like most of the hospitals in the area and said Cleveland Clinic isn't far behind with the drug testing for nicotine.

They said its not against the law to deny a smoker employment because its not discrimination. So a lot of girls said "Dang and I smoke." My husband smokes and I can merely choose not to be around him but his whole family smokes and they have family get togethers where I'd be surrounded by smokers but I guess at the end of the program when I am looking for work.....I can just let them know I cannot attend any get together type deals.

The Cleveland Clinic DOES have a strict no-smoking policy and doesn't hire smokers (read it in an article about their employee health plan in I think PREVENTION), but I'd say that their test can tell the difference b/t secondhand smoke and "firsthand" smoke.

[carolinapooh, BSN, RN]

Not at my hospital, but we are a smoke free campus...no smoking anywhere, this includes patients. I do know some places, not just hospitals, will not hire smokers as well as people in poor health because it will cost the employer more for health benefits.

Yeah, we're supposed to be as well - AEB all the people standing on the sidewalk in scrubs or with IV poles (!!!) smoking it up next to the "smoke free campus" signs right on the main drag.

I mean, SERIOUSLY?? This really really burns me up (no pun intended).

[Adams_Mama_07]

Okay, seriously, my fiance smokes and will not stop smoking so, basically I won't get hired anywhere because he smokes? That's rediculous and absurd, and that is discrimination. Now, I am faced with the decision to ruin my family or get a job? I think I know which I will choose.

I do not smoke, I do not know HOW to smoke. Seriously, I have tried--and I don't know how to breath it in. I also don't know how to hold my breath under water without holding my nose...

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

I can understand how bizarre this situation must appear to anyone who is not familiar with current hospital regulatory requirements. All hospitals are actually required to be completely smoke free. This means no 'smoke shelters' anywhere on the campus.

So - just how much time away from work it takes to scurry outside to somewhere off campus to find a place to smoke. In my experience, these people are not clocking out... just 'disappearing' for a while. Now, imagine what it must be like to be a non-smoker . . . to periodically realize that your co-workers have vanished and won't be back until they have obtained their nicotine fix (been there, have the t-shirt). What effect does this have on patient safety & quality? Hmmm. Would you choose to work under those circumstances?

As a result, many hospitals are simply not hiring smokers. This is not 'discrimination' because smoking is not a recognized disability nor does smoking put you into an EEOC protected category (e.g., age, race, gender, sexual orientation). Deliberately lying on an employment application is pretty much grounds for temination with any employer.

As nurses, I think we will always have plenty of serious peroblems to get upset about - issues that have a negative effect on patient care or professionalism. This isn't one of them.

[JGuenther]

To the original poster.....

Regardless of whether they will test for nicotine in your hair or not, you should have a talk with your husband about not smoking in the house. It's a reasonable request from a loved one.

[Purple_Scrubs, BSN, RN]

Do these hair tests really pick up on occasional second hand smoke? If you have dinner at a sports bar that is not no-smoking, or attend a family gathering with smokers, are you really going to test positive? If so, then that seems like overkill. I mean, you could stuck at the bus stop next to a rude smoker and test positive.

But, if the test only picks up on a person's own smoking or CHRONIC second hand smoke, then I am all for it. I'm sorry, but when you live with a smoker, you often come to work reeking of smoke. That is not good for many of your patients, not to mention co-workers. I grew up in a smoke filled house and have never even taken a drag from a cigarette myself. Once I moved out and was away from it for a while, I developed a serious reaction to it when I am reintroduced to it. And yes, it has happened due to co-worker's clothing.

I only wish they would pass the same regulations concerning heavy perfumes and cologne. There is a teacher at my school whose perfume gives me a migraine every time she steps into my office.

[nursel56]

:)

I can understand how bizarre this situation must appear to anyone who is not familiar with current hospital regulatory requirements. All hospitals are actually required to be completely smoke free. This means no 'smoke shelters' anywhere on the campus.

So - just how much time away from work it takes to scurry outside to somewhere off campus to find a place to smoke. In my experience, these people are not clocking out... just 'disappearing' for a while. Now, imagine what it must be like to be a non-smoker . . . to periodically realize that your co-workers have vanished and won't be back until they have obtained their nicotine fix (been there, have the t-shirt). What effect does this have on patient safety & quality? Hmmm. Would you choose to work under those circumstances?

