Only tobacco free employeess??

[NeoNurseTX]

What are your opinions on hospitals refusing to hire people that use tobacco (either chewing or smoking)? Do you know of any that have this policy?

Our medical center has no smoking in or out allowed but we have just created a policy that checks for tobacco in a UA. Those found positive cannot reapply for employment for one year.

[Zookeeper3]

Is it possible this allows for cheaper employee health insurances rates for the hospital?

It is becoming common place now as a way to decrease premiums, especially for those hospitals that are self insured like mine. This is the wave of the future.

All my health care must be done in my hospital, all my labs, all my med refills.... so my employer knows what meds I'm taking... how high risk I am for "complications" and can raise my premiums.

This is ALL ABOUT THE $$$$$$, do not be fooled, it is not about smoking, but the cost and the slippery slope will start with smokers, move to the obese, diabetics, family history.... and genetic testing in the next 10 years. It has already started.

This is just the first drop in the proverbial bucket. This is NOT, NOT about smokers, this is the first drop.

[lylenrn]

This is an interesting new practice. The hospital campuses in my area have been smoke-free for a few years now. That seems to apply only to the staff though. Patients can be seen walking to smoking areas, often escorted by staff with iv poles in tow. I feel really sorry for these folks on rainy days. Can you imagine walking off campus to a bus stop,gowns flapping in the wind trying to keep their smokes from getting wet??

[StNeotser, ASN, RN]

This is an interesting new practice. The hospital campuses in my area have been smoke-free for a few years now. That seems to apply only to the staff though. Patients can be seen walking to smoking areas, often escorted by staff with iv poles in tow. I feel really sorry for these folks on rainy days. Can you imagine walking off campus to a bus stop,gowns flapping in the wind trying to keep their smokes from getting wet??

No I feel sorry for the staff. I've been the staff doing that detail.

[StNeotser, ASN, RN]

It is becoming common place now as a way to decrease premiums, especially for those hospitals that are self insured like mine. This is the wave of the future.

All my health care must be done in my hospital, all my labs, all my med refills.... so my employer knows what meds I'm taking... how high risk I am for "complications" and can raise my premiums.

This is ALL ABOUT THE $$$$$$, do not be fooled, it is not about smoking, but the cost and the slippery slope will start with smokers, move to the obese, diabetics, family history.... and genetic testing in the next 10 years. It has already started.

This is just the first drop in the proverbial bucket. This is NOT, NOT about smokers, this is the first drop.

I just can't believe that. I did think there was some law that your employer was not meant to get into your medical records. There isn't?

Remember having an ethical discussion at school abou the genetic testing issue and how "it would never be allowed" Guess Congress can be bought off by anyone for any reason.

[healthstar, BSN, RN]

I am a non-smoking individual. I can't stand the smell. My husband smokes and I never let him smoke in the house or near me, or in the car ( hopefully he gets tired of this one day and decides to quit lol). Anyway, I think it would be wrong not to hire a person just because they smoke. As long as they do not smoke while working ; and also not smell like smoke when they go to see patients they should be fine. Smoking does not determine the knowledge, communication skills, or affect the patients in any way.

[klone, MSN, RN]

There is one hospital system in the Denver area that will not hire anyone that is not "tobacco free" for at least 90 days.

WHich hospital system is this? Feel free to PM me.

[bridezillatobe]

The good ole days lol http://img.xcitefun.net/users/2009/08/107805,xcitefun-a171-c10.jpg

In Old Ads, Doctors and Babies Say 'Smoke' - The New York Times Slide 1 of 10

In Old Ads, Doctors and Babies Say 'Smoke' - The New York Times Slide 5 of 10

In Old Ads, Doctors and Babies Say 'Smoke' - The New York Times Slide 8 of 10

[dthfytr, ADN, LPN, RN, EMT-B, EMT-I]

I'm a reformed smoker, ER/Trauma nurse. I've given up on lecturing. I just tell smokers, drinkers, and no seatbelters thanks for the job security. DWI's I cuss at because my kids are on those roads too.

That said, I work on a no smoking campus. I've thought of buying a pack of cigarettes and claiming I smoke, because the smokers get more breaks than the nonsmokers, they just hop in their cars and drive off-campus for their fix.

I'm struggling with "tobaco users need not apply" attitude. Can't resolve it in my heart.

[CrazierThanYou]

Our local hospital has a smoking policy. As far as I know, they will still hire smokers but a smoker is denied insurance benefits. Also, no smoking is allowed anywhere on the premises. If an employee is caught smoking or seen on the surveillence cameras smoking, they are terminated.

[justavolunteer]

The hospitals in my area have said 'no smoking' anywhere on the premises for several years now. They will still hire smokers though. A few other non-health care companies have said 'no hiring' . According to the law, private employers are allowed to do this. Even the ACLU has said there aren't any grounds to sue over it.

Anyone who wants to smoke has to make quite an effort at some hospitals around here. The grounds of some suburban hospitals spread out for a ways in all directions from the main building.

I can understand the 'no smoking rules at work, but what people do outside of work should be their business.

If anyone is wondering, I don't smoke myself & can't stand to be around it.

[elkpark]

We can debate this vigorously here for the next several weeks (as has happened on other threads on this same topic in the past), but the bottom line is that smokers are not a legally protected "class," and employers are (legally) free to do this for whatever reason(s) they choose -- money, aesthetics/appearances, or loving, benevolent concerns for their employees' health.

They have the right to set a policy like this (as long as they apply and enforce it evenly and fairly), and people who don't like it have the right to not apply for work with those employers.

If the policy creates significant problems for the employers (like, they can't hire enough staff to keep operating), they'll change the policy soon enough. If not, they'll probably keep it in place. The trend seems to be in the direction of more facilities creating policies like this -- I guess we all better start getting used to the idea.

[sparklie.lady]

Rumor has it, the CEO of the Cleveland Clinic has mentioned stopping hiring obese people, but was told there was no way to make that legal!

He definitely fought a hard (losing) battle against the McDonald's on main campus.

IMO, as a former smoker, I think that if an employer refuses to hire a smoker, then that's their right. People have the right not to work there. I remember the day that I chose to have my first cigarette. It was MY choice. I was born with blue eyes and enormous feet. Nothing I can do about that. But, I chose to smoke. And I also chose to quit. :)