Nurses Smoking

merellis2009 · Apr 15, 2008

As a patient when I've smelled smoke on my nurse, it automatically causes me to see them as less professional (not by intention but just because it's how I reacted.) As a nurse now, if my coworker smokes, I know them personally and don't necesarily see them as less professional, but rather I kinda feel sorry for them.

RainDreamer, BSN, RN · Apr 15, 2008

Would you see them as less professional if you saw them eating a Big Mac?

catnip · Apr 15, 2008

Every one has a vice, be it whatever, for some its smoking, for some its drinking on the weekends, for some its far worse. Quitting is hard, many fail, if they didnt there would not be so many companies offering and making millions off "new" ways to quit. I find hypocrits to be the worst, dont stand there and tell someone that smoking is bad for their health and is going to kill them when you yourself could stand to lose a couple hundred pounds, or as in one case, when your asking them for a ride because you lost your liscense d/t a DUI. Judge not, lest ye shall be judged yourself. If the smell bothers you, nicely offer a tic tac or gum, but dont try to humiliate them.

2bTraumaRN2008 · Apr 15, 2008

I am a smoker and I must say that i LOVE it. I enjoy my cigarettes. I am not permitted to smoke at work (smoke-free facility) but I do smoke tons of cigs going to work and home from work. I have an hour drive so I get plenty in.

Now, on the other hand, why make all these places smoke free? It's discrimination in my opinion. Alcohol is legal and the drunks drive, so why not allow the smokers to smoke. It's our health that were endangering. I have no problem walking far away from buildings for all of you who don't want to be around it. Also, we breathe in this nasy air everyday and that is perfectly okay, I don't get it.

JENNLEE · Apr 15, 2008

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)

i understand.....i am new to this and honestly...did not feel like surfing through pages and pages of threads to find it....

so i just started a new one.

JENNLEE · Apr 15, 2008

I think they are being a hyprocite by smoking.
I don't look down on them for smoking.
However I find it strange, Just like if you see a minister at the horse track betting and cussing....
A nurse has a image they are suppose to uphold, and being a smoker is not part of that image.

everyone is a hypocrite.....

we are all human...

noone is perfect.

coolpeach · Apr 15, 2008

I think they are being a hyprocite by smoking.

Then all nurses would ALWAYS need to eat right, NO junk food at all. They would need to be in their weight range not over or under weight in the slightest. They would have to exercise several times a week, and have just the right body tone. Not to mention no drinking, no tanning, and organic or no makeup. In addition a solid 8 hours of sleep EVERY night, and it had better be with your 1 sexual partner who you didn't have sex with until after you were married, and used codoms until they were tested for every possible disease. When you go out you must wear SPF 50 sunblock, and a giant hat.

We are all human, and I am sure most everyone does things they know that are unhealthy. Maybe you overeat, eat junk more than you should, don't eat enough or enough of the right foods. Maybe your overweight, underweight or even the perfect weight, but never exercise and your heart, and body are in poor shape. Maybe your thing is sitting in the sun without sunblock, or going to the tanning salon, wearing makeup thats bad for your skin, getting plastic surgery, impants or tatoos. Have you had sex with more than one person, or a one night stand, or didn't insist that someone wear a condom in your life. Maybe you drink more often than you should, or when you have drank got a little more than tipsy. Did you make sure that even though you didn't feel tipsy you were not over the the breathalizer limit before driving home at the last christmas party? Are you a slob or a clean freak both of which are bad in their own way. Are you always a good parent, spouse, friend? Do you over shop, or buy one too many lotto tickets or scratch off games?

There are so many ways that as humans we are unhealthy, and smoking is just one of them. Let those without sin cast the first stone, and then I will call them a hypocrite

JENNLEE · Apr 15, 2008

Then all nurses would ALWAYS need to eat right, NO junk food at all. They would need to be in their weight range not over or under weight in the slightest. They would have to exercise several times a week, and have just the right body tone. Not to mention no drinking, no tanning, and organic or no makeup. In addition a solid 8 hours of sleep EVERY night, and it had better be with your 1 sexual partner who you didn't have sex with until after you were married, and used codoms until they were tested for every possible disease. When you go out you must wear SPF 50 sunblock, and a giant hat.
We are all human, and I am sure most everyone does things they know that are unhealthy. Maybe you overeat, eat junk more than you should, don't eat enough or enough of the right foods. Maybe your overweight, underweight or even the perfect weight, but never exercise and your heart, and body are in poor shape. Maybe your thing is sitting in the sun without sunblock, or going to the tanning salon, wearing makeup thats bad for your skin, getting plastic surgery, impants or tatoos. Have you had sex with more than one person, or a one night stand, or didn't insist that someone wear a condom in your life. Maybe you drink more often than you should, or when you have drank got a little more than tipsy. Did you make sure that even though you didn't feel tipsy you were not over the the breathalizer limit before driving home at the last christmas party? Are you a slob or a clean freak both of which are bad in their own way. Are you always a good parent, spouse, friend? Do you over shop, or buy one too many lotto tickets or scratch off games?
There are so many ways that as humans we are unhealthy, and smoking is just one of them. Let those without sin cast the first stone, and then I will call them a hypocrite

you couldn't have said it better. thanks.

Blee O'Myacin, BSN, RN · Apr 15, 2008

I have a reactive airway, so cigarette smoke, body sprays, perfumes and air fresheners all have me reaching for my inhaler.

Our facility is smoke free, so at least I don't have to tell patients that I am not going to take them outside to smoke. I wouldn't take them, and if they were an ICU patient, they weren't allowed anywhere without a portable monitor anyway, so if they insisted and refused a patch, I got out the AMA papers, same goes for the ER now.

But I do like the freedom of not smelling the freshly smoked cigarette on my coworker's clothes. Perfumes to cover it up just make it worse IMO.

What a person chooses to do in their spare time is none of my business.

Blee

FC_boi · Apr 15, 2008

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.

Im a student nurse. Yes it is very true- everybody turns around and looks at me when a topic about smoking comes up, but then it doesnt really matter what they think, i just give em a big ol .

lainith · Apr 15, 2008

I don't criticize smokers mostly because I don't want people belittling me for my own bad habits, particularly those that also have bad effects on my health like smoking does.

I do not like the lingering cigarette smell and it does bother me when people smell like smoke are close by me. I think most smokers who are nurses are conscious of this fact and make an effort to eliminate the odor. I guess it's just the smell more than anything that would bother me as a patient or even co-worker. Otherwise, people make their own choices and if they don't effect me then I guess it's none of my business, is it?

dhigbee · Apr 15, 2008

I don't like the smell, although I can cope with it. What I really don't want any part of is second-hand smoke. See http://www.lungusa.org/site/pp.asp?c=dvLUK9O0E&b=35422

I'm thrilled that more public places are going smoke-free. Smoke in your own domain if you must, but please don't force me to breathe the stuff that comes out of the end of your cigarette. I promise to not force any of you smokers to eat my pecan pie.