no-smoking policies

TazziRN, RN · Nov 17, 2006

We have a no-smoking policy, but there is a restricted area we call "the cage" where employees can go on a smoke break. Nowhere else. Pts who cannot walk to the cage are given the nicotine patch.

MIA-RN1, RN · Nov 17, 2006

We have a no-smoking policy, but there is a restricted area we call "the cage" where employees can go on a smoke break. Nowhere else. Pts who cannot walk to the cage are given the nicotine patch.

yep they took down our employee smoking shelter the other day. We too are offering nicotine patches to our patients. (although not sure how it will be with the nursing mothers).

TazziRN, RN · Nov 17, 2006

nursing mothers should not be smoking, but that's just my pet peeve.

The hospital I used to work at does not allow smoking on campus either. Pts are forbidden to smoke and staff have to go out on the sidewalk off campus.

hogan4736, BSN, RN · Nov 17, 2006

had a fenced off area at my last job...I used to be the greeter nurse, and stood just outside the ER door often, to do greeting...I LOVED pointing to the fenced off area when directing patients where to smoke...I started calling it the cage...Loved the reactions I would get

smoking sucks

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Nov 17, 2006

We've been working toward that goal for awhile, with a HUGE community campaign and large banners and signs all around the hospital announcing that as of Jan 1, there's no smoking for anyone, period. Last summer they took down the Smoke Shack (employee shelter at end of parking lot). There is no smoking within the hospital for anyone; the only difference Jan 1 is going to make is there's going to be no smoking on the grounds at all.

Will be interesting seeing how they're going to enforce it when the current habit is to have people clustered outside the ED, smoking. This includes visitors, people waiting for the ER, etc.

I don't smoke, and hate the smell of it. I can't STAND when I'm taking care of a patient and a family member walks in REEKING of the crap. Can't do anything about that, of course, even with the new policy in effect ("Excuse me, could you leave and SHOWER before returning, please?").

Once employees are barred from smoking in the lot, they'll just move down to Main Street, just off the property, and sit on the public benches. Won't that look nice for the hospital: employees in scrubs, lighting up all along the public street in front of the building.

dragonflyRN · Nov 17, 2006

I am guilty! I am a smoker. I also work nights. Noone takes a lunch break on nights. I take 3-4 smoke breaks per shift, but I don't get a lunch period. I did the day shift at one time. They take 2 15 minute breaks. They also take an hour long lunch break. It's not an option on nights, we work with less staff, doc's are not around...ect. It's just not safe. My hospital is also taking the smoking tent away soon. Whatever they feel they need to do is fine with me. This is when they will pay me for the the 30 minute period of break that I don't have.

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Nov 17, 2006

I'm a nightshifter, too, and the idea of an actual meal break is laughable! Forget leaving the floor, lol....we rarely have time to heat something up AND actually EAT it! Yet, we still lose a half hour of pay for that luxury. And, of course, there's no way we can ever take those two 15 minute breaks....please! There's just no staff to cover; as it is, when the care techs take their breaks (and yes, they do), the nurses run even faster. We're often at 8-9 M/S patients a night, sometimes more.

I can't imagine what a smoker would do on our floor on nightshift! Well, yes I do: quit smoking

BSNtobe2009 · Nov 17, 2006

I think that may be the real purpose of the ban...to make it so inconvenient that employees will quit. I've never smoked so I have no idea of how effective a nicotine patch is. I thank God every day I never started.

HappyNurse2005, RN · Nov 17, 2006

Here, pt's can smoke in the one small designated smoking area only, staff cannot smoke anywere on property, not even in your car which is on hospital property.

same thing at the hospital i just transferred from, though, the employees would walk across the street to stand right under an overpass/bridge. it looked even worse to have a large group congregated together smoking, in plain view of the front door of the hospital and people looking out the windows, instead of in the hidden smoking area for patients.

all4schwa · Nov 17, 2006

a statewide ban just passed and since the only designated areas are enclosed, the whole hospital is going smoke free. i'm all for people getting to take a break and getting off the floor for a minute, but the smell gets to me. pt's, family, members, other nurses... eck!

pluse, working a neuro floor, i tell most of my patients they cannot go out under any circumstances (i can only image the possibilities)...now it'll be a lot easier and with fewer arguments.

miko014 · Nov 17, 2006

We're going smoke-free as of January 1st also. Another large hospital in the area is already smoke free, and the pts/visitors and staff are actually walking down the street to smoke! It's probably about a quarter of a mile or so away. I guess the ones who can't walk are just using the patch. I'm looking forward to being smoke-free, but I think I might have to call off for a couple of months, lol. I work with several heavy smokers...it's not going to be fun when they're in withdrawal!