Okay guys. I really need to know what you all think about this. I learned today that as of July 1, the facility for which I work is going to be totally tobacco free. By this I mean that tobacco will be allowed NOWHERE on the facility premises. This also means that if you want to smoke, you are required to do so in your own vehicle AND clock out to do so. This is system wide, and includes patients, families, employees, doctors, everybody. I am not quite sure what to think about this. I know and you all know that nurses that smoke sometimes do not even have time to think about smoking during a shift, much less get to smoke, so ultimately it's not the end of the world, but I can't help being mad. I don't know about you all, but sometimes a cigarette is all I need to keep my sanity. Do any of you all have a policy like this?? Please let me know what you think!!!
There is a local hospital here which has been smoke-free for about 5 years. People grumbled at first but it still is in effect and working.
My small hospital doesn't allow smoking by staff or patients either. If you are well enough to walk outside and smoke, you are well enough to be discharged is the philosophy here too. However the smoking areas are ridiculous. One is right outside the ER doors . ..a nice bench and bin to dispose of their cigarettes. This is the way most of the staff enters the hospital and I hate to walk through a cloud of smoke to get to work (not to mention the ER patients). The other is right outside a door which is across from the kitchen/cafeteria and our LTC facility. There are patients lined up in the hall waiting to get into the cafeteria who are bombarded with smoke each time the door opens. As you walk to the cafeteria to eat, you smell the lovely scent of cigarettes.
I recently visited my 10 year old nephew, who is in UC Davis for chemo. As I left the hospital, I had to walk down some outside stairs that were littered, just littered with cigarette butts. So fun to walk on and even though there were no smokers there are that time, the place reeked. That's just downright rude.
And no amount of washing of hands can take the smell of tobacco from a smoker.
I am not a smoker, nor have I ever been a smoker, but I have to say your hospital is being way to harsh to those who do smoke. Our hospital has a designated smoking area that is not a main entrance to the building. The only reason that entrance is used is to get to the smoking area. That being said, another hospital that I worked at had a similar set up, smoking away from traffic entrances and they put a ban on smoking anywhere on the premises... Including in one's car. You also couldn't walk to the street corner and smoke there as the hospital owned all the property for 4 blocks. This is still being strickly enforced, they have extra security on staff just to 'catch' smokers. What a waste of hospital resourses. I agree with trying to promote healthy lifestyles etc, but some things are taken too far, and your hospital is taking it's smoking policy waaay too far. Good luck to all of you. Here's an interesting thought, are they willing to pay for cesation methods such as the patch or wellbutrin for employees who would like to quit? I bet not. Honest guys, I am NOT a smoker, but sympathize with those that do. They just don't have it fair sometimes.
I have a feeling that it will be harder and harder to find a place to smoke.
I think I probably quit at a good time.
-Russell
I'm proud of you rusty; you'll never regret quitting. (dated a non-smoker once the first time I tried to quit=boy, did he taste good. )
*sigh* i prolly shouldn't read these threads, but here're my thoughts...
Y'all have NO idea what it's like to have to gasp for air--ANY air-- then get into a car with a relative who rolls down the window and says, "I'm sorry, I just hafta have a cigarette."
Yeah. me too.
Wish I could put a "no-smoking in the vehicle" policy into effect.
I want my own smoke-free car.
I dislike the "cloud" too.
All that's to say that people who smoke have no idea what an inconvenience and a hassle their smoking creates for other people who have to breathe the same air.
I work at an Oncology hospital. We have a little out-of-the way balcony with a self-closing door (doesn't lock from the outside!) It's not far from the wards or any other part of the hospital (it overlooks a central courtyard) and I think there has been as much thought put into it as possible to exclude the smoke from coming inside; there are bins around and chairs, and no-one has to walk through "the cloud".
I think this is a better idea than the removal of all personal freedom. No-one in the world will convince a 70 y.o. 50-a-day smoker with lung Ca and painful boney mets to quit now, and they WILL set off internal fire alarms if you try to stop them going outside.
I realise that your institution probably wouldn't consider it, but it seems to have worked for us.
)
nursedawn67, LPN
1,046 Posts
The health system I work for does not allow smoking on the grounds neither. All the smokers have to go smoke in their vehicles.