really??? (sigh)

Robublind · Jan 26, 2012

When you come to the hospital, here is what you have a
I smoke, I am not drowning little kittens. Get over it.

Geez, someone needs a camel bad.

I agree, I'm not paid to be a role model but can we leave the cigarette stink in the parking lot or at home. I have a kid in my ED with asthma with lungs tight as a nunnery. He doesn't need the added "benefit" of your smoking and yes you might not be able to smell it but we all can.

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Jan 26, 2012

Sorry guys and gals. I can't agree and I might get flamed. No, we cannot be perfect. Yes, we can attempt to understand our client/patients' points of view, empathize etc. We can attempt to teach them about making better choices, but they have the right to choose. Got it. I work with cancer patients. We nurses know better. Smoking is linked to lung cancer, esophageal, oral cancers, stomach cancer, GERD, you name it. I can't condone it in my peers, although I know it is incredibly difficult to quit, but ultimately it is the choice of my peer also. Just please don't bring the smell on my unit, sometimes our folks are prone to nausea/vomiting after being exposed to strong smells.

While I agree with everything you said.....I also believe that "smoking" is the easy outlet to place blame on what is wrong with the world. I grew up around the steel mills, talk about smoke. I want to know why our food source is shot up with steroids and growth hormones. I want to really know what all this genetically altered food is doing to us. I want to know why there is orificenic in apple juice and fungicide in orange juice. I want to know what all those pesticides are doing to my fruits and vegetables. I want to know what harm being exposed to all these chemicals both at home and from a lifetime working in hospitals has done to me and how does it contribute to my auto-immune disease that has robbed me of my mobility and may well end my life earlier than expected.

I grew up on plastics and tupperware being all the rage. Saccahrine and cyclimates. Artifical flavorings and colorings became all the rage and DDT was sprayed on the food. I'm with Dixie, I'm not hurting kittens either nor am I carrying weapons to middle school where security and metal dectors have become common place.

I'm sorry I just can't blame smoking for all the evils of the world.

DixieRedHead, ASN, RN · Jan 28, 2012

I find it very difficult to take criticism about smoking from someone who weighs 250 pounds (or more). Or someone who is noncompliant with their insulin, diet, or blood pressure medicines, lets their spouse beat them or abuse their children.

FLmomof5 · Jan 28, 2012

I am 5'4", weigh 120 lbs, was a single mom of 5 who jumped tall buildings with a single bound, and I smoke. So, I have a weakness like others....I love the post above mine....it is hard to listen to those who have their own issues criticize mine!

Love my unit. Most of the nurses smoke and NONE of us take smoke breaks on a 12 hr shift. Our Med/Surg unit is filled with patients who are there because they are non-compliant. We are all human.

Merlyn · Jan 28, 2012

While I agree with everything you said.....I also believe that "smoking" is the easy outlet to place blame on what is wrong with the world. I grew up around the steel mills, talk about smoke. I want to know why our food source is shot up with steroids and growth hormones. I want to really know what all this genetically altered food is doing to us. I want to know why there is orificenic in apple juice and fungicide in orange juice. I want to know what all those pesticides are doing to my fruits and vegetables. I want to know what harm being exposed to all these chemicals both at home and from a lifetime working in hospitals has done to me and how does it contribute to my auto-immune disease that has robbed me of my mobility and may well end my life earlier than expected.
I grew up on plastics and tupperware being all the rage. Saccahrine and cyclimates. Artifical flavorings and colorings became all the rage and DDT was sprayed on the food. I'm with Dixie, I'm not hurting kittens either nor am I carrying weapons to middle school where security and metal dectors have become common place.
I'm sorry I just can't blame smoking for all the evils of the world.

Growth hormones - The bigger the cow the more meat-more meat more money the farmer gets. the chemicals in and on foods- the less pest-the less pest the bigger the yield and less spoilage-the bigger the yield and less spoilage the more money for the company that processes the food. Far be it from me to say that the framers are greedy . I lived in South Dakota for a while they work harder then anyone but that is your answer. plus the food now comes from other countries The chemicals preserves the food until it gets here. It's the price too. You go organic and it cost more.

Not_A_Hat_Person, RN · Jan 29, 2012

I want to know why there is orificenic in apple juice and fungicide in orange juice.

orificenic in apple juice comes from orificenic in the water supply. It's naturally occurring, and in some parts of the US, including a large swath of New England, it's a hazard of having well water.

I've never smoked. My biggest problem with smoking coworkers was frequent disappearances. I once worked in a building where I was the only non-smoker on my shift, and it was Hell. All of the smokers, including the charge nurse and the night supervisor, took numerous smoke breaks, and took them all together. If anything happened, I had to respond because I was the only person in the building.

I'm not perfect. I have a weight problem, but I've never left my colleagues in the lurch because I had to eat.

Neriah · Jan 29, 2012

We are all HUMANS before we were nurses.

I didn't see sainthood as a pre-req for being a nurse when I joined.

When anyone can live their life free of any ethical or moral slip ups and is perfection in every aspect of their person and practice. I'll join the fan club.

That Guy, BSN, RN, EMT-B · Jan 29, 2012

Not this **** again.

workingharder · Jan 29, 2012

I found this post, not unique, many out there that say the same thing? Can't give credit to the poster because I can't locate it.
Here is the post/statement:
"Although this is not to a patient, I would also love to tell smoking nurses and RTs that they are hypocrits. I guess that they are giving those of us that don't smoke job security. Please be better role models for your patients."

I never thought of it that way. I never realized it before but, that 66 year old hypertensive, BMI gazillion, diabetic probably does want his nurse to be a role model. :smokin:

wooh, BSN, RN · Jan 29, 2012

I thought orificenic in the apple juice was because it occurs naturally in the apple seeds in small amounts.

anotherone, BSN, RN · Jan 29, 2012

Why do people even care? when I go to the doctor/dentist I just want them to tell me what is wrong and how I can fix it I don't care if the doctor has a blood sugar level of 450 and is snorting cane sugar or if she is a smoker who told me that if I exercised more my lipids wound improve. Seriously we have more overweight nurses on our unit than smokers. possible a similar amount. Maybe the diabetic, hf pts should just request someone else since those nurses obviously can't comply with their own advice. I don't even claim to have anywhere near a healthy life, 13 hour shifts multiple times a week are part of the problem.

wooh, BSN, RN · Jan 29, 2012

Most everyone has things they can improve. If we expect perfection from our healthcare professionals, we'll all be waiting years to get an appointment with the one or two who can actually "qualify" to give us advice.