Nurses smoking e cigs at the station?

[richardgecko]

I've been seeing this a lot lately and I think it's unprofessional. Even saw a pregnant nurse doing it. Are nurses allowed to use them in your facility?

[wellcoachRN]

The facility that I work for moved from smoke free to nicotine free several years ago. We have a clear no e-cig policy. I do remember nurses telling me over the years that the nurses used to be allowed to smoke at the nurses station years ago.

[CT Pixie, BSN, RN]

I've never seen nor heard of anyone doing it IN the hospital. However, there were several who would do it on hospital property (strict NO smoking in and on hospital property, including the parking garages and sidewalks). Then I overheard a nurse asking HR about the policy of e-cigs and questioned whether or not they were allowed on hospital property even though they were 'smokeless'. There was no official policy in our handbook. Not long after, there was a memo sent ammending the policy to include smokeless (ie:e-cigs).

[imintrouble, BSN, RN]

I'm such a cynic. My hospital wouldn't allow it simply because of how it looked.

People puffing of cigarettes is a negative optic. It doesn't look professional.

I've always believed eliminating smoke breaks was more about money, than about health.

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

Since smoking on the units was prohibited YEARS AGO....I have never seen anywhere where this is allowed.

[Ruas61, BSN, RN]

E-cigs are an alternative to cigarettes but are not a stop smoking aide.

I know more people who use them as a intermittent substitute than not.

They can get their fix more discretely.

Here in my city, they are banned in all situations like regular cigarettes. As they should be in my opinion.

I would rather see someone using an e-cig than a regular one but the best thing is someone not sucking on either.

I spent over 20 years smoking- been off them for over 5 years now.

I am sure someone will argue otherwise.

Vaping like cigarettes is a habit or addiction not an unalienable right. Take it outside or to the designated area- not your work area.

[caliotter3]

If I can't take care of my chocolate fix because eating candy bars is not allowed at the nurses station, then nicotine addicts should not be allowed to obtain their nicotine fix at the nurses station either. "Smoking" is "smoking" and should not be allowed per policy.

[Katie71275]

Very unprofessional. We have a no smoking campus and that includes e-cigs.

[PacoUSA, BSN, RN]

I must be the only nurse who has worked at two different hospitals so far in my career and ALWAYS sees crushed cigarette butts under the No Smoking Allowed on the Hospital Campus signs! :/

[caliotter3]

I must be the only nurse who has worked at two different hospitals so far in my career and ALWAYS sees crushed cigarette butts under the No Smoking Allowed on the Hospital Campus signs! :/

I watched the maintenance manager post a "No Smoking" sign in the hallway leading to the stairs at my apartment building. A few hours later, I also observed the usual smokers smoking away in their usual positions in view of the sign. To this day, the cigarette butts continue to be placed in and around the area of, right underneath even, the "No Smoking" sign. People tend to realize when they can make fun of the rules.

[kbrn2002, ADN, RN]

I am kind of surprised this is still allowed. Seems most places are now including e-cigs in their non-smoking policy.

[ixchel]

A CNA was walking around the unit recently vaping. Blew my mind. The problem I've been finding with ecigs is that people think they're acceptable just because they smell better than smoke. My husband does this. Every time he does, I see red. No amount of nagging makes him stop, either. They still have chemicals, they're still second hand "smoke", and no, it will never be okay to do in the hospital or in my house thankyouverymuch.

[caliotter3]

I just don't find the image of a nurse chugging on an e-cig to be aesthetically pleasing, or fitting my mental image of a professional. This ain't the '50's anymore, when you saw rampant cig smoking on TV. Gotta look at some ancient footage to see if I see nurses chugging on cigs at the nurses station on any of those doctor shows from way back!