mel1213 Specializes in Long Term Care. Has 4 years experience. Nov 22, 2009 It sounds like discrimination to me!! I guess I will not be applying to any of these hospitals....lol! Wait and see how many good people will be gone because of this! 0 Likes
SummitRN, BSN, RN Specializes in ICU + Infection Prevention. Has 9 years experience. Nov 22, 2009 Discrimination? Smoking is a choice.I would want my healthcare employees to be setting a good example for patients, not smell bad for their patients, not to mention that nonsmokers don't need smoke breaks every hour and that hiring decision will mean lower healthcare costs for everyone on the company plan.Don't like it? Quit smoking! 0 Likes
elkpark Nov 22, 2009 Discrimination? Smoking is a choice.I would want my healthcare employees to be setting a good example for patients, not smell bad for their patients, not to mention that nonsmokers don't need smoke breaks every hour and that hiring decision will mean lower healthcare costs for everyone on the company plan.Don't like it? Quit smoking!:yeahthat:Good for them -- I hope that more hospitals will join this trend as time goes on. 0 Likes
ktwlpn, LPN, RN Specializes in Med Surg, Homecare, Hospice. Nov 22, 2009 O come on! I guess next on the list will be anyone not within their IBW. 0 Likes
SummitRN, BSN, RN Specializes in ICU + Infection Prevention. Has 9 years experience. Nov 22, 2009 O come on! I guess next on the list will be anyone not within their IBW.Wow... you are right... let's hire alcoholics too, mmmkay? 0 Likes
ktwlpn, LPN, RN Specializes in Med Surg, Homecare, Hospice. Nov 22, 2009 Nothing wrong with having a couple of drinks on a Friday night or a glass of wine with dinner-that does not an alcoholic make... 0 Likes
SummitRN, BSN, RN Specializes in ICU + Infection Prevention. Has 9 years experience. Nov 22, 2009 Nothing wrong with having a couple of drinks on a Friday night or a glass of wine with dinner-that does not an alcoholic make...nope... that wouldn't affect performancebut a smoker who stinks and needs smoking breaks, that affects performanceand they raise everyone's health plan costs by their choiceprivate employer can make whatever legal restrictions they want and saying "no smokers" is PERFECTLY reasonable(my personal opinion is that if they cant figure out that you are a smoker, then it's none of their business, but that means just being a casual smoker) 0 Likes
FLArn Specializes in Hospice, LTC, Rehab, Home Health. Has 20 years experience. Nov 22, 2009 Wow... you are right... let's hire alcoholics too, mmmkay?How do you know you aren't working with some already? I know lots of "friends of Bill W." who are nurses --- some doctors too! 0 Likes
SummitRN, BSN, RN Specializes in ICU + Infection Prevention. Has 9 years experience. Nov 22, 2009 How do you know you aren't working with some already? I know lots of "friends of Bill W." who are nurses --- some doctors too!well(my personal opinion is that if they cant figure out that you are a smoker, then it's none of their business, but that means just being a casual smoker)So if the person is coming to work intoxicated or reeking of ketones or drinks on their breaks, then that's a problem that affects performance.If not, then not a problem, right?Same for smoking. 0 Likes
mel1213 Specializes in Long Term Care. Has 4 years experience. Nov 22, 2009 Discrimination? Smoking is a choice.I would want my healthcare employees to be setting a good example for patients, not smell bad for their patients, not to mention that nonsmokers don't need smoke breaks every hour and that hiring decision will mean lower healthcare costs for everyone on the company plan.Don't like it? Quit smoking!Are you kidding me? Really? What's next telling people who like to over eat or are obese that they can not work in healthcare?? I can see maybe not smoking while at work...but when someone gets home and is off the clock THAT IS THIER BUISSNESS AS TO WHAT THEY DO!!! It is a choice to smoke.....and for some people (for those of you who do smoke) know the risk that is involved with it and it is their CHOICE to take a risk. To get a drug test for smoking is insane!!! It is discrimination against people who smoke....yes i agree it is a horrible habit...but when i do when i go home is my buissness and if i want to smoke a pack of cigarettes i will. 0 Likes
