wnoise

At my ward strong men have more difficulties than small women. Aggressive patients usually go against men, and respect women much more. So go for it. Good luck.

Dear RN2begin, Thanks for your message. I agree with you partially. About the right of autonomy to decide to smoke or not to smoke I think the patient (like any other) has the right to choose. But I would like to remember the initial conditions I asked: - Patient at acute mental health wards. I am happy to know that nicotine has these nice effects but I am sure that smoking cigarettes is not the best way to have nicotine (at least meanwhile the patient is at ward). I cannot forget staff and no smoking patients’ safety. I agree with you that patients are allowed to choose or refuse any kind of treatment, but my discussion is based in the Spanish Non-smoking Law. This law forbids smoking at any public center with the exception of mental health wards and penitentiary centers. So I disagree about the discrimination of mental patients. About the diabetic example I agree as well, but if a diabetic patient refuses a diet or insulin he/she damages him/herself, nobody else is in risk. Thanks for your links, they are very interesting.

dear stuper, thanks a lot for your help. it is a very interesting point of view. it is incredible how many people have very different experiences about the same matter: no smoking policies. your message is really nice. to be honest i am just studying acute mental health units where patients are enforcing to stay. at other levels, in spain, patients can go out and smoke freely. about the ethical issue i agree with you, but i think that the hospital has to provide to staff and no smoker patients a secure place free of smoke. i think the right of health must be “first” that the right to smoke. i am not sure about if the health authority has to impose no smoking policies but in case that they do it, maybe to exclude mental patient could be a case of discrimination, based at prejudices and not clinical evidence. for example, about alcohol there is no dilemma and it is a legal drug as well. and cannabis that it is legal to smoke in my country. about your second item i agree with you but it is the same with many other things like: maniac behaviors, other drugs (alcohol and coffee are forbidden at my ward) and the professional has to overcome these problems. along my study i contact many wards with no smoking policy that have no problems at all (sedations, restrains,…) and they guarantee that staff and patients are much better after the stop smoking. anyway, every day i feel i am far from a conclusion. i am considering culture, staff relationship with smoking, economics, etc. thanks a lot indeed for your help and i am sorry for my english.

This is very important. We have many patients that in the last 6 years have more than 20 incomes. They can feel themselves betrayed if next income we change into a freesmoke unit.

Thanks a lot, psychmeup, Your information is very useful for me. I am working hardly to change my ward into a non smoking place, but it is difficult. You have given to me a good point of view to justify my study.

thanks a lot, mrrn2005 this information is very useful and hopeful for me. has your hospital experience been published at any article, review… that i could find? :nuke:

i would like to have a nice porch in my unit but we haven't, thanks

Dear DaMale Nurse, Thanks a lot for your information. Where I work nurses we are not allowed to smoke but patients are allow to smoke. My questions is if it will be possible a not smoking ward without aggressions and brutal assaults! Although, we have a big problem in my unit has not free places for patients like a garden or smoking porch. We just have a special room with a smoke extraction machine. Anyone of you has to suffer this kind of work conditions? Any counsel?

Dear Elkpark. Thank you very much for the information and links. It has been an useful information for me. In Spain, It is banned smoking in health centers, however, It is allowed in Mental Health units. I would like to find international evidence that a non-smoking unit doesn´t increase aggressive behaviours. Does anybody know laws, acts, protocols to compare with the Spanish law? Thanks a lot in advance, :) Wnoise

Dear colleagues! I would like to contact nurses working in Mental Health Acute Wards (all over the world) where smoking is forbidden. In Spain, smoking in Mental Health Acute Units is allowed by law. I am working in an article about Ethics and smoking. Thanks a lot for your help in advance,:) Note: I apologise for my English. Wnoise