Nurses Smoking

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What are your thoughts on a nurse that smokes?

Does it bother you?

Do you look down on them; especially with them being a nurse?

:confused:

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Specializes in Peds, PICU, Home health, Dialysis.

I don't understand why it matters. I am personally a non-smoker and despise the smell of smoke, and it does bother me when a nurse stinks of smoke and is taking care of patients... but nurses are human... some are going to smoke, drink, etc.

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i'm not saying that it matters....

just curious

when i was in nursing school, anytime anything was mentioned about smoking - majority of the class would turn around and look at the smokers and kind of sneer at them.

i feel as though it has become socially acceptable to criticize smokers.

we all have our vices, but it appears to me that smokers tend to take the butt end of it. - no pun.

just curious what everyone's thoughts were. that's all.

thanks.

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The fact that a nurse smokes does not bother me. The smell, however, does.

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if the smell does bother you - does it change how you feel about that person?

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Specializes in ER/Ortho.

I am a smoker, but I am trying quit. I just started taking a drug, and I am also going to use the patch.

I try to be very careful not to smell too much like smoke. I wash my hands, and use body spray after having a cigarette. I have asked people if they can smell smoke on me, and most say "no", and a few said when standing really close to me.

Well one semester I was in A&P, and there was an a women who was in her late 50's, and extremely obese. She had to bring in a regular chair because she could not fit into the desk/seat that were attached that everyone else sat in. She put her chair near me, and sit down. She said OHHHH someone stinks, they smell like smoke thats so gross. She continued on with " I just hate people who smoke they smell so disgusting and on and on". It was so hard to keep my mouth shut. Here she was berating me for my bad habit, and it appeared to me she might have had a bad habit herself.

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Specializes in LTC, Nursing Management, WCC.

I do not care if anyone smokes. It is their decision and their right to do as they wish. It is none of my business what others do.

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Specializes in Cardiac Telemetry, ED.

I hate smoking. Despise it. I have huge issues with corporate executives making their fortune off an addictive substance that kills so many people. But there are many people that I love and care about who smoke. I don't hate the smoker, but I hate the smoking, if that makes sense.

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If you're really interested, I think there's about 50 more threads on this subject.

( I didn't mean that to be sarcastic, I just meant, really, there are several other threads on this issue)

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Specializes in ICU/ER.

If smokers could change one thing I think it would be not to smoke.

Unless your addicted to nicotene you have no idea who hard of a habit it is to kick.

It cost money- lots of money. It is isolating, it is embarassing, it is bad for your heath. It is something people will judge you on. it will ruin your clothes, it will lower the value of your car. I will cost you more in life insurance.

So why do smokers continue to smoke? The headaches, the shakes the feeling of impending doom, the barganing ( I will quite August 1st--I will quite after vacation. I will quite when I get pregnant) the nail biting, the upset stomach, the nervouse eating.

What do I think about nurses that smoke? I feel sorry for them, I am sure given the opportunity to be a smoker or a non smoker, they would chose the later. We need to support and encourage them, not judge them.

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Smoking, I don't have a problem with. Smoke breaks are another issue.

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I just recently quit smoking-3 months ago. I never noticed it smelled before until now. OMG what a stench!!!!! If you smoke you can't smell it-believe me I know. I still can't stand to listen to people complain about smokers. People who drink Beer stink to me, I can smell it in their sweat-it makes me want to throw up. People who eat lots of garlic stink. But you know what This is a free world. Free being the key word-let people do what makes them happy-it's not hurting you if they stink a little. And RNperdiem-everyone should walk outside and take a break-smokers and nonsmokers!!!! You think better after a break

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