OK Hosp. Smoking Ban

U.S.A. Oklahoma

Published

Effective in November, Oklahoma hospitals are banning smoking COMPLETELY.

No designated areas, no smoking huts, not ANYWHERE on the property, NOTHING at all. Not patients, no employees, not visitors.

What is everyones opinion on that?

It was supposed to have been implemented last year, but at Hillcrest, people seem to have no problem ignoring the signs and lighting up anyway.

The last time I was at St. Francis, the patients (and family) had their own little smoke area right in front of the admit/discharge area.

If it was implemented, it's surely not being enforced. In fact, the other day I was in a pts room and I could have sworn that she was smoking (she was in labor, of course). Since I really didn't have any proof other than my scrubs reeked of cigarette smoke between the nurses station and her room, I didn't say anything. It could have come with the family, whatever.

As a total anti-smoking freak and as someone who is TRULY allergic to cigarette smoke, these bans could be very powerful... IF they were enforced. And that's what makes me mad. :angryfire

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Welcome to my world ! No smoking in the hospitals....the BARS...shopping malls...etc.....the city is opting for an all in city smoking ban.

Z

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Welcome to my world ! No smoking in the hospitals....the BARS...shopping malls...etc.....the city is opting for an all in city smoking ban.

Z

I'm just curious as to how it would be enforced. If it really can't be enforced in an area like a hospital, where there is a good reason for a smoking ban, how would they enforce it city-wide?

Please don't get me wrong, I have Raynaud's phenomenon and it is activated by cigarette smoke. I'm entirely for a ban. But I'm telling you, the smoking ban is not enforced at any of the Tulsa hospitals. At least the ones that I've been around lately.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I'm just curious as to how it would be enforced. If it really can't be enforced in an area like a hospital, where there is a good reason for a smoking ban, how would they enforce it city-wide?

Please don't get me wrong, I have Raynaud's phenomenon and it is activated by cigarette smoke. I'm entirely for a ban. But I'm telling you, the smoking ban is not enforced at any of the Tulsa hospitals. At least the ones that I've been around lately.

The city bar owners fought it tooth and nail but after a year..it was completely normal to not smoke in any bars...public places..etc. You mean your hospital is a smoking hospital? Wierd. :chuckle

The ban is actually making it almost impossible to smoke around anyone anymore. You feel all guilty so the city is banking on this. We have a 500.00 fine if you smoke on the hopital property anywhere but the designated spots.

Pretty hefty fine. Right now Quebec will be trying to enforce the no smoking policy too. Good luck. I can't see THAT working. But who knows.

The bars get fined 10 000.00 if their patrons are caught smoking. THAT'S how they enforce it :)

Z

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I work in Calfornia and LOVE the hospital smoking ban. We don't have coworkers constantly popping out for a smoke. They know they have to walk across the street, so they can only do it on their actual break time. (Imagine that! Not leaving work when you aren't on a break). The family members can also cross the street and light up all they want if that's the coping mechanism they chose, we don't have to allow it on the property. Heck, alcohol is a coping mechanism for many, that doesn't mean they have to do it on hospital grounds. Our ban is enforced by a lot of big security guards:)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I think it is fabulous.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
The city bar owners fought it tooth and nail but after a year..it was completely normal to not smoke in any bars...public places..etc. You mean your hospital is a smoking hospital? Wierd. :chuckle

No, inside the hospital is total non-smoking. But outside the hospital there's still the smoke hut and people absolutely ignore the signs that say "NO SMOKING DUE TO INCOMING AND OUTGOING MEDICAL PATIENTS." It seems to apply to everyone else but them.

I think that if it was enforced by fines, it would work. Hit 'em where it counts, in the wallet instead of security saying "Hey, you can't smoke here." And essentially turn their backs. Like I said, last week a pts room just reeked of smoke. In fact, I'm not sure if the pt was actually smoking (she did not speak English) herself or it was a relative smoking in the bathroom. In that small labor room, I could hardly BREATHE.

I do hope that they do a better job of enforcing the ban. This is one state that needs it.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I work at one of the metro area hospitals and per diem at Edmond Hosp---Their no smoking rules aren't being enforced at all. I see employees sitting on the grass, curbs, in their cars and sneaking around behind the outbuildings-----butts are everywhere. What a nice image to project to patients, job applicants and visitors. My dept. might as well have a revolving door for as many nurses and techs are coming and going all day long to get in their smoke breaks-----come back to the O.R. reeking of smoke. Non-smokers have to pick up their slack and wait for the MIA co-worker to return from their numerous breaks. :angryfire

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Telemetry, ICU, Resource Pool, Dialysis.

Our hospital went smoke free last year - geez, has it been a year?? It's been a challenge, let me tell ya. As far as the visitors smoking, I've been told that security (or any employee) can ask a person to not smoke on hospital property, but they cannot be fined, removed or whatever. Our signs say "thank-you for your voluntary cooperation" That doesn't go for employees, we get 1 write-up, then you're fired. I don't think anybody's been fired, yet.

I agree with the poster who mentioned perfumes and other strong scents. Some of them turn my stomach. I don't have asthma, but if I did, I'm sure it would act up. I can't imagine being ill, stuck in some little hospital room with someone who just poured a bottle of perfume on herself.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I work at one of the metro area hospitals and per diem at Edmond Hosp---Their no smoking rules aren't being enforced at all. I see employees sitting on the grass, curbs, in their cars and sneaking around behind the outbuildings-----butts are everywhere. What a nice image to project to patients, job applicants and visitors. My dept. might as well have a revolving door for as many nurses and techs are coming and going all day long to get in their smoke breaks-----come back to the O.R. reeking of smoke. Non-smokers have to pick up their slack and wait for the MIA co-worker to return from their numerous breaks. :angryfire

What really gets me is this: I'm applying for a clerk position at a local hospital. I have chronic pain issues and I'm on medication. However, at this hospital, I can not take any meds 8 hours before my shift starts or anytime during my shift. This medication is for pain. And the smokers get to take their numerous smoke breaks at any time during an 8 hour shift. How is that fair?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Utilization Management.
I too know that feeling, as perfume is not banned in my workplace.

It sounds like you're saying that smoking shouldn't be banned because perfume hasn't been banned. But two wrongs don't make a right.

Perfume isn't banned because it hasn't been implicated as smoking has, in diseases like cancer that affect such large numbers of people. Apparently far more people prefer perfume than are allergic to it.

However, our hospital uniform policy still prohibits perfumes. Visitors, patients, and volunteers still indulge.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

One of my chief complaints as an asthmatic, was people use to smoke right outside the ER. I am having great difficulty breathing, and am in need of emergency resp treatments. However, I must first walk through a cloud a of cigarette smoke to get to my rescuers. While they now don't all stand right outside the doors, it is still in the area one has to travel to get to he ER. Not fun.

I never give a pt "permission" to go out to smoke. If they proceed to insist, I tell them they are doing so at their own risk, and tell them I will note it in their chart that they were informed. When they question me further, I explain that I am here to help them get well, and to give permission to smoke will contribute to possible complications, or prolonged hospital stay, and I refuse to be a part of that.

Yes, there was a time when we laughed about it, saying at least the smokers got up and moved! For me, personally, it is no longer a laughing matter

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment