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:

Specializes in LTC Pharmacy.
(I think there are too many laws against smoking, so I'm surprised that the government doesn't just ban the sale and distribution of tobacco.)

I support a government ban on the sale and distribution of tobacco. Each year as many more laws are past we become closer to that eventuality. [/quote]

WAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!! Look up the Volstead Act. That worked really well.

People who think morals and thought processes can be legislated make me scratch my head.

People are GOING to smoke, drink, speed, whatever, in spite of (because of?) any law the gooberment chooses to pass.

When we as a society start making people personally accountable for their actions, such as the consequences of smoking, rather than allowing our healthcare costs to be impacted because of it, you may begin to see a change.

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relying on the govt to stop people from smoking is like...well, I can't think of a proper metaphore. The govt subsidises tobacco farmers. They then tax the farmers' income. Then the govt collects taxes on each pack of cigs. If everyone stopped smoking tomorrow, tobacco farmers would go broke, cig makers would go broke, hundreds of people (cig factory workers, etc) would be out of work and collecting unemployment, and the govt would have to find some other way to raise the amount of revenue lost on cig taxes!

More appropriate to this thread is my original thought that if a nurse does his/her job, why do I care what that nurse does to his/her health? Many of us make poor health choices every day (I had cookie dough & coffee for breakfast) and have our own addictions (take my coffee....I bite your arm off!).

The last place I worked had a lot of smokers. Another nonsmoking nurse and I took "fresh air" breaks. None of the smokers complained or refused to watch our pts. None of the smokers would run out if it was chaotic and neither did we. Of course there were nights when nobody got breaks of any kind...then the nicotine gum would come out.

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Specializes in ER/Ortho.
(I think there are too many laws against smoking, so I'm surprised that the government doesn't just ban the sale and distribution of tobacco.)

I support a government ban on the sale and distribution of tobacco. Each year as many more laws are past we become closer to that eventuality. [/quote]

WAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!! Look up the Volstead Act. That worked really well.

People who think morals and thought processes can be legislated make me scratch my head.

People are GOING to smoke, drink, speed, whatever, in spite of (because of?) any law the gooberment chooses to pass.

When we as a society start making people personally accountable for their actions, such as the consequences of smoking, rather than allowing our healthcare costs to be impacted because of it, you may begin to see a change.

Gooberment !!!!! I love it.

Thanks for making me laugh. George Bush runs the Gooberment! Sounds about right doesn't it. lol

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Specializes in Case Manager, LTC,Staff Dev/NAT Instr.

I don't think we should flame people according to their habits we all have flaws....I am not a smoker nor do I like inhaling it...never have smoked a day in my life however dx with Sarcoidosis, now in remission 4yrs strong Thank God my pet peeve is, do not allow your frequent smoke breaks to reflect the lack of care for your pts..this doesn't apply to all nurses that smokes...

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I believe that I have no right to expect others to abstain/refrain from smoking.

Just as no one else has any right to expect me to behave in a certain way.

So what if it's harmful/addictive/etc! We all know it! But some people do it anyway. It's their choice, so pardon the punn, but BUTT OUT!

I'm a non smoker, but I have my own share of vices that I'm quite happy to continue with too. So smokers, I'm on your side! Enjoy those ciggies while you still can.

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I do not care if a nurse smokes. That is his/her problem. However, they should not smell like smoke when caring for patients. It is almost impossible not to smell like smoke if they come right back inside after smoking.

The other issue is the extra breaks they take. That should not be allowed.

Smoke on your scheduled breaks and that is all.

Our hospital is now a smoke free campus. If people want to smoke (visitors and employees) they have to leave the campus or smoke in the parking lot in their car with the windows UP! No way you can not smell like smoke doing that. Plus if they come back in smelling like smoke they could be asked to leave! Like that is going to happen! We are already probably working short.

It does not change the way I feel about the person. I feel sorry for them. I quit smoking years ago when I was younger. It is possible to quit. You have to want it badly enough. Many smokers enjoy smoking and, while they say they want to quit, they don't really WANT to but they know they should. That is one thing that makes it so hard.

Keep trying!!!

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Thank you LoriS, I totally agree with you. A friend of mine from work was VERY sick this past winter and was a heavy smoker. I mean every minute on the minute--outside to smoke. Guess what? She quit!! She is on the unit with me working instead of leaving me alone.:yeah:

Well, give her a hug for me and tell her You Go Girl! :)

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Specializes in Oncology/Haemetology/HIV.

As long as people smoke, I will ALWAYS have a job!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Carolina, the oncology nurse.

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Horrible.

I need to know how a hospital can ban perfume because they say it's offensive to those with respiratory issues, however, allow nurses or any healthcare professional, work when they come back from outside and you can smell them from 10 feet away so bad that if you are allergic, it makes your nose itch.

Even worse...puff away in a car so you can REALLY get the stinch concentrated before walking back inside.

People that smoke don't realize how the odor stays on you for hours after you come back.

I also agree with no extra breaks for smokers...it's a drug addiction...love it or hate it, and it's not fair to those of us who choose not to smoke, that smokers get "extra time off" during the day to feed the habit.

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Specializes in Medical Surgical.

I used to smoke, and I can tell when a nurse comes in smelling like a fresh cigarette and it really turns my stomach. I quiet after smoking for 24 years and I am thankful that I picked the right time in my life to let that habit go. BUT, I will never tell someone to quit it really is a personal choice but I agree if I can not wear perfume at work because I may put someone into an asthma attack then smokers better come in smelling fresh and clean. I love Febreeze and I used it a lot when I still smoked so I would recommend it to all smoking medical staff. I doesn't cover with a strong oder but it does cut the smoke smell.

Bertina

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Specializes in ICU/Critical Care.

I don't care if a nurse smokes. That's their preferance. But I find it a bit contradictory for a nurse who smokes to be teaching smoking cessation to a patient.

Anyhow, we're not all perfect.

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I find it ridiculous that people who spend their day working around the smells of urine and feces as well as the occasional charred flesh and internal body smell would make an issue about the smell of cigarettes.

These people need to foucs on their own weaknesses and leave others alone.

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