Pa hospital system won't hire smokers

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Specializes in Emergency Dept. Trauma. Pediatrics.
this is only my +0.02

I am a smoker since 12yo and still smoking, and I DO A DAMN GOOD JOB of BEING A NURSE. A lot better than those I work with who all talk no work being done, when I got to this country and took oath to defend this land, all I hear was Democracy and land of oppurtunity.

I dont see this policy giving me oppurtunity to show what I am capable of as a Nurse, and as Man, and the democracy of choosing whether I want to smoke or not. Btw what will be next, policy on what underwear should a wear to work? Lets just declare Marshall Law!

before everything else this is just my +0.02 and just my sole opinion, If people are offended then too Bad. :p

Actually their are policies on what type of underwear you can wear if the uniforms are white scrub pants at some hospitals :p

I guess those candy cigarettes and the bubble gum that mimicked chewing tobacco wasn't the best idea companies had!!!! I remember always getting the candy smokes from the ice cream truck and I also remembering my dad finding out I was smoking when I was 14 and he lectured me for an hour yelling at me about smoking WHILE HE SMOKED!!! Yea I didn't take him very serious and I continued smoking and even would sneak smoked from him :stone

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Specializes in Emergency Dept. Trauma. Pediatrics.
Wow, I guess your are pertaining to obese people, coz as far as I am concern Military dont ban Smokers to defend this country.

ps. I am a smoker and I am a soldier.

Didn't the navy stop allowing smoking on the ships and submarines which meant the people going out for the 6 months had to find an alternative???

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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.

Wait, what? Since when are pedos a protected group? This is the first that I have heard about that. Documentation, please?:eek:

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Specializes in 4 years Geriatric/Psychiatric Nursing.
Didn't the navy stop allowing smoking on the ships and submarines which meant the people going out for the 6 months had to find an alternative???

Actually they [including other services] did banned Smoking during out on ships and Subs, and other missions, but they didnt ban any other tabacco. Most smokers, using dip, chews, patches, gum, and patches, it depends on Commander's discretions. I personally use chew when I ride with the tankers and ammored vehicles, you'll get the same buzz if not stronger.

And yes, there are policies in wearing pink underwear under white uniforms :p , kidding aside, me I just use thicker type of clothes used for my uniform so that my underwear won't show.

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blah, blah, blah....go have a cigarette, have a toke, drink a beer, eat a bag of milky ways, etc, etc, etc.......ppl will and can do whatever they darn well please, nobody said we have to like it.....and I don't really give a hoot about anyone's opinion....

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Specializes in 4 years Geriatric/Psychiatric Nursing.
blah, blah, blah....go have a cigarette, have a toke, drink a beer, eat a bag of milky ways, etc, etc, etc.......ppl will and can do whatever they darn well please, nobody said we have to like it.....and I don't really give a hoot about anyone's opinion....

Roger that, very well said. :up:

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Specializes in Emergency Dept. Trauma. Pediatrics.
Actually they [including other services] did banned Smoking during out on ships and Subs, and other missions, but they didnt ban any other tabacco. Most smokers, using dip, chews, patches, gum, and patches, it depends on Commander's discretions. I personally use chew when I ride with the tankers and ammored vehicles, you'll get the same buzz if not stronger.

And yes, there are policies in wearing pink underwear under white uniforms :p , kidding aside, me I just use thicker type of clothes used for my uniform so that my underwear won't show.

My dad was still a smoker when those policies on the ships went into effect and I remember he was none to happy about it. BUT it gave him incentive to quit one of the many times he did.

Now he found out he has a genetic disorder, the Alpha 1 shoot I can't remember the full name right now. Anyway, because of that and his smoking he now has COPD and Moderate emphysema, and was lucky enough to get started on some trial infusion things through the VA that he will have to get once a week for the rest of his life, needless to say his smoking days are over.

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Specializes in Med Surg/MICU/Pediatrics/PCICU.

I agree with what these hospitals are doing. For many different reasons, second hand smoke is a top killer among individuals as well as causing other diseases. How can you blame a hospital for wanting to keep this from happening on their own property. If restaurant can ban people from smoking in their facility why can't people refuse to let their workers smoke. It is a major health concern and it just keeps rising. I don't hear everyone calling it discrimination when the hospitals say the property is going smoke free so no smoking anywhere around the property yet when they won't hire you because you do it's discrimination.

Smoking is a privilege not a right, no where in the law does it say you have the right to smoke. If someone chooses to not hire you because of that it is their own "right". If nurses are supposed to be patient advocates then how can we do that job effectively if your patients family sees you lighting up on your break outside right before you tell them they should stop smoking because of a health problem? Why would they even want to listen to that?

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Smoking is a privilege not a right, no where in the law does it say you have the right to smoke. If someone chooses to not hire you because of that it is their own "right".

No, smoking actually is a right. Although the second part holds true too.

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Specializes in LTC.
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.

Agreed.

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Specializes in Pediatric Critical Care, Cardiac, EMS.
No, smoking actually is a right.

Um, actually, no. Self-determination is a right. Smoking is a choice. There is a fundamental difference between rights and personal living choices. Rights are intrinsic to the human condition, cannot be abrogated, are neither grantable nor revocable by authority but can only be protected or infringed.

Smoking, drinking, choice of career - based on self-determination or in outside factors.

Life, liberty, the pursuit (meaning vocation) of happiness, self-determination - intrinsic, unalterable - even inalienable.

See the difference?

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The Cleveland Clinic has done it (not for Doctor though) ...they closed up the McDonalds in the lobby too...guess I agree with the one poster who said ...wait til they check your BMI!

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