Smoking

[AngieH2]

I think we all know smoking is bad for us. Even if we do it, but should any place be able to not hire a smoker? I understand no smoke breaks and no smoking on the grounds. But you can't work here because you smoke at home! What do you think?

[babs_rn]

I've PERSONALLY never met a Respiratory therapist who doesn't smoke. I know they're out there, I just haven't ever worked with one. And if I didn't smoke, I wouldn't be able to fit through the door! I'm a single woman with the typical Freudian "oral fixation"....so take your pick....(laugh if you want to, I do)

[askater11]

I don't like the concentrated odor of cigarettes--some people smoke and just hold on to the odor.

The smells in the general public. I smell it on some nurses--but then some of the visitors carry that strong odor too.

Maybe I can be hired as the sniffer--sniff it out--you can come in--you can not come in---I don't think that would pan out.

I do understand once in a blue moon when someone requests nurses that don't wear perfume or such. We have one lady--I swear all I had on was scented deodarent. She wanted me out of her room--she said I smelled like perfume--hey wait until you see what I smell without the deodarant on....he he he!!!!

[Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN]

Originally posted by rncopper

I think the Pilot forgot to take his lexapro!

Getting personal?

[purplemania, BSN, RN]

We are initiating a smoke free facility in six months. Employees and dependents get free nicotine patches, etc. to help quit. There will be no place on the premises where ANYONE will be allowed to smoke. Will have to go stand on the city sidewalk. Seems inconsistent to promote health and provide facility to practice slow suicide. After all, we don't keep a bar open. I expect people to quit and wonder how many will be missed since they seem to spend a lot of time on breaks anyway. But smoke/don't smoke is not a criteria for hiring.

[PilotJim68]

Thanks for the support guys, even if you dont agree with the way I put things. I just think that a good verbal slap in the face as an attention getter is the best way to get things out in the open...face reality if you will. I have tried and tried and tried til I was sick and tired and blue in the face to be nice and sympathetic and maybe even empathetic to "addicts" in general but have never NOT ONE TIME convinced anyone to stop. Even tried to play the guilt card but it didnt work. When you try to be nice about it, people just kinda ignore what you say and blow it off and chalk it up to a "I know its bad for me but you gotta die of something dont you?" and then go about their merry way. At least with my "Harsh" comments, people are thinking about it now, but it is still up to the INDIVIDUAL to decide to quit and they must have the mind set to implement the resources and support system to help them quit...I did receive a PM last night that was most promising and gave me encouragement, I am going to ask this person if I can post her PM.

So if my posts got you thinking about this or pissed you off enough that you just HAD to go smoke...then good for me dang it. At least its in your head now. Now its up to YOU to do something about it.

Its weird though, I havent told anyone about my posts on this forum and my g/f came in last night from from a festival where they had hay rides and stuff. She was complaining of a headache because of some inconsiderate guy that was on the hayride with them. The guy got on the ride, fired one up and started smoking with all those children on the ride, not to mention that flammable hay underneath everyone....geeeze . She said there was alot of people that were brushing the smoke away in an obvious manner and even coughing. One person even made a comment to the guy and he just smiled and kept on puffing Glad I wasnt there for that.

One more thing that has just popped into my mind, I think but am not sure about this, some big companies that have massive mainframe computer centers wont let people who smoke into the computer room because the tar particles that slough off their clothes can potentially damage the electronics. Most of those rooms are positive pressure rooms arent they and they are very cold too?

About the polite thing, I am guilty of doing it, if a smoker is considerate and asks if I mind if they smoke, I usually say "no I dont mind" and then sit there and take it...I dont do that anymore. However, I do appreciate the fact that the smoker took the time and had the foresight to ask me. Hey...its a start.

[itsme]

Hi Everyone! I try not to post on smoking threads, I am a smoker. Well Jim's post gave me the "kick in the azz' that I needed to really think about quitting! I am attempting to quit, and it is hard, but I am thinking I can do this! I am gonna try! So, thanks to you Jim!

[PilotJim68]

YOU GO GIRL !!!!!!!!

[slyhrtbt]

Well if anyone was going to quit it would not be some sanctomoniuos person that talks like PilotJim. I'm not trying to get personal but he seems to want to get personal with us smokers. Well You are no better than I am. If you were perfect than You could look down on me for smoking. I enjoy smoking for now. I will quit sometime but not right now. When I quit you can rest assured you had nothing positive to do with it whatsoever. My hats off to anyone who has quit. My 2 biggest pet peeves are Arrogance and Rudeness. You showed both and I cannot respect anyone who show's either much less both.

[gwenith, BSN, RN]

Despite what you say Jim I have had considerable success with assisting people to give up and I don't get in thier faces about smoking. It is like the old lightbulb joke you know

"How many psychologists does it take to change a lightbulb?"

"Only one but the bulb has got to want to change first"

They have to want to change first but standing and confronting them will not do that as all it will do is raise defences and cause resistance. What you do is get them to list the reasons why they currently smoke - not why they should give up they know they should but what keeps them coming back for one more ciggi.

Then you sit down and address them one by one. It does help if you have been there yourself as you know some of the things that keep you smoking and the triggers that make someone want to light up. You have to look at ways around these and talk the person through it you empower them.

Try it it is more effective and will help you maintain better relations with those who are smokers now.

[slyhrtbt]

Now I would listen to gwenith.

[PilotJim68]

Different strokes for different folks I say...really my original intent was NOT to try to get people to quit smoking because that is an individual decision that only the afflicted person can make. My intent is to make people aware of things they may not have considered in the past along with my heart felt opinions which there is no lack of those on this board by all parties.

All I want (as well as many other nonsmokers) is a little consideration when it comes to this subject, if the people who chose to kill themselves and others dont want to associate with me...well then I am much better off for all of the reasons I have listed in my previous posts (take your smoke and odor and go), you arent hurting me at all, in fact you are helping me by letting me breathe clean, untainted air, remember I am not the one who smokes (unless I am forced to inhale that second hand smoke).

Gwen, you are correct by saying that a person has to want to change before they will make an effort to do so, this applies to all drug addicts or any habit that must be changed. I think that being aware of how many people are offended by smoking is one step closer to convincing people to make that decision. After all, in a lot of cases it was peer pressure that got them addicted to begin with. But addiction seems to be stronger than peer pressure.

Awareness can be a huge factor in helping someone to quit....dont tell me that everyone already knew or considered all of the negative factors that I have listed in my posts. I have spent a long time observing people and unconsciously making mental notes about the similarities that most smokers have, mainly because all aspects of smoking and smokers just irritate the hell out of me...these are my observations and my opinions and I have expressed them as many of you have expressed your thoughts and opinions as well......its all fair, after all, we are ALL entitled to our opinions like we are ALL entitled to breathe clean, untainted air.

I am choosing to refrain from rebutling the DIRECT personal attacks against me because I am in fact a better person than that and I am aware that some of my statements can be inflammatory to those who are super sensitive....so flame away, I encourage you to let your anger out...after all, its healthier and more therapeutic than limping to that crutch and lighting up

If you want to attack me, do so in a PM, that way I can at least defend myself without the moderator getting involved and tieing one hand behind my back.

[gwenith, BSN, RN]

Comedian Steve Martin is reputed to be a rabid anti-smoker and is credited with one of the best come back lines I have ever heard.

When asked at dinner if he minded if someone smoked he replied "No do you mind if I f*rt!"

Humour can be another way of confronting a problem without triggering either resistance or strong responses.