NICOTINE TAR CONTAINS OVER 4000 CHEMICALS including ammonia, formaldehyde, orificenic, butane, hydrogen cyanide, lead, mercury, vinyl chloride, methane AND vast quantities of carbon monoxide.
Nicotine is a colorless, odorless, organic-based alkaloid in the same family as cocaine, morphine, quinine and strychnine. It is a super toxin. Now I know it is legal and so is alcohol, but how can this be allowed in the workplace. It has to effect judgement. please I need feedback, because I have a hard time with this at work.
Perhaps not, perhaps so. But the poster was stating that essentially smokers are impaired during their practise, and others implied that this was not a good representation of nursing. Now I don't disagree, yet how can being an obese nurse be portrayed as healthy? Obesity is rampant in this country, and yes it does run in families. How can an obese nurse tell a CAD, or DM patient how to eat properly? It is as ludicrous as me telling a COPD pt to stop smoking. Hypocritical, and I am not that.
I don't care if someone smokes it is their life/choice...my issue with smoking in the workplace is the fact that it has been banned in hospitals across Kansas and I work at LTC connected to a hospital and the staff goes outside on their breaks to smoke...they were told they could go across the street and smoke off grounds. They come in smelling like a walking cigarette...makes me ill. And my favorite is the lady that brags she buys her cigarettes from an indian reservation for something like 10 bucks a carton...she comes to work smelling like she washes her clothes in cigarrete scented laundry detergent.
Specializes in UR/PA, Hematology/Oncology, Med Surg, Psych.
I am a smoker, and I work with patients that can be sensitive to smoke. So I do not smoke at work at all, I do not smoke in my car, I do not smoke in my home, and I never smoke after showering before work. I take great pains that my uniform is never in any enviroment with smoke, smoking, or smokers. I work very hard so others cannot smell smoke on me, and they don't. I have asked co-workers, and those friends that can always be counted on to tell the truth and have noses like blood hounds. My job is my dream job and I love it, if for some reason I had to totally quit smoking to keep it, I would. Perhaps this serious cutting down on nicotine will help me quit in the long run, it is one of the sacrifices I have made to work where I am happy.
Non-smokers will have to face up to the fact that they are gonna die anyway. No matter how much clean living you do, something is going to kill you too. Smokers are just choosing to live life as they want to, and still the planet is nearing critical mass.
Tell me honestly, who here wants to spend 30 years living in a nursing home while they wait for their 105th birthday? And who cares if a lunger spends their last days pulling off the oxygen mask to smoke? Is there any point at all in forcing them to quit at that point?
From the ANA Code of Ethics:
1. The nurse, in all professional relationships, practices with compassion and respect for the inherent dignity, worth, and uniqueness of every individual, unrestricted by considerations of social or economic status, personal attributes, or the nature of health problems.
Someone needs to care for the ugly wrinkled yellow people too, even if they knew better as nurses.
I've been a smoker for almost 10 years now and for the last almost 5 years my husband and I have been trying to quit. We both still smoke. I have tried cold turkey and the patch. Obviously neither have worked and the patch left me itchy. The only time it was easiest to quit smoking was a couple of years after I found out I was pregnant with our son. I did great for 3 weeks after I had my son and caved. Mostly because my husband was still smoking. We had quit smoking in our home when we moved to TX that year (2005) and still only smoke outside. We do not smoke in the car when our son is riding with us and if we're outside, if my husband wants to light up, he walks far enough behind us so that it does not effect the little one. I do smoke at work (smoking on the campus is still allowed here at the VA), but try my hardest to get the powerful odor off of me. When I come in from smoking, I wash my hands and use hand sanitizier. I know there's still probably an odor on my scrubs, but I dont' have any "fancy" tricks for that one.
Oh, and my husband and I have both gotten Chantix, but have yet to use it. We decided that when we were really truely 100% ready to quit, we would start it together. Even though we really want to quit (and KNOW it is costing us a lot of $$), we have to WANT to and really be ready before we'll start the meds. For the poster who said something about their friend who had quit and put all that cig money aside...that's a great idea! We might have to do that.
Non-smokers will have to face up to the fact that they are gonna die anyway. No matter how much clean living you do, something is going to kill you too. Smokers are just choosing to live life as they want to, and still the planet is nearing critical mass.
None of us really know how we are going to die, there are no guarantees other than the truth that we all die.
Some lifestyle choices I make today however, might decide how those end years are. Smokers are fond of saying "well you gotta die of something, I may as well die happy". Well who is to say the last 10 years of your life won't be spent connected to an O2 tank, gasping for air just going to the bathroom, and spending countless hours in doctors offices, taking a dozen pills to controll the myriad of problems connected, being admitted to the hospital often for exacerbations of COPD.
A lot of smokers just don't life happy lives and then drop dead. Many of them spend many unhappy years at the end.
Sure many nonsmokers find themselves in the same fate. Growing old isn't easy. But just as wearing a seatbelt improves my chances in a car wreck, even thought there are stories that not wearing a seatbelt saved someones life, I'm going to try to live today in a fashion that improve my chances for a better life later on down the line, knowing that there are no guarantees. I could be a thin non-smoker health nut and still spend the last ten years of my life on oxygen, gasping for air going to the bathroom. But chances are if I take care of myself I can particpate in life more.
Non-smokers will have to face up to the fact that they are gonna die anyway. No matter how much clean living you do, something is going to kill you too.
That's true, but tell me, do you want to die wondering where your next breath is coming from? I can think of better ways to die.
Tell me honestly, who here wants to spend 30 years living in a nursing home while they wait for their 105th birthday?
I think you are making assumptions about the state of health of older citizens. I know a number of 90-somethings who are still spritely and live an independent life.
And who cares if a lunger spends their last days pulling off the oxygen mask to smoke? Is there any point at all in forcing them to quit at that point?
I do. Have you ever watched someone you love die slowly and painfully over 15 years from emphysema like I have? If only my grandmother hadn't started in the first place. I thank God every day that my mother stopped smoking soon after I was born.
From the ANA Code of Ethics:
1. The nurse, in all professional relationships, practices with compassion and respect for the inherent dignity, worth, and uniqueness of every individual, unrestricted by considerations of social or economic status, personal attributes, or the nature of health problems.
That doesn't mean we should accept the same fate for ourselves as nurses. Knowledge is power.
Someone needs to care for the ugly wrinkled yellow people too, even if they knew better as nurses.
Unfortunately this is true - regardless of the cost to the person concerned, and society in general. If only there were fewer smokers, maybe everyone's health insurance would cost less. I object to subsidising someone else's dirty habit.
That's true, but tell me, do you want to die wondering where your next breath is coming from? I can think of better ways to die.
I think you are making assumptions about the state of health of older citizens. I know a number of 90-somethings who are still spritely and live an independent life.
I do. Have you ever watched someone you love die slowly and painfully over 15 years from emphysema like I have? If only my grandmother hadn't started in the first place. I thank God every day that my mother stopped smoking soon after I was born.
That doesn't mean we should accept the same fate for ourselves as nurses. Knowledge is power.
Nat.
We can all think of better ways to die, but we don't really get that choice, do we? What you choose for your LIFE is fine and dandy --for you.
I know lots of seniors that are sitting in nursing homes, neither spritely or independent...SO?
Yes, I have watched loved ones die from smoking-related illnesses. AND I have watched them die from non-smoking-related illnesses. The end result was still the same.
Unfortunately this is true - regardless of the cost to the person concerned, and society in general. If only there were fewer smokers, maybe everyone's health insurance would cost less. I object to subsidising someone else's dirty habit.
That's a little cold. I hope those who subsidized your grandmother didn't object to her circumstances to her face! It's called paying it forward and respecting your elders.
We can all think of better ways to die, but we don't really get that choice, do we? What you choose for your LIFE is fine and dandy --for you.
You obviously have little concern about how much OTHER PEOPLE may care about YOU (and need you) if this is how you think.
I know lots of seniors that are sitting in nursing homes, neither spritely or independent...SO?
Yes, why contribute to this through smoking related illness?
Yes, I have watched loved ones die from smoking-related illnesses. AND I have watched them die from non-smoking-related illnesses. The end result was still the same.
You might have had a bit longer with the smokers if they hadn't contracted smoking-related illness. Smoking has the potential to drastically shorten a person's life.
That's a little cold. It's called paying it forward and respecting your elders.
It may be cold, but it's a fact. Perhaps if more people realised this, it would change their attitude to smoking. I'm happy that cigarettes are heavily taxed by our government, otherwise more people could be dying. I have great respect for my elders - why would I work in aged care if I didn't? I respect them enough to help them live their lives to the full. It doesn't mean I have to respect everything they do - which applies to anyone else too.
Boy did this thread get my heart racing. I lurk alot dont post much.
I have been a smoker for 22 yrs and have been off the cigs for 11 weeks now. It has been the single most hardest thing I have ever done in my 38 yrs on this planet. I loved smoking and I hated smoking all at the same time. It is a monkey on your back especially because it is not the "social norm" to do it anymore. Back in the late 80's and 90's it was the thing to do all my nurse/doctor friends smoked it was no big thing. I am glad that this time I was able to quit for good.
For the poster that said her and her husband has to want to quit to make it happen I disagree. The only reason my "quitting" worked this time around was because I said to myself, "I love to smoke but it is something I just dont do anymore" and that is it its a choice not will power a choice.
And to all the "non-smokers" who do despise the "smoker" you should really consider your ideas un-balanced. When you are addicted to anything its hard to quit. You see people go to rehab all the time and we all feel sorry for them "oh how sad they have an "illness" but you see someone smoking a cig and you dont feel sorry for them for their "illness" you are just digusted.
I myself think alcohol should be banned from society but I dont go around to all the people who drink and show disgust, oh maybe thats because its still socially acceptable to kill your liver with liquor......
Just please remember if you are a non-smoker and that is someone who has never smoked before, you really have never walked in a smokers shoes so you prob should just keep your judgements to yourself because you have no idea how hard it really is to stop....
Thank your for your time and I hope not to affend anyone, just food for thought.
Thank your for your time and I hope not to affend anyone, just food for thought.
No offense taken. Let me just say that for myself, and perhaps others, that I detest smoking, it's disgusting, and I hate it.
I don't despise smokers. I know how hard it is to quit first hand, as I struggle to quit for many years before finally becoming free over 20 years ago. It's ciggarettes and smoking I hate not smokers.
lorilou22RN
114 Posts
Perhaps not, perhaps so. But the poster was stating that essentially smokers are impaired during their practise, and others implied that this was not a good representation of nursing. Now I don't disagree, yet how can being an obese nurse be portrayed as healthy? Obesity is rampant in this country, and yes it does run in families. How can an obese nurse tell a CAD, or DM patient how to eat properly? It is as ludicrous as me telling a COPD pt to stop smoking. Hypocritical, and I am not that.