The hospital I work at went "Tobacco Free" on January 1, 2008. This new policy was met with a lot anger and resentment toward the system administrators by 99.99% of the smokers.
I work on a small rehab unit which employs about 20 people. Out of these 3 are smokers. I am, however, not one of them.
As a rule we are allowed 1/2 hour for lunch and one 15 minute break anywhere in between per 8 hour shift; 15 minute break X2 if working a 12 hour shift. The concern I had was the fact that if you were a smoker, you generally recieved your normal breaks during the day, plus you were able to go out 2-3 times per shift for a smoke for 5-10 minutes a time. What's worse; most of the smokers worked on the same shift and when one went outside, the other usually followed, leaving the entire patient census in the care of 1-2 people.
Now entering our 8th month of this new "Smoke Free" policy, I have noticed a few things. Most annoying of which, staff were just standing on the sidewalk boardering our facility, smoking, wearing their badges as they "light up" right beside the "Were Tobacco Free!" sign. It makes me sick.
Now I have nothing against smoking, or smokers, but, it is my opinion that when you work in a profession such as nursing, you should act in a more professional mannor. One of my charge nurses said it perfectly when she said "We don't work at Target, behavior like that should not be tolorated."
I guess what I am really asking is; Am I wrong in thinking this way? What should I do when I see a fellow staff member clearly testing the administrations limits just like a two-year-old that keeps throwing his food on the floor?
You're twenty one. You might not always be as perfect as you are now. Why not give other human beings some slack. You might just need some yourself "down the road".
I used to get upset about that fact that smokers got those 3-4 extra 10 minute breaks to go get their fix. Then I realized that if they don't go out and do that they have a tendancy to be foul SOBs and unpleasant to work with. I prefer not to smell the stink of smoker clothes anyway, so the longer they are away the better (we only have 2 out of about 40 staff RNs on both shifts so we are lucky). Eeeek, was that too mean? Seriously, IMO these folks need tough love, incentive, and constant reminder to quit. Most of them make a conscious effort to take their extra breaks at downtimes or when they have 'caught up' so I don't tend to get too upset. Our hospital makes them walk a LONG way though as it is banned from the campus/parking lot/and even your personal car if you are on the property. I love that policy and thank God every day that I live in a democracy!
Die smoker Die!!! jk
We have pretty muched shoved these cancer spawns into the deepest darkest holes of our society as we can, especially on the west coast where it is illegal to smoke indoors ANYWHERE including bars. Work is about the only place they can go have a smoke break anymore, can't say I blame 'em.
Besides these folks are dwindling in vast numbers. With all the anti-smoking advertising now-a-days I see way fewer smokers than I did say 10-15 years ago. Only a few wrinkly, stinky, yellow-stained hold-outs left.
I personally do not want anyone to die, regardless of how little I think of their disgusting habits.
Anyhoo.... When I first went in to nursing, I can remember sitting around the table charting whilst my fellow nurses sat there puffing on a cigarette about 5 feet from the nearest patient.
Great care was taken, of course, to make sure that the patients on oxygen were kept at a safe distance. Many times, one of the patients would try bumming a cigarette from the nurse. Successfully too, I might add.
Times have changed. Smoking is bad. Second-hand smoke is bad. People are starting to be very self conscious about smoking in front of everyone else. Used to be about 30 people inside the break room puffing away, and choking up the air. That's not the case anymore!
Is smoking out on the curb at your place of employment cause for disciplinary action? No. Not unless there is a policy against smoking out on the curb at your place of employment.
If you want to make something different, talk to the policy makers and make your voice heard.
I am not a smoker, never have been. That said I can have empathy for those who are and are trying to quit, and for those who choose to continue god bless-but really it is annoying for coworkers to take group smoke breaks q2hrs, leaving pt care to others constantly. I did speak up on the floor I worked on I simply stated smokers needed to cover eachother for their smoke breaks/lunches, then a coworker who would ask me to cover for her I said I couldn't-she was pregnant, to please ask someone else as I strongly disagreed with her smoking. For those who feel the smell isn't that bothersome-it is if you are a non-smoker, my husband smokes, started again after many deployments/stress and it reeks to me-he smokes outside but I still smell the smoke that lingers on his clothes,I spray him down with febreze when he comes in the house but the smell is leeching into our brand new sectional anyway.
As a smoker, I have quit many times and re-started, like all smokers I know the struggle.
After living in Florida, where smoking is pretty much banned everywhere, I've learned to be conscious of the rights of others and I'm very polite about when and where I smoke.
But I will tell you, that until we all never eat a Big Mac again, or stop engaging in unsafe sex that spreads STD's and ruins lives, honestly, my smoking is still legal and the discrimination associated with it should be looked at long and hard in light of our own unhealthy behavior. I even go to such lengths as to wear a zipped up jacket and rubber gloves so nobody has to deal with much smell when I return.
I just resent the fact that, we inhale vehicle exhaust that, if we're in a closed room with it will kill us instantly. And we deal with it every single day while we drink our Cokes and do god knows what else with our bodies. As long as I keep it away from others and am conscious as to not infringe upon the health of another person, I'd say that the discrimination is pretty unfair. Just my
I'd like for a non smoker to please look up the data associated with HPV and HSV-1 and 2 for the U.S. and then post it here. I already know the answer, which varies dependent upon who's done the study.
I'd also like for everyone that engages in sexual activity (as condoms don't prevent the spread of HPV or HSV) that DOESN'T smoke and has such disdain for smokers, to enjoy their smoke free health. Because the spread of lesions, cancer causing viruses and warts is a lot less stressful, I suppose.. than the horrid waft of smoke you may or may not catch as a co-worker brushes past you in a hallway.
In other words, with respect to the smokers v. non-smoker's rights issue, there are 4 fingers pointing back at you for the 1 you're pointing at another.
No Smoking where I work means "no smoking anywhere on the hospital campus". Employees were going across the street the the back parking lot of a Fire Station until the Fire Chief called the CEO and asked that they stop. I don't know where they smoke now or if all. They are supposed to only be able to smoke on their break and must leave the campus before lighting up. I occasionally see patients and/or family members standing outside between cars smoking and we're supposed to say something. No me, that's their rules, they can have security patrol the parking lots during the day. I hate smoke but it's none of my business. IMHO
Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.
Wow! At many places I worked it was against the rules to leave the facility grounds at all--even on breaks. Had to do with emergency plans and all staff being available for emergencies. Some places fired people for leaving just to go get a hamburger and disciplined for leaving a nursing unit without notifying someone you were going.
I used to get upset about that fact that smokers got those 3-4 extra 10 minute breaks to go get their fix. Then I realized that if they don't go out and do that they have a tendancy to be foul SOBs and unpleasant to work with. I prefer not to smell the stink of smoker clothes anyway, so the longer they are away the better (we only have 2 out of about 40 staff RNs on both shifts so we are lucky). Eeeek, was that too mean? Seriously, IMO these folks need tough love, incentive, and constant reminder to quit. Most of them make a conscious effort to take their extra breaks at downtimes or when they have 'caught up' so I don't tend to get too upset. Our hospital makes them walk a LONG way though as it is banned from the campus/parking lot/and even your personal car if you are on the property. I love that policy and thank God every day that I live in a democracy!
Die smoker Die!!! jk
We have pretty muched shoved these cancer spawns into the deepest darkest holes of our society as we can, especially on the west coast where it is illegal to smoke indoors ANYWHERE including bars. Work is about the only place they can go have a smoke break anymore, can't say I blame 'em.
Besides these folks are dwindling in vast numbers. With all the anti-smoking advertising now-a-days I see way fewer smokers than I did say 10-15 years ago. Only a few wrinkly, stinky, yellow-stained hold-outs left.
IT IS TRULY FRIGHTENING TO SEE SOMEONE AS INTOLERANT AS YOU BEING A NURSE. I WOULD'T WANT YOU TAKING CARE OF ME OR MY LOVED ONES. I GUESS WE WOULD STINK TOO BAD. I 'LL BET YOU FEEL THE SAME WAY ABOUT OVERWEIGHT FOLKS,UNWED MOTHERS, GAYS,ETC. AS WELL AS PATIENTS WITH ACNE OR BAD BREATH. I SERIOUSLY HOPE YOU GET THE PSYCHIATRIC HELP YOU SO DESPERATELY NEED. "DIE SMOKERS DIE" WELL WHEN YOU ARE IN BAD PAIN OR TAKING YOUR LAST BREATH, REMEMBER THAT MAYBE I HAVEN"T TAKEN MY SMOKE BREAK YET!!!"
and thank God every day that I live in a democracy!
Die smoker Die!!! jk
That's not my idea of living in a democracy. Oh "but for the grace of God go I" While I personally find smoking disgusting I can say but for the grace of God go I. I'm sure I have some habit that people don't like either. Don't judge others lest you be gudged. Play nice!
I absolutely acknowledge that my habit is filthy. I wish I didn't do it. I remember the smell was nasty when I did quit. I have no excuses for it. But I respect it for what it is, and the capacity in which it can hurt others and it's not any one else's fault that I chose this addiction. I took a part-time job doing private home health, more of a 'nanny' if you will, for an older gentleman. I had absolutely no medical experience whatsoever. HE HATTTTED the smell of smoke, and as a result of his hypersensitive sense of smell and taste due to his loss of other faculties, he knew I was a smoker .
His son taught me to wear an old jacket that I didn't bring into the house, and wear gloves always when smoking.
I carried that tip with me and exercise it all the time in order to alleviate other's discomfort caused by my addiction.
But I tell you what, there have been quite a few people who, at the thought of me being smoker or the mere mention, are truly unbelievable with the way they treat people who smoke.
I really appreciate the non-smokers who don't take advantage of the fact that they weren't as stupid as I was to start smoking and use it to be hateful. Thanks a lot for that. :heartbeat:redbeathe:heartbeat
jk
*LadyJane*
278 Posts
You're twenty one. You might not always be as perfect as you are now. Why not give other human beings some slack. You might just need some yourself "down the road".
Jane:nurse: