smoking students

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It seems like we have more students than ever who are smokers. This always becomes an issues during clinicals when they want to go on a "smoking break". Naturally the non-smokers become resentful of all the extra break time they get. How do others handle this situation?

I am supprised that smoking is allowed when you are in uniform!

In Norway its smokefree hospitals; the pt can ev. go out and smoke.

Think about the odour, and all the hospital-stuff who create emesis, bad appetite and so on!

I have heard one good argument from a surgeon to allowed pt to smoke: They are allways out of bed 1. postoperativ day! Thats fine...

From a nurse who smoke sigarettes by special and soscial events

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too many grown up nurses smoke as well. Have not figured that one out yet

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Specializes in ER.
I agree wholeheartedly with not allowing extra breaks for smokers, but what do you do with those who dip. I am a nursing student and in class there is a guy who sits beside me and he has dip the whole time we are in class. It really sickens me and makes it hard to concentrate when he is spitting in a cup not even 6 inches away from me. Others can't smoke in class so why should he be allowed to dip in class? What does everyone else think about it?

Dip in class, or any other formal, professional setting is just plan RUDE! How uncouth! I would also have a major problem if someone was hawkin' into a spit cup during class.....why not just pick your nose, for petes sake!

I'll never forget my first experience with the grossness of the "spit cup". In high school, the boys on the bus were real big on dip, and one day one of them spilled his dip cup on my seat......UGH...nastiest, foulest goo running down the seat toards me....still gives me shivers. It is hard for me to see someone with a wad in their cheek without remembering that brown gob of spit!

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Originally posted by LeesieBug

Dip in class, or any other formal, professional setting is just plan RUDE! How uncouth! I would also have a major problem if someone was hawkin' into a spit cup during class.....why not just pick your nose, for petes sake!

I'll never forget my first experience with the grossness of the "spit cup". In high school, the boys on the bus were real big on dip, and one day one of them spilled his dip cup on my seat......UGH...nastiest, foulest goo running down the seat toards me....still gives me shivers. It is hard for me to see someone with a wad in their cheek without remembering that brown gob of spit!

Thank you for a much needed Belly Laugh!!

Our hospital just became smoke free! Goes into effect Feb. 5th. Glad and thanks to God, I quit 5 yrs ago and I don't have to deal with it now! I never thought about dip. Gotta check that one out. Dont know if administration thought of that. Ours is a small regional facility and they joined a coilition of 5 other hospitals who have all decided to go smoke free. I think this is wonderful. We as health care providers should send the message that smoking is bad and we don't have it! Now I won't have to deal with the smoking issue with me students. I am appalled at the number of students who smoke. It isn't considered cool anymore. I would love to see smoking eradicated in my lifetime. It kills so many! My family members smoke but only outside. I hear many complaints at the hospital about smokers abusing break privileges. When I smoked, I ran out when possible and got my fix 2 0r 3 puffs. Smokers will go to any lengths to get a fix. I know, I used to do it. To all of you still smoking: Quit! If I can, anybody can. I used a BB called quitsmokingsupport.com

It was great!

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I teach in an LPN program. Our school system has a no smoking on campus so we tell the students that the clinical areas are an extension of campus so they may not smoke there either. All students get a 15 minute break in the morning, one in the afternoon and a 30 minute lunch break. We expect them to be back in that allotted time. If they are caught smoking they get a warning slip the first time, a probation slip the second and are terminated the third. They usually are rattled after a warning and don't even attempt it after that. All of the faculty sets and follows the same rules. We don't allow one faculty to do it one way and another a different way. This seems to work for us.

Debi D

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Specializes in ER, PACU.
Originally posted by DebiDRN

I teach in an LPN program. Our school system has a no smoking on campus so we tell the students that the clinical areas are an extension of campus so they may not smoke there either. All students get a 15 minute break in the morning, one in the afternoon and a 30 minute lunch break. We expect them to be back in that allotted time. If they are caught smoking they get a warning slip the first time, a probation slip the second and are terminated the third. They usually are rattled after a warning and don't even attempt it after that. All of the faculty sets and follows the same rules. We don't allow one faculty to do it one way and another a different way. This seems to work for us.

Debi D

I think this policy sucks. Smoking may not be what some agree with, but it is not illegal. If you are over 18, and you choose to smoke, you should be able to do so in designated areas. If I was in this class, I would just go out to lunch and smoke off of hospital grounds, or just walk off of the hospital campus. That is not under your jursidiction, and you cannot penalize someone for doing that (as long as its on break time, and they are back in time). I would love to see someone bring a lawsuit against this..i bet they would win.

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Hello!

If you are coming to Norway you can experiece a lawsuit!

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Specializes in Gerontological, cardiac, med-surg, peds.

I tell my students no smoking during my clinicals (6 hr). It looks so nasty and unprofessional. During our summer clinicals (which are 9 hours), I do allow a smoke "break" during lunch break. But the students need to mask the odor before resuming patient care.

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Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.
Originally posted by VickyRN

I tell my students no smoking during my clinicals (6 hr). It looks so nasty and unprofessional. During our summer clinicals (which are 9 hours), I do allow a smoke "break" during lunch break. But the students need to mask the odor before resuming patient care.

You're a lot more generous than our instructors. They say no smoking at school, or clinical whatsoever. They send you home if you remotely smell of smoke.

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I think the last note was a very smart idea!!

We are taking care of sick people and have to show them respect and do our best, whatever its is knowledge, uniform or odour!

Thank you!:)

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No smoking was allowed during clinicals at my school. Even if you are out of site when you smoke everyone can smell the stench when you return.

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I tell my students no smoking during my clinicals (6 hr). It looks so nasty and unprofessional. During our summer clinicals (which are 9 hours), I do allow a smoke "break" during lunch break. But the students need to mask the odor before resuming patient care.

Yea, I smell the effects of masking. Cig smoke plus some other odor. Nice try the only one you are fooling is yourself. Remember smokers and former smokers have already destroyed some of their olfactory sense so even when you quit you don't smell what I do.

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