Smoking at Work.

Nurses General Nursing

Published

I know smoking is an addiction and it can be hard to quit, but I just read something in another post that put this on my mind, because I know exactly what they are talking about.

I started training a new nurse not long ago. Up until last week I rarely to never took a break out on the porch. Since I started training this nurse, it's always "let's go out and smoke." The first time I told her I don't smoke, so she says "come sit with me anyway." So, I went. She will ask me to come out on the porch with her so she can smoke and I may as well because I can't really show her the ropes if I'm not with her.

I know for a fact all these smoke breaks cuts down on production because since I have started training and working with her I've quit what I'm doing so many times and felt annoyed walking away from it. She even wants me to sit with her and smoke when the shift ends and I want to go home.

I guess it sounds like I'm coming down hard on smokers, maybe I am. I just see what a horrible cycle it is. It seems like seeing people inside on oxygen dying from emphysema would phase them as they are out there puffing away (and there are a lot of them who do) but it doesn't.

Do you notice this where you work? Or am I just too uptight?

Specializes in Psychiatric.

There was one girl where I worked who left the floor every HOUR for her 'fifteen minute' break! Of course she never got any work done...she was outside smoking...:smokin:

Both my parents smoke and as a teenager I was always asked by my teachers if I smoked because I smelled like a cigarette...it was embarassing.

I don't care what people do when they're on their own time but I personally would not want a nurse taking care of me who smelled like an ashtray...I can't stand the smell of cigarettes and that smell just infiltrates everything. It's just gross.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Assisted Living, Med-Surg/CVA specialty.

I hate working with smokers.

1. I have asthma and even smelling the smoke on them can cause issues with me.

2. How is it fair they are taking multiple breaks + their lunch break and all I get is a lunch break? This has happened at multiple jobs, not just nursing!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in NICU.

You can't show her the ropes if you're not with her ...... what "ropes" do you have to show her while out on a smoke break?

Let her go out and take her break, do her thing, whatever, as long as it's not cutting into her nursing responsibilities. If it does cut into her nursing responsibilities than you really have no one to blame but yourself, as you're the preceptor.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

i'm not understanding how anyone can get away w/taking consecutive smoke breaks.

if an employee is only allowed x amt of breaks, then anything outside those parameters is grounds for discipline.

who cares what one's addiction is?

it should not interfere with work...

period.

leslie

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC, office.

I have worked with a few smokers and they tend to be the only people who find the time to take their 15 minute morning and afternoon break. We are all entitled to them, but most of us work through them because there just isn't enough time in the day to get everything done and take breaks.

I worked with one smoker who had very specific times she felt she needed to get out and take her break. It didn't seem to matter what was happening; she was out the door to get her fix. I found that incredibly annoying.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I hate working with smokers.

1. I have asthma and even smelling the smoke on them can cause issues with me.

2. How is it fair they are taking multiple breaks + their lunch break and all I get is a lunch break? This has happened at multiple jobs, not just nursing!

The first point is very valid. You should point it out to a smoker and they will try to be more considerate. Better yet, inform management as they may have to do something about it.

The second point has NOTHING to do with smoking and everything to do with the actual person. There are people smokers and nonsmokers that take multiple breaks.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in CTICU, Rapid Response Team, telemetry.

As a former smoker, I understand about nicotine addiction, but as a staff educator, I feel that someone who is new should be more conscientious (?sp) to learn their job instead of going out to smoke. Interruptions are not good for learning. Also I feel that it is great that you are so open-minded about smoking, but she should be respectful of the fact that you are not a smoker and stop asking you to sit with her!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in midwifery, NICU.

I don't get why you feel it's your responsibility to shadow her on her break times. If you think she should cut down on the breaks, then tell her, she may be glad to learn the real rules.

A break is just that..a BREAK, who wants to be "shown the ropes!" on personal time anyway??

You really dont need to accompany her everywhere to orientate her, heck, I do orientation of new staff all the time, but never feel the need to accompany them on their breaks or to the bathroom, just to make sure the "ropes" are learned!

No-one is forcing you to sit outside on the porch with her, it's your choice.

Bringing this back to smoking is evil etc, is wrong. You do not have to be out there with her, inhaling the second hand smoke, unless you wish an extra wee down time on the porch too.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Hospice, Critical Care.

You are the preceptor. You set the break times, not her. You ARE being way too nice.

My facility has banned smoking anywhere on campus -- this includes the parking lot, parking garage, etc. For everyone...visitors, patients, and staff. Security does enforce it. Disciplinary action has been taken. They take it seriously.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ED, ICU, PSYCH, PP, CEN.

When I started at the place I work now a few years ago they told me that if I really wanted to have breaks learn how to smoke because the smokers are the only ones that seem to never miss a break.

This has turned out to be very true.

It sounds like the person you are training is looking more for someone that will pay her to smoke, than pay her to work. Sounds like she has a great work ethic.

I would not want to be her patient.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
You can't show her the ropes if you're not with her ...... what "ropes" do you have to show her while out on a smoke break?

Let her go out and take her break, do her thing, whatever, as long as it's not cutting into her nursing responsibilities. If it does cut into her nursing responsibilities than you really have no one to blame but yourself, as you're the preceptor.

Well...if I'm inside working and she is outside smoking....what's she learning then?

I'm not to blame because she is a smoker, either. When someone gets irritable and says they need a cigarette I'm not going to stand in their way.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I don't get why you feel it's your responsibility to shadow her on her break times. If you think she should cut down on the breaks, then tell her, she may be glad to learn the real rules.

A break is just that..a BREAK, who wants to be "shown the ropes!" on personal time anyway??

You really dont need to accompany her everywhere to orientate her, heck, I do orientation of new staff all the time, but never feel the need to accompany them on their breaks or to the bathroom, just to make sure the "ropes" are learned!

No-one is forcing you to sit outside on the porch with her, it's your choice.

Bringing this back to smoking is evil etc, is wrong. You do not have to be out there with her, inhaling the second hand smoke, unless you wish an extra wee down time on the porch too.

No, I'm not talking about showing her the ropes while she is smoking. I'm talking about being in the building working while she is outside puffing away.

She is also the type that seems to want to do everything with someone else. We've now broken off and she is working one side while I am working the other and I'm there for her to come to with any questions. She wants to take (smoke) breaks together, eat together, walk out of the building after work together. She is genuinely a nice person, but being a loner type it takes some getting used to. Last night when she told me to come out and smoke I started to object but she said , aww come on, come on! Sit with me! There was no escape.

I just sighed and went outside with her (she talked on her cell phone the whole time while I sat out there with the rest of the smokers looking out of place...hehe, it was kind of funny.)

I could tap my foot and point at my watch and remind her of company policy(which, if I told all those smokers about 'company policy' I'd be laughed out of the building.)

Last night, though, she says she is thinking about moving to third shift, maybe because there will be a lot more time to sit on the porch and smoke...to each his own, I guess.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment