Smokers need not apply?

Nurses Professionalism

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So I've reached my 2 year mark & getting a little restless, toying with the idea of moving into a different dept or facility. I was looking at a website for another hospital & they have posted that they will no longer hire anyone that uses nicotine which will be screened for during the employment physical. Not an issue for me, but I found the bold underlined statement a little jarring. I understand that in healthcare we want to promote healthy lifestyles, but dictating personal legal habits to employees is a bit of a push don't you think? Is this common in other areas & just reaching my neck of the woods?

Specializes in NICU, PICU, PACU.

"What I would not be surprised to see is employers going after the obese for increased insurance premiums or requirements to prove health in order to avoid getting dinged for extra insurance penalties. "

My husbands insurance already does this. We are both required to be enrolled in employee health programs for several things (hypertension, high cholesterol and high BMI for example). They set goals and if we don't met and maintain these goals our premiums go up. They have an EHP for everything you can imagine. And this is a big world known hospital/ healthcare system. It is coming soon to more places I am sure!

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Specializes in HH, Peds, Rehab, Clinical.

It's cute the way smokers think no one can tell that they do it. Um, it's in your hair, your clothes, your fingers show it, your breath gives you away, that voice/cough is a clue, the list goes on and on.

It can. I have a colleague who smokes off campus. When she gets on the floor, I know she's there just because of the tobacco smell. She swears no one can tell she's a smoker. Believe me, we can. And I told her so. I was polite about it, but when she mentioned that she smokes and no-one can tell, I apologized and told her we really can.
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Smoking, yuck. I can't believe people still start up the habit!

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Specializes in Med-Surg, NICU.
Neither were blacks 50 years ago, did that make segregation any less discrimination?

Are you really comparing race to someone smoking? Last time I checked, I didn't have a choice in race, but I DO have the choice not to light up.

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Specializes in Pedi.
Mandated flu vaccines and smoking are not comparable. Flu vaccines are to prevent the spread of the flu to the residents and other staff. My smoking off campus does not affect my patients or other staff.

Yes. It does.

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Specializes in ER.
Discrimination. I don't see them blood testing for residual alcohol and refusing to hire anyone who drinks because they tend to call out with a hangover. ( no, I don't smoke)

Some jobs do require people to get a full drug test including a breathalyzer and nicotine pee test.

Both main hospital systems do not hire smokers at the initial hire. Do I care? Not really. I have worked with smokers and it's not like we're smoking at the desk which would bother me. I do find it amusing that the hospital I work at does not have a "no smell" policy in regards to perfumes. Some residents and even physicians need to lay off the perfumes/colognes/aftershaves/whatever.

One thing that cracks me up is the patients who are smoking in the strip that divides the street. That's real safe.

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Specializes in Transitional Nursing.

This thread just HAD to be dug up! Ugh!

Here is my thing. I don't smoke at work. I chew nicotine gum or go in the bathroom to use my now banned e-ciggarette. I don't smoke on break, or any other time while I am on the clock. I don't believe I should get any extra anything due to the fact that I have a habit that makes my body freak out when I don't have nicotine. I deal and I figure

So, If I don't want to disclose the fact that I smoke, and I don't need the health insurance, why should I have to? How is it anyone's business what LEGAL activities I participate in when I am not at work?

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Funny how addiction is a DISEASE when it comes to alcoholics and junkies, but NOT when it comes to smokers!!! Last time I read the Americans With Disabilities Act, it is illegal to discriminate against a potential employee based on medical condition!!

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Specializes in HH, Peds, Rehab, Clinical.

what medical condition? Smokers who are not a protected class? Or junkies who are? Are junkies even considered a protected class? I honestly don't know!

Funny how addiction is a DISEASE when it comes to alcoholics and junkies, but NOT when it comes to smokers!!! Last time I read the Americans With Disabilities Act, it is illegal to discriminate against a potential employee based on medical condition!!
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Funny how addiction is a DISEASE when it comes to alcoholics and junkies but NOT when it comes to smokers!!! Last time I read the Americans With Disabilities Act, it is illegal to discriminate against a potential employee based on medical condition!![/quote']

Any nurse who is caught using drugs or alcohol gets in a lot of trouble and are put on probation and all that mess. They don't get to cry "discrimination." I don't necessarily believe in nicotine screening, but that's a horrible angle to use as an opposition.

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Specializes in ICU.

The bottom line is that smoking is not good for anyone. You can spin it all you want. No, neither is using illicit drugs, alcohol, etc., but the topic here is tobacco abuse. I am highly allergic to it; if I get around someone who has it in their clothes or hair, I start coughing and get hoorifice. Funny thing is that years ago, I did smoke, and wasn't allergic to it. Now that I am completely tobacco-free, my body reacts horribly to it. Maybe it is my body's way of telling me it can kill me. Please, just put them down, and stop. You will feel better almost immediately.

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Specializes in Pedi.
If a doctor is concerned about a pediatric patient, whose parent(s), smoke, the physician can contact CPS. They have the child removed from the home and placed in foster care, until the parents quit smoking, and have the house cleaned, and fumigated, to rid it of smoke odor. It is the only fair thing to do for the child.

I am surprised that the physician has not involved Social Services with the parents. They have the authority to do that.

JMHO and my NY $0.02

Lindarn, RN, BSN, CCRN (ret)

Somewhere in the PACNW

Since this thread has been rehashed I want to address this post... this is a joke, right? CPS in my state can't even keep track of if a kid with an open case (due to physical abuse) is alive or not, they wouldn't even open an investigation if someone called to report that a kid's parents smoke. Smoking is legal. Heck, I've had a few cases recently where the mother smoked marijuana while pregnant and they still didn't do anything. More than 10% of my current patients have open cases with CPS- some of them have parents who don't feed them or give their meds and these kids are STILL in their parents' custody. They would never take custody away from a parent for having a legal habit.

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