Out of nursing program cause i am smoker!!!

[misstaz25]

Help, I am at risk of being out of the nursing program because I am a smoker.

I really could use some advise on how to deal with a very unfair instructor. I am a first year PN student and we just started clinicals in Nov. I have an instructor that is absloutely against smoking. Of 18 students in the class only about 6 are not smokers. We were informed that if we as much as smelled of smoke during clinicals we would be docked in our grade.

One day another student and I got busted for smoking. Please no lectures on smoking and how bad it is. I really would like to quit. Anyway, our grade for the day was docked in every area it could. I would be fine with that. What I dont feel is fair is the way the instructor handled it after that.

A few days after the incident the instructor pulled me into her office when no one was around. She flat out asked me if I had smoked, and I said I will not lie, I did. She asked why after knowing her clear views on smoking I would do that, was I just that addicted? I told her yes, it is an addiction. This teacher than asked me about the other student and if she had smoked also. I felt uncomfortable about her asking me about another student, but I admitted she did also. I told her that I was sorry and would make sure it didnt happen again during clinicals. In fact I had just done another clinical the day before and told her in no way did I smoke before or during that clinical. This lovely woman told me that I need to think about what my punishment should be for disobeying her rules. Now remember my grade got docked for smelling of smoke. She also threatened to tell my mother about the incident. My mom works at the college but in a totally unrelated department.

A few days later she pulled me and the other student aside in a public hallway to lecture us and give us our punishment. She stated that we would write a 2 page paper with 2 references on how to quit smoking. Also we would write a 2 page paper on lying. Now I never did lie to her, she asked me if I smoked and I told her yes I did. If I wouldnt have confessed she wouldnt be able to punish us at all. Then to top it off she wants a 3 page paper on patient abandonment. She informed us, this is on the very last day of class before Christmas break, that we will have an incomplete in her class until she recieves these. I feel she is out of line and that she did this in a public hallway is just aweful. She wanted to make an example of us in front of the other students and I feel she handled this poorly.

I am furious. I have read the policies and procedures for the program I am in and nowhere does it say anything about smoking. In fact I dont think she can even assign extra papers because of it. My grade was docked as we were warned would happen. How can she make up extra punishment when I was punished by my grade? How can she make up extra assignments when we were told our grade would be docked. I earned a very hard A in her class. I got a 98% on her final.

Also this woman is a constant overeater and is constantly snacking on candy and other fattening treats. She flat out admits she cant live without candy. Yet she has the balls to judge anyone that smokes. She actually will pick out little things to dock grades on just because someone is a smoker when a nonsmoker can do clearly worse and recieve a better grade. I wrote in a letter to her that her behavior toward me and the other student was rude. In public to degrade us and ask us to write about effects of smoking and lying. How would she like it if she was asked to write about her eating habits and lack of exercise and how her fat butt is bad for her health? She can walk around with a jelly donut in her fat hand, but god forbid she smells smoke on a student.

She called me at home tonight to inform me that if she does not have these papers in hand by Weds of this week she will not let me continue in the program. I am considering taking her actions to her superiors and filing a greivance with the college regarding my grade.

Is it fair for a teacher to withhold your grade because of something like this? I have wrote her a letter pointing out how unfair it is and that I will not write extra papers for being a smoker. I admited to her I was wrong to smoke during a clinical, and said it will not happen again. My grade for that day was lowered because of it. I expect the grade I earned for the semester. I completed her course and than on the last day she throws 3 papers at me as a punishment!!!

I wrote her a letter that I expect the grade I earned and will not be treated like a child and will go to the board if she follows through on her threat. I feel I should add I am a president and deans list student. I have a print out of the points in her class and have earned a 96% fair and square. The class is over and I have an incomplete at the time deans and presidents list are being made, so she has taken that from me.

Please no lectures about smoking, if i could just quit I would. I want to know if her behavior is even justifiable? What are my legal options in this?

[jimthorp]

My program also has a no smoking requirement. And by no smoking they mean you cannot smoke during clinical or on your way to clinical. You also cannot smoke while wearing the clinical uniform and you cannot keep your uniform in your home or car if you smoke in either of them.

It doesn't matter what they say it "means" unless it is spelled out in no uncertain terms.

[Freedom42]

I'd like to know what your school's harassment policy says. I find your instructor's threat to tell your mother bizarre at best. She apparently thinks bullying is acceptable behavior.

One other item in this thread made me do a double-take: It was a reference to "smoking booths" at a hospital (in Kentucky, I believe). I'd never heard of that. Most hospitals here haven't allowed smoking on hospital grounds for years.

I don't want to be around anyone who smells of cigarette smoke. But it's not illegal to smoke, no matter what this self-appointed ayatollah has to say.

[buddiage]

Gee, alot of ideas:

Say you are around parents that smoke, but you don't.

or

write the paper on the nasty habit of smoking and do a comparison to eating candy, and how much it costs America to take care of people that inflict thier own health problems on themselves.

Her accusations, as you described them, are way out of line. She is not a dictator. She has people she answers to.

Other than that, the only thing you can do is limit your smoking so your fellow students and patients do not smell it.

I hate the smell of smoke and what it does to me. If you are considerate, then I think you should be able to smoke all you want.

You sound considerate and respectful.

