Shopping for scrubs this morning, and yes I'll be the first to admit I smoke. Friend walks up to me and says "Aren't you a nurse??? Don't you know what that does to your body???"
Ok, now I'm not giving it to my patients or blowing it in their faces..... and I know what I'm doing to my body.
Does anyone else know why nurses are frowned upon for smoking?? Yes, I do plan on quitting, but I don't want to RIGHT this second b/c I passed my boards.....
I've been smoking less than a year, and it was mainly due to being very stressed out and depressed at the time. it started with just a few cigarettes a week but escalated to over a pack a day.
I've been weening myself off of them, but I can assure you after being a non-smoker for 21 years and being a smoker the rest... it's probably the hardest thing to do in the world to quit.
I've also encountered many many people that think because they don't smoke and I do that they have a "Right" to tell me where to shove it and every opinion they have on it.
I'll give an example. about 2 and half months ago at a local Fair they had a section of the park that people could smoke and such. Well there happened to be some middle aged non smokers in the area that insisted I get away from them and get down wind of everyone else. I told the woman that initially said the first one liner, that this is the only place in the park that I can smoke and I'm sorry if the wind was blowing it at her, so I proceeded to get as far away from her as I possibly could. She then responds "all you people are the same, you don't care what you do to yourself or others around you" Well this could be further from the truth, when I'm going to my nursing classes or just walking around school smoking a cigarette I speed up to get away from people so they won't get it in their face, or risk being late by getting far behind people in front of me for the same reason. I never throw the butts on the ground and make it a must to put them in the appropriate places.
So all I guess I'm really saying is before you start casting stones, think about some of the things you do and try not to say rude things to smokers or anyone and be their judge. Just because you don't smoke doesn't mean you can bombard them with rude comments and your opinions, it just doesn't give you a certain "right" they're not entitled to. Just because we smoke doesn't mean our feelings don't get hurt when someone is overly rude to us because of our terrible habit. Some of these people casting the stones are some of the same people that get piss drunk and take the chance of driving home risking someone elses life. We all only have one judge and that's God.
Just think about how you would feel before you speak about a situation.
I am the same way. I won't smoke over someone elses house unless they give me permission(and if they dont smoke, I wont even ask!). But thats sooooo true, I don't throw my butts an the ground, and I avoid non-smokers. I don't try to harm anyone's health, and I don't plan on it.
As a former smoker and a RN, here is something of a news flash. I posted a list on our unit asking everyone to place a check beside their name when they went for a break. Yes, the smoker's appeared to have more, but when additional information was added to the list, such as "how much time spent in the kitchen or conference room" the breaks came close to being equal. Misconception, because people who don't smoke don't physically leave the unit, they feel that they didn't get a break. Conclusion: State you are leaving for your assigned break and physically leave the unit.
When I was a smoker. I was smoking outside in a designated area by the front of the hospital. A visitor came pass and made a remark about nurses smoking. I simply replied, "I agree. We all have bad habits: Some smoke and some show their ignorance" Respect is a two way street. As long, as you are a respectful smoker. Your rights should be respected. As nurses we see alot of the weaknesses of others. Smoking is just socially unacceptable and people feel they have the right to attack.
I kinda have a different opinion about smoking. Personally, I enjoy smoking... cigarettes, cigars, even hookas. There is something very relaxing about smoking that you can partially blame on nicatine, but I think I just like the act of smoking. If there was a cigarette that was not addicitive and horribly bad for you I would probably continue to smoke. But, unfortunately there isn't so I smoke only occasionaly. Anyone see where I am coming from?
I certainly do.
I quit smoking over a year ago. I don't do cigarettes.
But a couple of months or so, I stoke up my pipe and enjoy the evening.
One of the first things I did when I moved into my new apartment was light up my pipe, pop open a Yeungling, ate Doritos while watching "Paths To Glory".
I guess you could call me a recreational smoker. I don't do it for the "Nicotine fix" anymore. I do enjoy fine tobacco.
and I know what I'm doing to my body. 
Yes, I do plan on quitting, but I don't want to RIGHT this second b/c I passed my boards..... 
Debbie_LPN
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