ktwlpn, LPN, RN Specializes in Med Surg, Homecare, Hospice. Nov 22, 2009 As I said all staff are entitled to a certain amount of breaktime. Also-many people don't smell heavily of cigarette smoke.I think they may metabolize it differently but I know several smokers that I have never smelled it on. After break they wash their hands,brush their teeth,use mouth wash etc-the same things I do if I have eaten a particularly odiferous lunch.. 0 Likes
SummitRN, BSN, RN Specializes in ICU + Infection Prevention. Has 9 years experience. Nov 22, 2009 Are you kidding me? Really? What's next telling people who like to over eat or are obese that they can not work in healthcare?? I can see maybe not smoking while at work...but when someone gets home and is off the clock THAT IS THIER BUISSNESS AS TO WHAT THEY DO!!! It is a choice to smoke.....and for some people (for those of you who do smoke) know the risk that is involved with it and it is their CHOICE to take a risk. To get a drug test for smoking is insane!!! It is discrimination against people who smoke....yes i agree it is a horrible habit...but when i do when i go home is my buissness and if i want to smoke a pack of cigarettes i will.How many regular smokers do you know who can go 12+ hours without a cigg and suffer no ill effects?A drug test for nicotine on hiring is a perfect time for the applicant to show that they can forgo ciggs for work. Then they are welcome to smoke again on their off time if they don't smoke at work and don't smell like smoke, the employer will never know. 0 Likes
mel1213 Specializes in Long Term Care. Has 4 years experience. Nov 22, 2009 I can go 12 plus hours without smoking and yes I am a regular smoker who knows the risks involved and I even hate the smell myself. However I can control when I smoke and when i don't. But no hospital/company is going to make me quit unless I want to. It doesn't make me any less of a nurse. 0 Likes
HeartsOpenWide, RN Specializes in Ante-Intra-Postpartum, Post Gyne. Nov 22, 2009 If your a smoker, I don't mind if I don't know about it. Cigarette smokes makes me nauseated. If I had a nurse that smelled like cigarettes I would ask for a different one. My campus is smoke free. You can not even smoke in your car in the parking lot; I am sure it makes it difficult for smokers since they have to leave campus and walk across the street. I would think nursing would help some one to quit, when ever do you have time to take a cigarette break??I believe one of the reasons the hospitals are not hiring smokers is because of insurance purposes. If you are a smoker premiums go up, and if the hospital is paying for your benefits they have a right to deny people. Although it seems like it would be nice to have an option; "we can hire you, but unless you quit smoking you will not get health benefits" but then how far are they going to take it? If you eat fast food will will not hire you/pay your benefits? 0 Likes
elkpark Nov 22, 2009 Are you kidding me? Really? What's next telling people who like to over eat or are obese that they can not work in healthcare?? I can see maybe not smoking while at work...but when someone gets home and is off the clock THAT IS THIER BUISSNESS AS TO WHAT THEY DO!!! It is a choice to smoke.....and for some people (for those of you who do smoke) know the risk that is involved with it and it is their CHOICE to take a risk. To get a drug test for smoking is insane!!! It is discrimination against people who smoke....yes i agree it is a horrible habit...but when i do when i go home is my buissness and if i want to smoke a pack of cigarettes i will.I agree completely with you that it is the your individual choice to smoke and take the risks involved. It is also the employer's choice to choose not to employ smokers. 0 Likes
RNCEN Specializes in ER. Has 5 years experience. Nov 22, 2009 I think it is a wise thing to do. Good for them. If you don't like it, don't apply there. Or, be healthy....quit, and then work for the company. If I had a nurse that smelled like smoke....I would certainly ask for a different one. I used to smoke, and now it disgusts me. 0 Likes
chenoaspirit, ASN, RN Specializes in Med/Surg, Home Health. Nov 22, 2009 What about people who have quit smoking and wear a nicotine patch. They will fail a nicotine drug test. Judging on these posts, you can tell who is a smoker and who is a nonsmoker. I will smoke, end of discussion. If I cant get hired somewhere like that, then I dont want to work there. And what about obese/overweight nurses? I mean, overeating is a CHOICE also and also causes health problems that will raise benefit premiums. Is this the next trend? This is rediculous. 0 Likes