[scrubsnhugsRN]

after having recently finished nursing school (a year and a half) my advice to you is to suck it up and do the papers. nursing school is not like regular college it is more like boot camp.

think of it this way, let's say you are doing everything right, as i am sure you are, if you have problems with your clinical instructor you are doomed. if you decided to not write the papers, and the university is sympathetic to you, you will still be doomed, because bottom line your instructor can fail you as she deems fit.

do you not think she will remember that you went above her, around her?

even if you are right...even if it is unfair, you have to follow through with what your instructor expects you to do. she has the power not you.

i cannot tell you how many people in my class did not get along with my instructor, or how many she did not personally like for whatever reason, she made their lives in clinical a nightmare.

nursing school is tough, clinicals are stressful, and at times you are at the whim of your instructors personal beliefs, and personality.

so yes my advice is bite the bullet, do the papers, remember why you went into nursing school and "git er done".

hang in there, i am sure as you go along your will hear stories of clinical nightmares from other student and nurses, you are not alone!!

[mamason]

OK...I'm a smoker, and when I was in school there was no such policy on smoking of any kind. Now..to get to the bottom of things,

1: Wear a patch to clinicals. It helps with the cravings.

2: Write your paper, Don't create unwanted attention to yourself. Just give in and chalk it up as a lesson learned.

3: If you plan on smoking on the way home, wait until you are out of site of this instructor to light up.

4: Gain detergant usually gets the smoke smell out of clothes. Works pretty good.

I guess my point is....don't create waves for yourself. Nursing school is hard enough. Just go along with what the instructor wants. You're only in school for a short time anyway. And clinicals are ususally only 2 days a week. This obviously is a personal issue with your instructor. Plus, some people are Highly allergic to smoke and also the lingering smoke smells on clothing and hands etc. This may be why she is so....against it on clinical days. Good Luck in school.

[HuggyPuglet]

Just a few comments:

1. The threat to tell your mother is ridiculous and I can't see where your instructor might feel this is in any way helpful (unless you are under 18).

2. The required report on lying may not be too far-fetched. By breaking the known rules and sneaking your smoke you were lying if not verbally, you were performing a dishonest act. Your grades may be wonderful, but if you are so willing to do this sort of thing, how can you be trusted considering you will be entrusted with patient confidentiality issues, etc.?

3. Until you witness a patient going into respiratory arrest from a foreign odor don't be so quick to dismiss your infraction as being minor. I have seen this twice in my career and I never would want to see it again...EVER.

[meownsmile, BSN, RN]

Yes the rules are the rules and sometimes you have to follow them like it or not. But now,, would someone please tell people that work in healthcare and nursing students that purfumes are no more allowed or appropriate than reaking of cigarette smoke. Actually people can have far worse reactions to purfumes than cigarette smoke smell.

I have to agree,, expect them to follow the rules as they are written for your program. They have them for a reason (so people cant impose their own rules on others). All of that should have been reviewed at your orientation to the program, not decided upon at one persons disgretion.

[Lisa CCU RN, RN]

The smell of cigarette smoke is highly offensive to patients and they shouldn't have to put up with it anymore than they should have to put up with bad B.O.

This sounds like a good time to quit or to wear a patch.

[jimthorp]

after having recently finished nursing school (a year and a half) my advice to you is to suck it up and do the papers. nursing school is not like regular college it is more like boot camp.

think of it this way, let's say you are doing everything right, as i am sure you are, if you have problems with your clinical instructor you are doomed. if you decided to not write the papers, and the university is sympathetic to you, you will still be doomed, because bottom line your instructor can fail you as she deems fit.

do you not think she will remember that you went above her, around her?

even if you are right...even if it is unfair, you have to follow through with what your instructor expects you to do. she has the power not you.

i cannot tell you how many people in my class did not get along with my instructor, or how many she did not personally like for whatever reason, she made their lives in clinical a nightmare.

nursing school is tough, clinicals are stressful, and at times you are at the whim of your instructors personal beliefs, and personality.

so yes my advice is bite the bullet, do the papers, remember why you went into nursing school and "git er done".

hang in there, i am sure as you go along your will hear stories of clinical nightmares from other student and nurses, you are not alone!!

if you don't value your rights, then follow this advice.

[niceguyOH]

Hey,

I am a smoker also. During clinicals, I didn't smoke. You have to just follow their rules until you are on your own time! I went through a lot of gum. I also smoked a lot before clinical. I would just use body spray to cover it up. Febreeze and/or Bath & Body Works does help. Trust me. :) As far as her telling your mother, who does she think she is. This isn't high school! LOL!

[HuggyPuglet]

Yes the rules are the rules and sometimes you have to follow them like it or not. But now,, would someone please tell people that work in healthcare and nursing students that purfumes are no more allowed or appropriate than reaking of cigarette smoke. Actually people can have far worse reactions to purfumes than cigarette smoke smell.

I have to agree,, expect them to follow the rules as they are written for your program. They have them for a reason (so people cant impose their own rules on others). All of that should have been reviewed at your orientation to the program, not decided upon at one persons disgretion.

Agreed! One of the two respiratory arrests I've witnessed had to do with a reactionary response to perfume worn by a visitor upon entering a patient room.

[jimthorp]

2. The required report on lying may not be too far-fetched. By breaking the known rules and sneaking your smoke you were lying if not verbally, you were performing a dishonest act. Your grades may be wonderful, but if you are so willing to do this sort of thing, how can you be trusted considering you will be entrusted with patient confidentiality issues, etc.?

You are making the assumption there was a violation of established, written rules.