Not hired if you smoke?

Nurses General Nursing

Published

I was watching the news today and seen where a particular health care business were not hiring anyone that does not pass the nicotine test, but they are not firing the ones that have been there and smoke. Just thought I would see what everyones opinion is on it.

I've looked over quite a few pages and haven't seen anything being posted on this, so if it is I apologize. I just did not see it.

Specializes in med-surg, ID, #, ED.

In Singapore, there is a certain hospital that doesn't hire obese nurses. If your BMI is above like 25 or smth, you will not be hired.

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Specializes in Emergency Dept. Trauma. Pediatrics.
I just wanted to say Im in Florida and I'm not sure if they are doing the nicotine test but I know the hospitals are becoming "Non-Smoking Facilities" now. To me I believe that there has to be a reason behind all of this but I believe that it is wrong, They are not only taking the smoking thing away from nurses and staff they are also taking the priviliges away from the citizens and that is wrong. But I guess its the law (Dont know which one and didnt think theyre was such law but I guess so) and also just because nurses smoke does not mean that they cant be professionals when needed!:igtsyt:

Allowing smoking on the facility property is taking away the rights of the patients there wanting to get healthy. It's a hospital. A place where the sick go to try and get healthy. They shouldn't have to be subjected to people smoking all over the place. Alcohol is legal and many establishments do not serve it. Is that infringing on the rights of those that want to drink? Banning smoking inside of public places is great law IMO. How nice is it I can now take me and my kids shopping or out to eat without having to inhale everyones smoke.

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Specializes in Leadership, Psych, HomeCare, Amb. Care.

Originally Posted by Shannon2009

I just wanted to say Im in Florida and I'm not sure if they are doing the nicotine test but I know the hospitals are becoming "Non-Smoking Facilities" now. To me I believe that there has to be a reason behind all of this but I believe that it is wrong, They are not only taking the smoking thing away from nurses and staff they are also taking the priviliges away from the citizens and that is wrong.

Allowing smoking on the facility property is taking away the rights of the patients there wanting to get healthy. It's a hospital. A place where the sick go to try and get healthy. They shouldn't have to be subjected to people smoking all over the place. Alcohol is legal and many establishments do not serve it. Is that infringing on the rights of those that want to drink? Banning smoking inside of public places is great law IMO. How nice is it I can now take me and my kids shopping or out to eat without having to inhale everybodies smoke.

:cheers:

Yes. Patients and employers should be the recipient of 2nd hand smoke. Believe it or not, when I was a nursing student, when I walked into the hospital the receptionist/volunteer at the front desk would be puffing away, the smoke wafting across the hall that one had to pass through to enter. There was a smoking & a nonsmoking cafeteria up till the time it closed; ~15 years ago.

We must set the standard of health. and set the example. Alcohol is legal, but patients generally can't drink while there, and employees are usually prohibited from bringing it onsite. I don't care if people smoke or not, but not on campus.

And Shannon you described smoking as a privilege, and that's what it is: a privilege, not a right. Not having to breathe someone else's smoke? That, is a Right.

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Allowing smoking on the facility property is taking away the rights of the patients there wanting to get healthy. It's a hospital. A place where the sick go to try and get healthy. They shouldn't have to be subjected to people smoking all over the place. Alcohol is legal and many establishments do not serve it. Is that infringing on the rights of those that want to drink? Banning smoking inside of public places is great law IMO. How nice is it I can now take me and my kids shopping or out to eat without having to inhale everybodies smoke.

Agree :) I remember smoking IN patient rooms back when AIDS was "new", and patients could smoke in the rooms- the nurses would take breaks in the rooms with AIDS patients since most of their families had bailed on them- they were lonely. But it was lousy for the patients who didn't smoke. And I was one of the nurses who smoked.

I "get" the stuff about nicotine testing- that is going too far imo. They can raise the insurance premiums, and make it a win-win situation; those with higher risks pay more (and do it for other things too- if someone who is diabetic doesn't keep their A1C decent, up the rates- I'm diabetic; would have made sense to charge me more if I'm not compliant; things like heart disease and cholesterol are a bit trickier since meds/compliance are sometimes more difficult (more variations in cardiac disease)- and harder to follow than nicotine levels and A1Cs.... but an overall lipid panel could be some sort of gauge....IF there are reasons that the numbers don't settle into an acceptable range, and a doc can justify it- then allowances could be made for some situations. (All of the absolute thinking is nutty in any subject other than needing oxygen consistently, and dead people stay dead).

A smoker can go somewhere to smoke; a non-smoker can't find anyplace in a smoke-tolerant facility that doesn't stink. Those air cleaners they used to use (?maybe still do in some corner of the world?) were pathetic.

