Smoking nurses

Nurses General Nursing

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I am not a nurse yet, but my sister-in-law is and she smokes. I smoke as well and would like to quit before even starting my classes. I heard that "you can't be a nurse unless you smoke". I feel like I am such a hypocryt for smoking and wanting to be a nurse at the same time, but I also know from reading all of the threads that nursing can be a very stressful job. I am sure that I am not the only one with this problem, but I do feel guilty. Does anyone else? Not judging in any way.

rebel red, I understand that your post was not intended for anyone in particular however there is a difference between someone who eats unhealthy and the consequences that can come from people who smoke and drink. If someone eats unhealthy, they can damage their health. However a person who smokes or drinks can affect other people's health and lives through second hand smoke and drunk driving. Also maybe sugar and red meat should be high-taxed. If its proven to be harmful to a persons health, why defend it?

Kevin

I am not harming you by eating sugar, red meat, etc, but smokers do harm me when they smoke around me, and it makes me nauseous when someone wears too much perfume. I am not saying don't wear perfume, just go lightly, instead of bathing in it. I am not saying don't smoke, just don't do it around me, especially when I am eating. And please don't blow it in my face, and I won't fart in yours. LOL

Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
Originally posted by nursechris1

I am not harming you by eating sugar, red meat, etc, but smokers do harm me when they smoke around me, and it makes me nauseous when someone wears too much perfume. I am not saying don't wear perfume, just go lightly, instead of bathing in it. I am not saying don't smoke, just don't do it around me, especially when I am eating. And please don't blow it in my face, and I won't fart in yours. LOL

:roll :roll :D

I don't smoke but I have a related grip. Why do the smoker's get 3 or 4 "breaks" a shift that the nonsmokers don't get? kinda hard to complain to the charge nurse when she's the worst. We get busted if found "sitting", but the smokers leave and it s no big deal.

Well, I've never smoked but I do reserve the right to have an opinion from the evidently minority non-smoking section. I guess I'm a little shocked at the number of nurses that smoke. At my facility very few nurses (out of the 300+ at our acute care hospital) smoke. I confess to my own prejudices. I, too, feel that the only nurses who seem to get all their breaks and lunches are those that smoke (cigarettes must be more motivating than food for some). I worked in ICU for 5 years and was amazed by one of my co-workers (the only one who smoked). She would be caring for a 58 year old end stage COPD pt trached on a vent, go have her smoke break, and come back reeking of tar and nicotine and walk right in the room and interact with her pt. Nurses should know better than anyone else the harm that those thousands of toxic chemicals they are breathing in are causing to their bodies. Call me crazy, but how can a nurse educate a pt regarding healthy habits if that person knowingly poisons themselves on a daily basis?

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