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. I often get these reasons when I am confronted by a smoker.
#1) It is my right to smoke and I don't feel anyone has the right to tell me otherwise.
Smoking has nothing to do with rights. Smoking is clearly an invasion into the rights of those who do not smoke. Perhaps we should remember the children who have their rights removed by breathing smoke from parents/relatives. And we should have the right to speak out against smoking as there is NO BENEFIT whatsoever. 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!
Why not? You started somehow. You had to smoke several times without actually liking it to be able to acquire the "taste" which led to addicition. Any addiction can be broke if YOU choose to do so. You can quit if you chose to quit. But you have opted for the "I can't quit" excuse because frankly you don't want to quit.
#4) The air we breathe is already polluted, so what makes the difference?
Oh, about $3-4 per pack. I agree that the quality of air is not very good due to various reasons, but to pay hard earned $ to further pollution and to further deteriorate your health is totally asinine. Doesn't make a whole lot of sense.
Good luck with your studying.
elthia
554 Posts
Maybe I speak out strongly when I say smoking is an addiction, but I am a former smoker, and when I quit I went through physical and mental withdrawal. I still crave a cigarette every now and then, especially when the going gets tough.
I used to say that "smoking is a crutch, but hey I'd rather use the crutch than limp." That was when I was a smoker.
Now I say, let's find out why you need that crutch.
To me the difference between a bad habit and an addiction, is that the habit has no severe consequences to your physical/psychological/mental health that you are aware of, while an addiction does.
I'm not trying to be argumentative, it's just my opinion.