Smokers need not apply?

[RainMom]

So I've reached my 2 year mark & getting a little restless, toying with the idea of moving into a different dept or facility. I was looking at a website for another hospital & they have posted that they will no longer hire anyone that uses nicotine which will be screened for during the employment physical. Not an issue for me, but I found the bold underlined statement a little jarring. I understand that in healthcare we want to promote healthy lifestyles, but dictating personal legal habits to employees is a bit of a push don't you think? Is this common in other areas & just reaching my neck of the woods?

[applewhitern, BSN, RN]

We hire tobacco users. We are a no-smoking campus, so the smokers must leave the premises before lighting up. I am allergic to the smoke, and when the smokers get near me, I instantly start tearing, coughing, and get stopped up. It clings to their clothes and hair and makes me ill. The patients can smell the smoke on them, too, and it is kinda hard to teach anti-smoking stuff when the staff reeks of it.

[julz68]

Our hospital went smoke free back in 2009. Everyone had one year notice and the smokers were offered free scripts of Chantix.

[Do-over, ASN, RN]

My employer is no longer hiring smokers. I have heard all of the slippery-slope arguments, but I can't say I am sorry about it. The fewer stinky co-workers, the better. Once my sense of smell returned after I quit smoking I was appalled to realize how bad I must have smelled.

PS - Yes, smokers, you smell like smoke. Even after the body spray in the locker room.

[Caribbean Character]

No discrimination is present -- smokers are not a protected class.

Neither were blacks 50 years ago, did that make segregation any less discrimination?

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

I for one RESENT my employer in my PERSONAL BUSINESS at home.

EVERY law that is passed for our own good..TAKES AWAY a FREEDOM.

We are NOT supposed to live in a POLICED STATE.

Land of the FREE home of the BRAVE....?

I'm not so sure anymore......

[NurseCard, ADN]

I for one would love to work in a facility such as the one the OP mentioned... and yes I am a non smoker.

At the last facility that I worked, people taking too many smoke breaks for too long was a HUGE problem.

At a facility where I recently interviewed... you could actually smell the smoke inside the facility, though people went outside to smoke.

Fortunately I'm about to start working in HH, so I don't have to worry about putting up with coworkers'breaks any more. =) =)

[Do-over, ASN, RN]

But.... this is not a law. An employer is not the government.

And, really, I think comparing an employer banning smoking to racial segregation a little extreme.

[SoldierNurse22, BSN, RN]

Neither were blacks 50 years ago, did that make segregation any less discrimination?

Oh please. You can't help what color of skin you're born with. Addicted or not, a person at one point made a conscious decision to smoke. If they continue to do so, they're making a decision to continue and not attempt to quit. To compare an activity like smoking to the color of a person's skin is beyond ridiculous.

[dseem13]

Oh please. You can't help what color of skin you're born with. Addicted or not, a person at one point made a conscious decision to smoke. If they continue to do so, they're making a decision to continue and not attempt to quit. To compare an activity like smoking to the color of a person's skin is beyond ridiculous.

Agreed. Our hospital is a non smoking campus, but we still hire employees that smoke. I understand and support employers for not hiring smokers. It costs them more money in health insurance and can affect your coworkers and patients. It stinks, and for some people can be extremely irritating/make them sick. I think that's what differentiates smoking from obesity and alcohol use. Smoking affects those around you, while as long as you are physically capable of your job and don't come to work with alcohol in your system, it doesn't affect your coworkers/patients (albeit still increases health care costs to the employer).

[RNinCLE, ADN, BSN]

My facility has not hired smokers for several years. (I think we may have been one of the first to do this.) Anyone who was already working there and smokes is offered free smoking cessation programs.

[llg, PhD, RN]

My employer doesn't hire smokers either.

1. Less residual smoke on clothes, in hair, etc. to bother patients

2. Less problems with "smoking breaks"

3. Less health risk to help keep insurance costs down (lower increases)

We also have to undergo yearly health screenings and document appropriate follow-up (provided for free) or pay extra for our health insurance.

[Despareux]

If you want to smoke outside of your working hours, then that is your business; especially since, tobacco is a legal substance. But when you come to work then you absolutely should not be allowed to smoke on the premises or be allowed to smell of smoke. There are far too many patients who are barely balancing on the edge of resp. distress (especially during flu/cold season) and the last thing they need is a trigger.