As a result, many hospitals are simply not hiring smokers. This is not 'discrimination' because smoking is not a recognized disability nor does smoking put you into an EEOC protected category (e.g., age, race, gender, sexual orientation). Deliberately lying on an employment application is pretty much grounds for temination with any employer.

As nurses, I think we will always have plenty of serious peroblems to get upset about - issues that have a negative effect on patient care or professionalism. This isn't one of them.

I understand this. However, if someone is exposed to secondhand smoke, or uses a nicotine-based quit smoking drug, or is a home health nurse taking care of someone who's family smokes, or who's fiance smokes, or lives next door to a smoker, or goes to a family gathering where everyone smokes-- she's not going to be able to get a job? I'm referring to the OP's original post and some of the issues raised here by others. I'm sure there are lots of scenarios that could result in a non-smoker's inadvertent exposure to second-hand smoke.

[Adams_Mama_07]

Well, in response to the exposure of second hand smoke and having to go to work and smell it on people's clothes--or whatever--I say this---my fiance smokes (like a freight train) but not in the house (we have a two year old). However, I'm frequently around him outside, riding in the car (while he has the windows down), while he smokes. I also go to places where people smoke. I also walk down the street and pass by smokers. However, my clothes do not "reek" of cigarette smoke because I do not do it and it isn't done in the house. But it would be completely discriminatory not to hire me (a non-smoker/doesn't smell like cigarettes/and isn't constantly surrounded by 2nd hand smoke) beause I sometimes socialize around smokers. Rediculous. I'm glad I live in a rural area in the home of tobaccoland where they if they refused to hire smokers--the hospital would be hardly staffed at all. All of a sudden them new grad RN positions would be popping up all over the place again. :wink2:

[~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN]

Well, in response to the exposure of second hand smoke and having to go to work and smell it on people's clothes--or whatever--I say this---my fiance smokes (like a freight train) but not in the house (we have a two year old). However, I'm frequently around him outside, riding in the car (while he has the windows down), while he smokes. I also go to places where people smoke. I also walk down the street and pass by smokers. However, my clothes do not "reek" of cigarette smoke because I do not do it and it isn't done in the house. But it would be completely discriminatory not to hire me (a non-smoker/doesn't smell like cigarettes/and isn't constantly surrounded by 2nd hand smoke) beause I sometimes socialize around smokers. Rediculous. I'm glad I live in a rural area in the home of tobaccoland where they if they refused to hire smokers--the hospital would be hardly staffed at all. All of a sudden them new grad RN positions would be popping up all over the place again. :wink2:

Hmmmmm I can always smell it on people when they are around smokers and not the ones smoking. In fact, last week after our exam we have to go outside or somewhere else other then the hallways outside of class and so I went outside with everyone, there was a group of girls smoking so I was talking with them about the exam. I got back into class and I had to take off my hoodie because it reeked of smoke and I couldn't stand it. So I have to disagree with your statement regarding that aspect.

[Adams_Mama_07]

Hmmmmm I can always smell it on people when they are around smokers and not the ones smoking. In fact, last week after our exam we have to go outside or somewhere else other then the hallways outside of class and so I went outside with everyone, there was a group of girls smoking so I was talking with them about the exam. I got back into class and I had to take off my hoodie because it reeked of smoke and I couldn't stand it. So I have to disagree with your statement regarding that aspect.

I'm not saying that people who are exposed to second hand smoke never smell like cigarette smoke. I'm saying I don't, and to not hire me because tracing of nicotine metabolite would be excreted in my urine because in the evenings, during my off time, I elect to spend time around my fiance. I am always about smelling top notch (looking top notch, dressing top notch, driving top notch, etc.) I shower twice a day (including washing my hair) then would immediately change into clinical uniforms and head to the hospital. Obviously I would not be smelling like cigarette smoke because I don't smoke and would not be around someone who does at 6:00 in the morning (if people are smart no one will be around me at that hour). Other shifts would be the same story because I always shower before going to work--so whether it be 3 in the afternoon, 11 at night, whatever. I would shower, dress for work, and leave without be smoked upon. So, not hiring me would be completely discriminatory (not in the disability sense, but the moral sense) because

A) I don't smoke B) I don't know how to smoke even if I tried C)My exposure to cigarette smoke is while dressed in everyday attire (not hospital attire) D) My hair is always washed before leaving the house (no exceptions) so it doesn't smell like smoke (it acutally smells like fruity suave stuff even now six hours later... So, my health is not at risk because my exposure is limited sitting outside on the patio with a smoker and I'm not carrying the stench with me in hospital clothing.