That doesn't even begin to touch on the second hand smoke info that keeps coming out.

Don't like the facility policy? Don't work there...seems pretty simple :) OR, quit- live long enough to stay p-o'd about it :lol2:

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You know, I was originally upset about the whole ban on smoking in public places thing--not the hospitals and stores and offices etc., but mostly about the ban in bars and casinos. I still feel that an owner of a place should and could if they wanted, create a seperate smoking area that is totally isolated from the rest of the building. I use to smoke and no longer do so, but even when I did, I couldn't believe how people would smoke in laundry mats and other places (god forbid a hospital) without regard for anybody else. Smoking in a hospital is just stupid and just plan wrong.

But, some people don't have common sense, and will do stupid things because they can, which then causes a law to mad for these stupid people to obey without being discriminatory.

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Specializes in ER, ICU.

They don't in CO, but I'm sure it is the wave of the future. I think it is also about modeling healthy lifestyles. I took an intensive occupational exam to work at my current job, one that if you weren't in pretty good physical shape, you would probably fail.

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I live in Alabama. At my hospital your insurance is way more expensive if you smoke and we have to do a nicotine test and sign a contract.

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Specializes in Emergency Dept. Trauma. Pediatrics.
They don't in CO, but I'm sure it is the wave of the future. I think it is also about modeling healthy lifestyles. I took an intensive occupational exam to work at my current job, one that if you weren't in pretty good physical shape, you would probably fail.

I think it's coming in CO near future. Especially since we are the skinniest state in the country. They aren't going to want to lose that title and will want to display how healthy we are in the hospitals. I have heard of a health system that is headed this way in my area. Coloradoians are dedicated health nuts!!! These crazy people will be jogging in a blizzard or in temps in the teens and the gym parking lot will be full still during a massive snow storm.

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Specializes in geriatrics.

As a former smoker, I can appreciate both opinions on the subject. However, even back when I was a smoker, I respected the fact that many people did not want to inhale my smoke. Patients who are already compromised do not need the pollutants from second hand smoke.

When I was a nursing student, the facility had been smoke free for a few years. We had one nurse who used to disappear for extra breaks when we were in the step down unit. Very unfair when the patients are critical. I can see many reasons why an employer refuses to hire a smoker. One, many smokers take extra breaks. Two, it stinks. Three, more sick days.

I smoked for 18 years and quit the year before nursing school. I'm very glad I did.

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I personally don't think this is a good policy..what someone does outside of their job - off campus, is their business...as long as it's not effecting their job. For insurance companies to state or hospitals to state someone who smokes is more ill than others,take time off etc. I beg to differ..what about those who drink too much? Or struggle with depression? Where I worked before the smokers knew the campus was non-smoking but the call offs were almost 100% nurses with children who had child care or child related illness situations. I can't see how someone who smokes cost the hospital/insurance more in loss time and insurance than someone who is calling off because of a sick child and using the insurance there. Now, my personal stance on smoking is I do not smoke, never have and have lost both my parents to lung cancer...both were smokers from the time they were teenagers and before we knew the dangers...yes, they tired to quit, no I don't think it's all just a will power thing..I think like gambling, alcohol, drugs..addictions can form and do so in some people. As far as employers not hiring smokers...I don't know..this, to me, is tap dancing on a persons personal freedom to choose outside the hospital setting. I agree w/smoke free campus, restaurants etc. because 2nd hand smoke can and does, in those situations, effect others..but, a nurse driving to or from work smoking in their car? I just don't see it being an issue.

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Marshall1,

I agree that what someone does at home is their own business...and that other issues cause time off from work; smoking alone doesn't guarantee anything :) But the insurance companies are pooled- and everyone gets the cost of lung diseases.... (and heart disease, etc).

I don't like the idea of nicotine testing...but I sort of understand it.

But, someone who smokes in the car on the way to work stinks like smoke. Someone who is in the grocery store who smokes sticks out like a green cloud follows them. Just do :)

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
When you're 22 you can afford to "see no problem with it." Wait a few years when you've started to develop some health issues. Thin, smoke-free people with normal BPs are not guaranteed to be or remain healthy. In the meantime, employers across the country will continue to shift their policies to add more diseases and conditions to the exclusion list, while at the same time wages will go down, with insurance premiums and extra fees continuing to rise. At 22, people tend to feel that that disease and bad health are so far off that they don't have to worry about it, but it happens quicker than you think.

I agree.....Ahhhh...the ignorance and the arrogance of youth.....:cool:

IT IS DISCRIMINATION!!!!

It as much discrimination as not hiring someone because they are black, Asian, American Indian, Muslim, or Gay. It's discrimination plain and simple.....and it's wrong.

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