Pa hospital system won't hire smokers

Nurses General Nursing

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Specializes in ICU + Infection Prevention.
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.

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Specializes in Long Term Care.

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.

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Specializes in Ante-Intra-Postpartum, Post Gyne.

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??:D

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?

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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.

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Specializes in ER.

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.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Home Health.

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.

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I've been a smoker for quite a while now, and honestly...I don't blame them at all. Mind you, I'm none too pleased wit this recent crusade against smokers along with the federal restrictions/ungodly taxes. What I do on my time is my buisness, and I don't appreciate government trying to direct my behavior.

With that said, noone's forcing you to quit. You have the choice to do what you want with your own body, and as a private company, they have the choice not to hire you. No matter how you look at it, smoking is a very unprofessional habit. You have to make a choice whether or not your habit is more important to you then this particular career opportunity. If it is, then you're just going to be a little more limited in your options and you may have to look elsewhere.

You have the freedom to make your own choices in life, but you also have the obligation to accept the consequences. Theres nothing written that says anyone has to accept your choices.

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Will this stand up in court do you think.

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Will this stand up in court do you think.

Of course. And it should.

But now that pedophiles are considered a protected group, just give it a few years before smokers kick up enough dust to make the list too.

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Specializes in ER.

Obesity and smoking is not comparing apples to apples. One is a choice, one may not be entirely a choice. I am fairly certain that in PA, smokers are not a protected class as far as discrimination is concerned....it should hold up in court, but it will likely not even make it that far.

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I am a smoker, can't smoke on campus, and there is absoutely NO difficulty with me clocking out a lunch to have a few cigarettes!!! As a matter of fact, half of the nurses on my floor didn't even know I smoked because I don't stink like an ashtray...and mind you I do my fair share of smoking at home and driving to and from work during my 50 mile commute!!!

Now, like someone else mentioned...alcohol should be tested as well, and we all know that being overweight is NOT healthy, which I could care less about if someone is my size or not, but if you want to get technical, how about discriminating against them as well....

Also, what about the RN's who take Narcs while working, hmmm??? I'm very glad that I don't live by that facility because it would be my last choice of places to go. Also, even though our campus if smoke-free, there are tons of visitors and pts. outside smoking ALL THE TIME!!!!

Wake up people, don't you realize that this country is telling you how to live, eat, drink, etc...everyday of your lives. What ever happened to our freedom?????

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And one more thing, obesity is a choice. There are many choices available now a days for ppl. to help them with this.

I can't wait to see this hospital fall flat on it's face b/c they will end up hiring a bunch of new, inexperienced ppl. just to get staff, a huge error will occur, they will be sued, and then it's history from there. I'll have to keep a eye out on all the job openings they have...

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