residents that smoke

Bird2 · May 1, 2006

Does anyone have a smoking policy you could share with me. We have several residents that smoke. We are a smoke-free facility but you are allowed to smoke outside the building. We have scheduled smoke breaks for the residents and all are supervised by a staff member. We have some that are alert and oriented but some that are confused. Do you have all your residents wear smoke aprons?

We are a smoke free facility and all residents are told prior to admission. If they are alert, oriented, can sign themselves out, and take themselves out then they can smoke. Staff can not assist them with getting out, lighting the cigarette, etc. If they can not abide in a safe manner we step in and stop the activity. Usually we end up paying for the patch.

Nascar nurse, ASN, RN · May 1, 2006

We have specific smoking times (four times a day). Everyone and I mean everyone wears an apron. All oxygen off and left inside the door - we smoke outside only. All smoke sessions supervised by staff. No exeptions. If family insists Mom smokes outside of our allotted time, they must sign them out and take off the property. All smoking materials are locked at the nurses station at all times. Anyone caught with cigarettes, lighters, etc, are subject to lose all smoking privleges on our property. Any resident caught breaking ANY smoking rules are subject to lose privleges.

Last year there were two seperate deaths in my state related to residents smoking - one just in the next county over. This has been a huge hot button for surveyors - instant I/J if not in compliance with policy. We are one of the few buildings that even allow smoking, so it is definately a privlege not to be taken lightly.

suebird3 · May 1, 2006

We have set smoking times. Also, all smoking items locked up.

All residents are able to obtain "levels" and on the 3rd level, they can sign self out of building and smoke. They need to be able to conduct self appropriately, etc. ANY level 3 resident caught with smoking materials on self, disregarding rules, etc, lose their levels, and lose smoking privelages.

Suebird

butterflynurse · May 1, 2006

We have only a couple of residents that smoke. We have no set time though, we take them out when they want to go if we are not tied up. We keep all of their smokes locked up in the med cart. If their family wants to take them outside we let them.

LoriAlabamaRN · May 1, 2006

Our smoking residents are allowed to go into an inner courtyard we have and smoke unsupervised if they have no mental issues. If they ever have an accident- burning themselves or their clothing- then their smoking materials are kept locked up and they must have a staff member sign out the cigarettes and sit with them while they smoke. Of course, this is based on the convenience of the staff member, so sometimes they end up waiting quite a while. We have one lady in particular who gets very nasty when not allowed to smoke immediately when she asks to, and it is a PITA!!!

nursedawn67, LPN · May 1, 2006

Our residents have smoking times, Q2hrs, starting with 730am and ending at the 730pm one. Sometimes if a resident misses a time or we feel it would help the behavior then we take them out. There is always a staff member assigned to taking any smokers out. It must be outside. Residents are evaluated for the need to wear an apron, and some residents that are totally A&Ox3 that are there for just rehab and are safe are allowed to take themselves in and out and smoke alone and some are even permitted to keep their smokes with them. First time they are caught smoking inside their smokes are taken and locked up with the other smokers and they will have to wait until smoking time.

Antikigirl, ASN, RN · May 2, 2006

Our facility was totally smoke free..and this led to many probelms with residents sneeking out to have a smoke! Some of the residents were not alert or oriented enough to sneek off property to have a cig, so they would get lost and take off. That was a serious probelm.

What did the facility do...basically gave them patches and told them if they do that again they would be evicted for safety reasons!

I don't really subscribe to that! This was an assisted living facility...I believe you still have rights to legal substances if you so please..and smoking and alcohol are still legal (although not healthy!!!!!). Family would just put their family in there...ETOH probelm or smoking..and just leave it to us to have them kick the habbit! OH those poor folks..and us too!

So far no change from what I hear, but I don't work there anymore (not because of this..LOL..better opportunity with agency and much better pay!).

Story time: Had a gent that was 98 and dying of renal failure. He had a few more days to live basically and was on hospice at our facility. This was a wonderful strong gent, who was always sweet and helpful to all staff and residents alike...very well loved.

He was in bed, and told me "sweety, I know you can't but I would actually give my last breath to have a nice cigar...good cuban actually...and a shot of good whiskey right now...I use to enjoy those once in a while..and well...prisoners get their last meal...I just want a shot of whiskey and a nice cigar!"

I wanted to cry so hard, and get him his request! It wasn't allowed!!! But I told my DON, and for some reason , a bottle of the finest whiskey, a gorgeous crystal glass, and a nice cigar and matches (not cuban..LOL!) was in a nice basket at his door. How it got to him I don't know...or how he got the wheel chair to go out and enjoy it on a nice sunny april day, ;) (actually I was not at work that day...honest).

I am glad..that was a request I would have carried with me in sadness if it hadn't come to be!

flashpoint · May 2, 2006

A little off topic, but along the same lines, I have a couple questions...

Are staff members allowed to smoke while they are assisting / monitoring /supervising the residents that smoke?

Are non-smkoing staff members required to take residents outside to smoke?

Are pregnant staff members required to take residents outside to smoke?

CapeCodMermaid, RN · May 2, 2006

A little off topic, but along the same lines, I have a couple questions...
Are staff members allowed to smoke while they are assisting / monitoring /supervising the residents that smoke?
Are non-smkoing staff members required to take residents outside to smoke?
Are pregnant staff members required to take residents outside to smoke?

No smoking WITH residents...inside OR out.

Non-smoking staff NOT required to take residents to smoke....same goes for pregnant women.

Last place I worked had an indoor smoking room and used to make CNA's stand inside with the residents! I made such a stink about it that they put a window in the door so if the CNA didn't want to be in the nasty, smoky room they could stand in the hall and still watch the resident.

nrsbetrn · May 6, 2006

We assign one staff member to supervise the residents while they are smoking and they are allowed to smoke also. We do not schedule non-smoking staff to assist the residents to smoke unless they want to be involved. I think all residents should be supervised. This is a huge safety concern.

flashpoint · May 6, 2006

So...what do you do if you are working with an all non-smoking staff? This was an issue in a place I used to work...it ended up that the charge nurse was supposed to take the residents outside to smoke. The day I found out I was pregnant, I resigned.

I understand that nurses and other health care professionals are going to be exposed to health hazards...I just don't think second had smoke should be one of them.