Nurses Who Smoke

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I have one question....... WHY?

Specializes in Telemetry, ICU, Resource Pool, Dialysis.

I MIGHT adversely affect your health if I sat next to you and drank.. but you would adversely affect mine if you sat next to me and smoked... I wonder if most smokers ever realize how hostile they are... I would hope that wasn't your attitude all of the time- so much for respecting other people's opinion.. I am glad I am not so closed minded.

I just don't see what is hostile about my reply!!! I don't even think it was defensive! How was I disrespectful of your opinion? Some smokers infringe on your right to clean air, many others don't. There are so many other things that people do that affect other's health. I don't consider myself "closed-minded."

Also, if you chain up a dog and throw rocks at it long enough - it becomes hostile. I think there are many smokers who feel that way.

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I just don't see what is hostile about my reply!!! I don't even think it was defensive! How was I disrespectful of your opinion? Some smokers infringe on your right to clean air, many others don't. There are so many other things that people do that affect other's health. I don't consider myself "closed-minded."

Also, if you chain up a dog and throw rocks at it long enough - it becomes hostile. I think there are many smokers who feel that way.

You throw a rock at me ONCE..I'll get pretty pissed off. :chuckle

Z

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Recently we had serveral patient care surveys returned where patient's parents indicated that they were pleased with the quality of nursing care that their newborns received but were uncomfortable because some of the nurses smelled like cigarettes.

Instead of attacking the smokers (what they do on their breaks is their own business), we asked them for ideas for solving this patient satisfaction issue.

Now they take turns buying Fabreeze to spritz on their uniforms after breaks, of course they were always washing their hands.

Problem solved. No more complaints and everyone is happy.

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Specializes in Telemetry, ICU, Resource Pool, Dialysis.
Recently we had serveral patient care surveys returned where patient's parents indicated that they were pleased with the quality of nursing care that their newborns received but were uncomfortable because some of the nurses smelled like cigarettes.

Instead of attacking the smokers (what they do on their breaks is their own business), we asked them for ideas for solving this patient satisfaction issue.

Now they take turns buying Fabreeze to spritz on their uniforms after breaks, of course they were always washing their hands.

Problem solved. No more complaints and everyone is happy.

Can I work where you work? Or can your administration talk to my administration....preferably in a dark alley, at night!:rotfl:

But seriously, what a great way to deal with the situation. Everybody's rights are respected, and nobody is blamed. There are good solutions to every problem, but unfortunately some people believe they have the right to bypass a compromise in favor of an ultimatum.

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Specializes in Obstetrics, M/S, Psych.
Recently we had serveral patient care surveys returned where patient's parents indicated that they were pleased with the quality of nursing care that their newborns received but were uncomfortable because some of the nurses smelled like cigarettes.

Instead of attacking the smokers (what they do on their breaks is their own business), we asked them for ideas for solving this patient satisfaction issue.

Now they take turns buying Fabreeze to spritz on their uniforms after breaks, of course they were always washing their hands.

Problem solved. No more complaints and everyone is happy.

I agree, great solution oriented approach while keeping the nurses happy at the same time! I have a problem with the ex-smoker or anti-smoker mentality. Some coporations are even firing employees for smoking at home now. This is way too much, IMO. If that, what next?

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You yourself are being pretty closed minded by assuming ALL smokers are inconsiderate as you have said.

Heck, even when I go to Vegas, I won't light up right away at a slot machine/VP machine...I'll sit and kind of watch people around me, and if I know the folks around me don't smoke, I won't either.

I don't think anybody here in this thread is saying anything either about whether or not one has a right to clean air...that's a gimme. We are discussing the issue of our own personal habits.

I said MOST smokers... I would never say all.. I also thank your for being considerate when you smoke not all people are like that.

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Specializes in Oncology/Haemetology/HIV.
Smoking is proven to cause lung cancer........

Unprotected sex, you are playing russian roulette with diseases and pregnancy, but not guarenteed.......

The same could go with occasional drinking and the diet.........But smoking is proven.

It doesn't matter. Nurses have the same self destructive impulses as anyone else.

I have worked in Oncology for at least a decade. I have a father that died of emphysema at age 59. I see my coworkers taking their three and four smoke breaks per shift. And there was a cloud of smoke on the porch of the funeral home during daddy's funeral.

It's called an addiction for a reason.

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Can I work where you work? Or can your administration talk to my administration....preferably in a dark alley, at night!:rotfl:

But seriously, what a great way to deal with the situation. Everybody's rights are respected, and nobody is blamed. There are good solutions to every problem, but unfortunately some people believe they have the right to bypass a compromise in favor of an ultimatum.

Hey - we agree on one thing. I think this is a good idea - I don't think that smokers should be given an ultimatum, while i don't smoke I would never say that people couldn't do it on their own time.. I live in a family of 31 smokers...try doing a holiday with that many smokers and having an opinion about smoking! Then I am the one getting rocks thrown at me!

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Specializes in Telemetry, ICU, Resource Pool, Dialysis.
Hey - we agree on one thing. I think this is a good idea - I don't think that smokers should be given an ultimatum, while i don't smoke I would never say that people couldn't do it on their own time.. I live in a family of 31 smokers...try doing a holiday with that many smokers and having an opinion about smoking! Then I am the one getting rocks thrown at me!

I'm picturing 31 people sitting around puffing... I can see why you feel the way you do. Even I can't stand being in a room where someone's smoking, and I'm a smoker. It's just the broad statements about "most" smokers that gets to me. There are probably more people who smoke only in their own backyard than people who insist on lighting up in public. But we all get blamed. Every time there is some new law, we comply, then that's not good enough so there's another law. What's next? Another Prohibition? Lots of people drink, only some of them drive drunk - but there aren't widespread anti-drinking sentiments. Why can't we just be left to "smoke responsibly?" Money used to be the root of all evil, now I think smoking is.

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It's pretty much PROVEN if you eat a high fat diet you're gonna get FAT and clogged arteries... :uhoh3:

I agree 100%

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Seeing the countless COPD patients and chronic lungers should drive anyone to quit....It just amazes me to see nurses and respiratory therapist who smoke...You know your fate....

It is just as addictive for nurses as it is anyone else. It isn't any easier for us to quit vs. anyone else either.

I know more Respiratory guys who smoke than nurses.

It's no different than why are there nurse alcoholics, obese nurses, drug addicted nurses, junk food junkie nurses, nurses who drive without a seatbelt, or nurses who engage in dangerous physical activity.

How many nurses do you know will overeat fat? A chocolate malt and burger for a typical lunch... the list goes on.

Who *doesn't* know these are not bright things to do?

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Bob me thinks you are bored that's why you started this thread lol

:rotfl:

I was bored at the time, it is true....But why i started it was the fact i saw a nurse and respiratory therapist go out to smoke right after providing care to a vent patient, COPD, who was a chronic smoker.......

I thought, what is something thinking, to go smoke right after caring for a patient with a smoking related illness........

P.S. This patient will most likely die on the vent.

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