Should smokers be admitted into the nursing program?

Tippy-ta-ta · Mar 7, 2011

Smokers get breaks. Since they have to leave the Campus, they get longer breaks. Guess who doesn't get an equal break? The non-smoker. .

No one said the non-smokers couldn't take a break.

rn4me2be · Mar 7, 2011

No one said the non-smokers couldn't take a break.

No one said it. Non-smokers do get a break, surprise surprise.

It's just obvious.

A non-smoker cannot take a "smoke" break, which is an additional break.

A smoker can take a "smoke" break (after telling their pt that smoking is harmful to their health).

We all get "a break". The smokers just get the extra "smoke" break.

They also get the extra added bonus of "lung cancer" break.

I lost my dad to lung cancer a few months go. I'll probably get lung cancer from second hand smoke.

rn4me2be · Mar 7, 2011

Ok, someone said that a smoker spends 10 minutes of every hour smoking. That is bull. No employer or school is going to allow that and honestly, there are very few people that smoke THAT much... Do you know how many cigarettes I had yesterday on my 12.5 hour shift. None. Do not lump all smokers into one category.
Maybe next you'll find my tattoos socially unacceptable and I shouldn't be allowed to practice nursing anymore for that either.
Nurses are the most judgmental people I have ever seen.

Do nurses teach "don't smoke because it's socially unacceptable like getting a tattoo"?

No, they teach "don't smoke - it kills you". Tattoos don't kill you (fyi).

It's like saying "I refuse to get a mammogram. Don't -discriminate- against me because I'm -different-. But I will teach others "you must get a mammogram" even though I won't.

It's not judgement, it's life/death/hypocrisy

aanwyn, BSN, RN · Mar 7, 2011

Well I think simply barring smokers from entering the nursing program because they smoke is discrimination. Like others have said if you rule them out because it's an unhealthy habit then you have to rule out a significant population of people who do other obviously unhealthy things.

However, I do believe there are valid reasons for not allowing people who smoke to work in healthcare. My first thought would be patients on a pulmonary unit or with respiratory issues. If the nurse smokes, the particles can irritate the respiratory tract of the exposed patient. FACT: Repeated exposure to lung irritants (particles hanging out on the nurse who smokes) causes respiratory illness/irritation. In addition, some people have plenty of allergies. How do we know that some patients aren't allergic to cigarette smoke/particles? I suppose you could argue that it is an avoidable risk if you wanted, but you would need to be extremely persuasive. Good luck!

HeartsOpenWide, RN · Mar 7, 2011

Do you ever eat fast food? Do you have a perfect BMI? Do you ever have a few beers? If you answered yes to any of these then by your reasoning you should not be in the nursing program either.

I do not by any means want to smell my nurse if she smokes, but I rather have a competent smoking nurse than a super health conscious nurse that is dangerous with patient care.

Not accepting smokers into the nursing program is not a good way to weed people out. A better bet would to use merit and only select those with good grades or those that pass a critical thinking exam.

rn4me2be · Mar 7, 2011

Do you ever eat fast food? Do you have a perfect BMI? Do you ever have a few beers? If you answered yes to any of these then by your reasoning you should not be in the nursing program either.
I do not by any means want to smell my nurse if she smokes, but I rather have a competent smoking nurse than a super health conscious nurse that is dangerous with patient care.
Not accepting smokers into the nursing program is not a good way to weed people out. A better bet would to use merit and only select those with good grades or those that pass a critical thinking exam.

I agree that no one is perfectly healthy, so where do you draw the line?? But I think you'd agree that eating fast food occasionally isn't deadly. Not having the perfect BMI isn't necessarily deadly, and having a few beers occasionally isn't deadly. We're talking about a deadly habit.

That said, I don't believe smokers should be kept out of nursing programs. I do believe that if you're willing to pay a school to learn then the school should teach you.

I just know if I was a smoker I'd feel funny working in the "health" field and teaching others not to smoke.

Rathyen · Mar 7, 2011

No, they teach "don't smoke - it kills you". Tattoos don't kill you (fyi).

Actually, tattoos can kill you. Dirty needles, infection etc. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but not everyone that smokes dies of a smoking related disease, most (about 2/3), yes, but not all.

Also, I would like to know what hospital gives smokers "extra" breaks, I think I would like to work there, because I've never worked somewhere that gives them.

rn4me2be · Mar 7, 2011

Actually, tattoos can kill you. Dirty needles, infection etc. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but not everyone that smokes dies of a smoking related disease, most (about 2/3), yes, but not all.
Also, I would like to know what hospital gives smokers "extra" breaks, I think I would like to work there, because I've never worked somewhere that gives them.

We could say that everything has the potential to kill us, but I think the "most" in your quote is what puts the dangers of smoking in a separate category than the dangers of something like getting tattoos.

I doubt any employer states that smokers officially get extra breaks, some smokers just take extra breaks. Which is fine. But I do think it's more of the teaching the many dangers of smoking and then going on your (maybe, "lunch") break and smoking.

Sort of a practice what you preach. And, no, no one is perfect. I'm not talking about eating junk food occasionally or having an occasional drink. That's comparing apples and oranges.

cebollita · Mar 7, 2011

Yeah, besides, tattoos don't smell bad.

sophie_bob_kids · Mar 8, 2011

I think a smoker took out our OP!! Hehehe :)

WillBeRN2 · Mar 8, 2011

I like to drink pepsi :idea:

Please don't keep me out of nursing school.... :crying2:

PacoUSA, BSN, RN · Mar 8, 2011

Hey, I am a pre nursing student and trying to write a persuasive speech on why smokers should not be allowed to apply for the nursing program.
What do you think? Should they/should they not? Why
My reasoning was that A) they are being hypocritical by deliberately mistreating their body while giving health advise to patients and B) the nursing program is so competitive and by eliminating smokers, there would be more openings for admittance, let me know what you think

OK so I went through all the pages on this thread so far and notice that the OP has not once reposted and clarified their original post. Meanwhile, lots of you have been quick to assume and developed this as a personal attack - pounced on him/her for "choosing" a topic that will waste their time or have no contribution to the field of nursing. Putting aside my own opinions on the matter of smoking nurses ...

Did anyone stop to think that perhaps this student's topic was picked for them? That perhaps this a simple assignment for a speech class? Many times students are asked to develop persuasive speeches or essays that are outside the box of what the student truly believes, solely as a pure exercise in critical thinking. We should hold off criticism until we know the whole story. It's like hanging the accused before the trial. As nurses, is that how you treat your patients??

Geez ... CHILL, people! :rolleyes: