Smoking among Nurses is hypocritical.

UM Review RN, ASN, RN · Aug 27, 2005

Smoking among Nurses is hypocritical.

I wonder what brought that on.

Thom, face it. There's a lot of hypocrisy in this world. I preach "no caffeine" to my cardiac patients but guess what I have waiting for me when I'm finished with my assessments? A cup of "real" coffee.

Does it make me a hypocrite to advocate good health practices for all, even though I'm don't comply? I don't think so.

Know what my version of a hypocrite is?

The televangelist who preaches monogamy and has affairs.

The church that preaches that poverty is "good," but is richer than Midas itself.

In other words, if I picketed outside the hospital or badgered all my friends to stop smoking while smoking up a storm myself, THEN I'd agree that it might be hypocritical.

But while doing my job? Nah. It's a clinical standard. Even if I believed that the anti-smoking campaign was a bunch of hooey, I would still have to recommend that patients quit and offer them smoking cessation, or ultimately forfeit my job or my license.

Make sense?

NurCrystal22 · Aug 27, 2005

Sigh. Everyone has bad habits. I do not feel that it is hypocritical for a nurse to advise a patient to quit smoking. If they have health problems related to their cigarette smoking then they SHOULD quit. It's just advice, it does not mean that the patient WILL quit but they are advised that it will improve their health.

I SMOKE. I know that smoking is not healthy for you, yet I have ADVISED patients that it would be in their best interest to quit. And BECAUSE I smoke, I understand what they are going through, how difficult it will be for them, and alternatives because is reality... they probably won't quit.

It's the same as telling someone they need to exercise. I am not overweight, I was blessed with a high metabolism, and I DO eat healthy, but I don't exercise as often as I should. So, when I tell someone to exercise, is that too making me a hypocrit in your opinion?

As I said everyone has bad habits, it's human nature, we are not perfect, nurses are PEOPLE too, and we are not infallible creatures. By telling people ways to improve their health (even if we don't practice those same measures) is our JOB. Would you rather me tell people to continue smoking? I THINK NOT.

Sorry, you had some nice points, but I truely believe you are WRONG.

~Crystal

pricklypear · Aug 27, 2005

I'll just say this... What I do on my own time, on my own property, has NO BEARING on my ability to perform as a nurse. As long as it's legal, that is. I've never "scolded" a patient in my life, and don't plan on it.

VeryPlainJane · Aug 27, 2005

While your at it why don't you call nurses that are over weight, have unprotected sex, or drive fast hypocrites? Would that be hypocritical of you?

LydiaNN · Aug 27, 2005

Hypocrites are about passing judgment, not giving facts. The fact that a nurse may smoke does not in any way change the veracity of information they give their patients-that smoking is associated with x, y and z, and by quitting you will be benefitting yourself and your family in the following ways. Surely you're not suggesting that because a nurse has not yet been successful at kicking the habit that they shouldn't be giving their patients this important information? The only way I could consider a nurse who smokes being a hypocrite is if said nurse were to present smoking's known health effects are only relevant to patients and not his/her self.

GrnHonu99, RN · Aug 27, 2005

Well, I used to be a smoker but have been a non smoker for 2.5 years now. As long as an individual keeps their smoke to themselves its not my place to say anything. I dont think nurses should smell like smoke while at work. I personally would be upset if my nurse smelled of smoke, but like I said as long as I dont smell it, doesnt bother me.

DKM_RN · Aug 27, 2005

I take it you have no bad habits ... and only engage in activities that are wholesome, good for you phyisically, mentally, and spiritually. All of your activities must also be good for your local community, the economy, and the environment.
You must be thin and phyisically fit ... a vegetarian who eats only organically grown products that never encountered pesticides.
You must also have always been a top-notch student because ...well ... perfect people like you are smart and always perform better in class than those other idiots who take some of the same classes as you do.
When you get to be a nurse -- IF you get to be a nurse -- you'll be a shining role model for everyone around you, just as you are now for your fellow students. I hope they appreciate your perfection and follow your guidance to the letter so that they too, can be perfect -- just like you.
llg -- who hates smoking, too ... but is wise enough to be supportive and empathetic with my fellow human beings who struggle daily with human frailty -- just like me.

Exactly..... couldn't of said it better myself...

CrazyPremed, MSN, RN, NP · Aug 27, 2005

When I first read the responses, I didn't want to reply. I basically agreed with everyone. But, as I begin to think about it, it doesn't make sense. Smoking, lack of exercise, being overweight, unprotected sex, whatever one's "bad habit" may be, it's just that - a bad habit. Just because many of us may have them (this coming from a nonsmoker) doesn't make it right.

Honestly, if there is any group that shouldn't be smoking/overweight/blah blah, it's those in the health care field. Regardless of what we say to our patients, we see the horrible effects of poor health every single day!!! We care for the smokers dying of lung cancer, the overweight suffering from diabetes, joint & back pain, and everything else that can be caused by being overweight. We care for those with infectious diseases from unprotected sex. If there is any group could serve as a public service announcement against not taking care of oneself, it's nurses!

Now, it obvious that these problems are complex and involve many socioeconomic, cultural, and other factors. It is also painfully obvious that these habits can't be changed overnight. In addition, no one is perfect and I don't think that the OP was claiming that we as nurses should be. Please don't read this into the post.

What I like to do is - if I encounter a pt who is struggling with a "bad habit" that I have myself, I A) provide nonjudgemental support, admitting that I have the same problem, or B) provide nonjudgemental support, and use this experience as a remimder to myself to try to 'fix' what problem I have.

Whether we like it or not, we should try to practice what we preach. Of course, for most of us, this will be difficult. Put yourself in the shoes of the patient. How would you feel if a nurse who told you to lose weight was obese. Or an MD who advised you to quit smoking smelled like a chimney? Just my 2 cents. :wink2:

NurCrystal22 · Aug 27, 2005

hey, well sorry i had to respond to this cause i completely, well almost completely, disagree... i made my responses bold and color.

when i first read the responses, i didn't want to reply. i basically agreed with everyone. but, as i begin to think about it, it doesn't make sense. smoking, lack of exercise, being overweight, unprotected sex, whatever one's "bad habit" may be, it's just that - a bad habit. just because many of us may have them (this coming from a nonsmoker) doesn't make it right.
i don't think anyone is saying that bad habits are good or that's it's ok, just that everyone has them. the op was specifically speaking of smoking, so to broaden the topic of why it is hypocritical, lack of exercise, being overweight, and uprotected sex were given as examples. the op was specifically saying that nurses who smoke are hypocritical, so we asked similar questions like "if i don't exercise and i tell someone to exercise, is that hypocritical?" i don't think so, it is our dute to inform and educate patients of good health practices even if we don't practice them ourselves.
honestly, if there is any group that shouldn't be smoking/overweight/blah blah, it's those in the health care field. regardless of what we say to our patients, we see the horrible effects of poor health every single day!!! we care for the smokers dying of lung cancer, the overweight suffering from diabetes, joint & back pain, and everything else that can be caused by being overweight. we care for those with infectious diseases from unprotected sex. if there is any group could serve as a public service announcement against not taking care of oneself, it's nurses!
why must nurses bare the burden of being a "public service announcement" we have health issues too, we are not perfect, no one is. yes we care about all of these patients, but the truth of the matter is, we suffer from some of the same illness that they do. we are not immune, we are human.
now, it obvious that these problems are complex and involve many socioeconomic, cultural, and other factors. it is also painfully obvious that these habits can't be changed overnight. in addition, no one is perfect and i don't think that the op was claiming that we as nurses should be. please don't read this into the post.
ah, you are right, we are not perfect, you say that here but in the previous paragraph, you say that we should be a public service announcement, which one is it? i don't think we read into the ops post. how can you read into a blunt statement like "nurses who smoke are hypocritical"? that, is what doesn't make any sense and i think the main point of most people's posts is that everyone, every nurse has a bad habit that he/she would probably advise a patient not to do, so is that too being hypocritical? not just the smoking...
what i like to do is - if i encounter a pt who is struggling with a "bad habit" that i have myself, i a) provide nonjudgemental support, admitting that i have the same problem, or b) provide nonjudgemental support, and use this experience as a remimder to myself to try to 'fix' what problem i have.
good, i completely agree.
whether we like it or not, we should try to practice what we preach. of course, for most of us, this will be difficult. put yourself in the shoes of the patient. how would you feel if a nurse who told you to lose weight was obese. or an md who advised you to quit smoking smelled like a chimney? just my 2 cents. :wink2:

too be honest, if i were obese and a nurse told me to lose weight, and she was obese... i would think "well so do you" but obviously, she's telling me this information for a reason, it's effecting my health, i'm in the hospital for a reason and it's because i am obese, and i'm sure if this nurse was in the hospital with the same problems that i have another nurse or doctor would tell her she needed to lose weight. i mean, the nurse is suppose to educate... i would rather her tell me to lose weight then to do nothing about it regardless if she was obese or not. and if a doctor said to me "your smoking is effecting your health in a negative way" and he smelled like smoke then, hey, i'm obviously sick for a reason. okay, my doctors smokes he knows the risks, he still chooses to smoke, if he doesn't quit, he may end up in my position some day, but right now, i see that i can't breathe and it's because i smoke.... maybe he's right... i should quit.

~crystal :smokin:

caroladybelle, BSN, RN · Aug 27, 2005

I don't believe the number of Nurses that continue to smoke, despite the constant flow of patients that have numerous problems associated with smoking. Furthermore, it is very hypocritical for anyone, DR. or Nurse to be advising patients about proper lifestyle changes.
#1) It is my right to smoke and I don't feel anyone has the right to tell me otherwise.
Furthermore smoking drives up health care costs for everyone, regardless if they smoke or not. Talk about rights.
#2) We all are going to die of something someday. Oh well!
With this attitude, you definately shouldn't be in the health care field, especially Nursing. Nursing is all about getting the patient better. What would you do if you overheard a doctor tell his/her patient that it is ok to continue in the bad habits, because they will die someday of something. How ridiculous!
#3) I can't quit!
#4) The air we breathe is already polluted, so what makes the difference?
My first thought was isn't this one of our previous posters with a changed name trolling again?
My second thought was, don't SDNers have better things to do with their time than go to another BB, just to get a response from someone?
My third thought is has the OP been back to see the ruckus or offer any opinions on the responses received?
But after reviewing the post, and the poster's history, I figure that it might (outside chance) be a newbie to the nursing field, who just doesn't know better.
But let's not debate the poster but debate the issue.
There are many things that are hypocritical in this world. A president that talks about the needed sacrifices of the American people, yet has no children involved in the war effort and who has taken an inordinate amount of time on vacation during his time in office. A governor that calls nurses a "special interest group" that he kicks the butt of, yet still takes huge amounts of contributions from hospital associations, other "special interests". Another governor that tries to interfere with the court system ruling on the rights of loved ones to discontinue treatment, yet also cuts funds to nursing homes to provide adequate care givers for many those receiving that treatment. An attourney general that that prosecutes people for sodomy and fires people for having same sex commitment ceremonies, yet is found to be having an extramarital affair, also illegal in that state.
Guess what? Life is not fair.
1) It is legal to smoke. You and I do not have to like it, but it is. Deal with it or make it illegal. There are many people doing things that drive up health care costs from Wallstreeters having early MIs to sexually active teens with a higher risk of STDs/cervical cancer. Why are you not going after them?
2) We are all going to die anyway....anyone with this attitude should not be in healthcare because nursing is about making people better.
So I guess that hospice nurses are not part of "healthcare". Nor are nurses that deal with ALS, dementia, geriatric psych, CF, etc.
3) They won't quit, because they don't want to...as is their right.
4) The air is already polluted. So when are we all going to car pool, use public transportation, give up our expensive cars, stop using air conditioning or all live next door to campus/work?
I don't smoke and I don't like smoking, but arguing with people on it and calling them hypocritical is not going to change them.

bellcollector · Aug 27, 2005

I also noticed the original poster has not returned to add anything to the conversation. I am a smoker, I try to be a respectful one to those who may be around me. I know it is bad for me and I am not proud of it. However I am a kick orifice nurse. I do not approach teaching in a judgmental way as I have never walked in anothers shoes. I am honest and up front and willing to share my own struggles with this revolting habit. I would much rather have a nurse who smokes educate me on the facts of smoking than to have a judgemental nurse preach at me.

CrazyPremed, MSN, RN, NP · Aug 27, 2005

Hey, well sorry I had to respond to this cause I completely, well almost completely, disagree... I made my responses BOLD and color.
~Crystal

Crystal,

It's nice to see that my reply created a small discourse. Thanks for jumping in. :)

I think that you might have missed the main theme of my post. Basically, we all have some bad habits (this OP's example is smoking). I think - because nurses generally see the negative effects of poor health upfront, and learn about it more than most other professions - that we should "know better."

Here's an example to make things clear. Let's say I have a daughter that is starting to have lots of unprotected sex. For personal reasons, I'd like her to stop. First, I try to educate her on the dangers of unprotected sex using stories, statistics, and whatever pamphlets I can swipe for Planned Parenthood . If that doesn't work, I show her examples of people who had bad experiences because of this behavior - teen moms, pt with bad STD's, the traditional 'afterschool special' stuff. Third, I want to make sure that she doesn't see me doing what I tell her she shouldn't do (remember, I don't have kids so I'm guessing here).

Our example of smoking (or any other preventable health problem) is similar. Nurses have been educated on the negative effects that these problems can have in nursing school, and they see the negative experiences that patients have with them on a daily basis. To continue to engage in the activites (or lack thereof) would be somewhat similiar to a parent engaging in non-health promoting behavior that they tell thier kids is bad.

Now remember, I have never said that nurses aren't human or should be perfect. As in my last post, I acknowledge that these bad habits are based upon many different factors and nurses live in the same world that patients do. I just think that - with our education and health care experience - it's difficult to truly justify our engaging in harmful activities. Feel free to respond, and thanks for keeping it civilized.

CrazyPremed

P.S. I actually wrote that nurses would be the best choice to make a public service announcement, not that they should have to. Also, you wrote "I don't think so, it is our duty to inform and educate patients of good health practices even if we don't practice them ourselves." Isn't that a form of hypocracy? Doesn't that prove the OP's point? HMMM.....