Nurses and smoking

[ashleyh_84]

Do you think it is ok if a nurse or a doctor smokes? Because i know when i go to the doctors office with my boyfriend and he tells him that he smokes that he gos on and on of how he shouldnt be smoking at all. But then we go outside and see nurses smoking and such!! So what do you guys think?

[banditrn]

You know, I hear a lot on this board about nurses who take a lot of smoke breaks. I would like to know where they work cause I am lucky to get time to pee at work. I am with ya on not watching someone's pts 5-6 times a day......smoking is not an excuse for getting more breaks than anyone else!

Belinda - I used to work at one of those hospitals where the breaks were split amongst the smokers - but no more. The hospital has completely banned smoking on their campus - even in cars!

They've supposedly hired 'extra security' to patrol the parking lots - and I'm waiting to see what happens when they tell some visitor that they can't smoke in their own car - and the visitor tells them to buzz-off!

[Bluehair]

Smoke on, it's their body and they know what they are doing more than the average joe. BUT - it bugs the heck out of me when working with a heavy smoker. They take WAY more breaks (patient care suffers, and so do we when we have to pick up the slack while they run outside) and they STINK when they come back in. Patients have commented and requested not to have one co-worker take care of them as a result. I've also worked with smokers who worked hard on not having that happen (mints, etc.). If you have to smoke at work then for pete's sake please keep it to a minimum so the rest of us don't have to support your habit.

[AfloydRN, BSN, RN]

Since I am very anti- smoking, I would have to say it is very unprofessional to walk into the hospital( smoke free) and have to pass through the smokers out front. I hate the smell and it gets on my clothes and hair. Patients are also sensitive to smells and probably assume I smoke too.

[Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN]

(Die, thread, die)

[danissa, LPN, LVN]

:uhoh21: Have admitted to using the dreadful stick of poison outside work hours, YES, I know the risks and associated harm to my body, but can't seem to give the god awful habit up! It is a habit, I know I need to break the routine, maybe this year!!! I know that i can last for the 13 or so hours I'm in work, but as soon as the scrubs are off that's me-- old puffin billy again! means that I have to scrub my hair before each shift, and not smoking in the house means my clothes don't stink! Would be absolutely mortified though if some of our babies parents knew that i smoked! People when they find out, never believe that I am the kind of person who would!(What kind of person that is I don't know, but I guess I don't fit their image!)

Anyhoo, our hospital is supposedly smoke free, in the grounds as well, but all around the doorways patients and visitors are still standing smoking, and you know what --I Hate It! Nobody polices this, so it continues and we continue to wade through the fag ends to get into work. This is a hospital, and to pass pregnant women at 7 in the morning out shivering and having a fag is horrible! i never smoked until I was 27 yrs old, would never have done when pregnant with my three babes, how stupid am I now eh? :imbar

[RYNOBLASTER30]

Hey we should be guaranteed our lunches and breaks. That's the law. Whatever you want to do on that break is your decision. On my current travel assignment, we have a large lounge with couches. You see ancillary staff, and nurses alike taking cat naps. Smoking is a personal choice, just like drinking. People are going to do whatever they want, whether that be good/bad. But when you can't breath, please don't ask me for a breathing treatment.

[simbaRN]

I started smoking when I was 15 years old and guess what, my father let me, what the heck was he thinking. Especially, now I have a 16 year old daughter and could'nt comprehend letting her smoke. Im not sure if smoking is a personal choice, but yet a true addiction and wished I never started. I further don't believe comments such as "thanks for the future job security" despite there maybe truth behind this statement. I just heard this yeasterday at work by another nurse due to a patient was an alocholic. People don't wake up oneday and just say "I think I'll start a habit thats hard to break oneday in my life" I do wish smoking was never invented, and wished we all never had this terrible habit.:angryfire I continued to smoke, despite having fissures on my tongue, cila destroyed in my trachea and leuckoplakia in my mouth, because I am addicted. However, I am a B* today because Im on my second day cold turkey! Despite my battle with nictoine I will continue to be a compassionate nurse and may even help patients with this horrible habit, due to being in there shoes. I had this habit years before becoming a nurse. As for the people who quite smoking nor never smoked I thank G-d they quit or never started :) One more thing I realize now how strong smoke really smells, I never noticed it before. This is me today>>

[pedsnrs1]

It's their body but it has nauseated me as a patient to have a nurse or a doctor come in reaking of smoke to care for me. Then they want to tell me that if I dropped 50 lbs the arthritic pain in my knees would decrease. Go figure.

[kenzy]

I too am a smoker, and not proud of it. But I will tell you this we must practice what we preach, and that goes for smoking, over weight dietitian, and anyone else in our profession that gives advice that you blatantly can tell they don't take themselves. There is nothing more upsetting. A prime example of this is I went to the Doc. office cant remember why and saw the nurse practitioner. In my conversation with her I was told that I needed to start exercising and eat right to be an a healthy physical body and mind state. Don't get me wrong I totally agreed with her but sat there for a few seconds to absorb what this women had just said to me. Now let me set the picture. This women was approximately 5 feet 6" and about 280 pounds, I was 5'4" and 115 pounds, now who should be given the advice. The point is I vowed that day that I would not be a hypocrite, I would inform my patience of the risk, but would never tell someone not to do something. I believe that once someone is informed of the risk my job is done it is now up to them. And I will tell you this yes I do try to hide the fact that I do smoke, but if you ask I will be honest.

[CrownHunter]

I have never had a problem with doctors ar nurses that smoke, and I hvae met plenty. I do have a problem wen it is getting in the way of daily tasks, if they smell of smoke at work or if they do not bother o wash their hands after they smoke.... it seems trivial, but their private lives are just that- private. so long as it doesnt interfer with the job who cares?

[new_grad06]

I think there is somewhat of a contradiction in a healthcare worker smoking...

[Sean 91]

We nonsmokers always swear we are going to take up smoking in order to get a break. Smokers take multiple breaks and don't seem to run into any patient issues while they are gone, although sometimes a smoking nurse's IV will beep and I'll clear it, or a smoking aide's patient (no my patient) will need to go to the bathroom and I'll help the patient.

My HCA hospital closed the smoking lounge and banned tobacco use (smoking and chewing) on the grounds (patients--and employees--may have ordered patches) so the employees go to a little park behind the hospital just off the back parking lot. So that means they are gone from the floor for 15-20 minutes, as it takes 5 minutes just to walk out of the building. And they don't scan out as they are supposed to when going off the grounds, so they are still smoking on hospital time. Not quite fair, really, and continues to be a danger to patient safety.