stinking of cigarette smoke

Nurses General Nursing

Published

:angryfire Is there anyone out there who agrees with me?

I work on a ward where we frequently provide palliative care for patients with cancer (amongst other things). I cannot stress how much it infuriates me when nurses who are smokers go into a dying cancer patient's room stinking of cigarette smoke.

In my opinion this is so morally and ethically wrong that I took my concerns to our unit manager after a patient's family made a complaint to me about another nurse. Unfortunately the NUM also smokes like a chimney and bla bla bla bla nothing was done.

Now that I have unloaded I feel more able to look at the situation objectively and decide on a course of action through appropriate channels.

I would welcome any and all opinions on smoking in the workplace.

(Please let it be known that I do not object to any person's right to smoke off the ward if they wish, only in the circumstances descibed above).

Specializes in MS/Tele/Urgent Care.

Not all nurse's who work on my unit are smokers. They also have to escort our pt's on their smoke break. And no I CANNOT smoke while escorting a pt for a smoke break. Personal smoke breaks are just that - personal - no pt. When escorting a pt we are technically "working" and chart it as so. I am a nurse who does respect my license and would not jepordize it! For those that assume of others actions? We all know that saying...........

I am ONLY asking for suggestions on how to approach pt and/or manager in regards to EVERY STAFF MEMBERS safety - smokers and nonsmokers. Thank you.

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Specializes in Hospice, Med/Surg, ICU, ER.
It's not even remotely comprable to slavery as you have a CHOICE in working for that hospital/company or not.

If you don't want to abide by the company policies, then go elsewhere.

I guess you would say that same thing if the company refused to employ anyone with children; or anyone that had red hair, or anyone that didn't pee standing up, or have the "correct" color of skin!

Discrimination is discrimination; even if it IS currently fashionable to discriminate against smokers!

If the rationale is that smokers drive up insurance costs, then let the smoker keep his/her job and deny them employer-paid insurance coverage.

Slavery may NOT have been the right word, as it is not your time the "company" is stealing... it is your private life.

Like it or not, tobacco is currently legal. Discrimination against smokers is no more honorable than discriminating against women, minorities, or homosexuals.

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I loved my grandmothers approach to us kids when we were young. She would always admonish and publicly humiliate the kid who was either tattling or sitting back making critical comments about another, or just sitting in judgement of someone else, even if that kid really did something wrong, it was the one that sat holier than thou that got it. We learned humility and the true meaning of "there for the grace....." I'd like to have a chat with your mother or grandmother and find out why they skipped that with you.

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When it comes to the rising cost of group health insurance plans provided to employees, smoking at home is also the business of your employer.

It most certainly is not any of my employer's business what legal activities I engage in while off the job.

Suppose my employer is staunchly against firearms. Should I then be fired because I own and use them? Afterall, firearms have been known to cause serious accidental injury and even death.

Next thing you know they will ban me from scuba diving and single track mountain biking because they pose a threat to my health/life.

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I work with rehab pt's-bilat TKR, laminectomies, craniotomies, CVA,etc. For their safety and mobility, "our floor policy" is to escort them because they could not 'run and defend' themselves if the situation called for it. I know it sounds ridiculous, but that is what we are told but our floor directors. Like I said, our hospital is not located in the safest of neighborhoods and 'Code Strongs' are twice/shift incedents! So we must escort...

It seems a little unfair to me that management wants the pts. protected for their safety, but doesn't seem to be concerned about yours. Also, what happens to the pts. left on your unit when you are away with the smoking pt?

Just my opinion, but if pts. could make the decision to smoke, they can also make the decision to smoke in an unsafe area all on their own...smokers know the risks of smoking. They just need to be informed of the additional risk while smoking in an area that isn't the best. Why should nursing staff be forced to accompany them when they could be put into a situation that endangers them not only from second hand smoke, but also from others in an unsafe neighbourhood (wonder what WCB would have to say about this, particularly since you don't have a security guard with you?). They are also placing you at risk professionally ... do they send you out with a phone/pager so that you could return immediately if needed, and how long would it take you to get back?

Satisfaction be damned, I'd be looking for a new job. The most I would do is assist someone into a wheelchair and point them to the door. If they needed assistance, I would suggest the family could come in and help.

I am sure I do not understand the situation as I am not there, but this is so different than what I am used to.

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Specializes in Hospice, Med/Surg, ICU, ER.
Thanks, that what I was trying to say...but you put it so much more poetic

Thanks! :D

Hey, what can I say? I'm a smoker. I know it stinks, I know it is unhealthy, etc. etc.

However, it is a legal addiction, and it is MY problem. I do my best to minimize the impact on others, but in the final analysis, ti is NOT the place of somebody else to beat me up about it.

I suspect Ms. Jaber06 is one of those folks we all hate to work with; regardless of her nicotine status.

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... it saddens me to see nurses who provide care to MI patients doing D/C instructions while they reek of smoke... don't smoke blah blah blah!

HERE HERE!!!!!! My thoughts exactly. What hypocrits those nurses are.

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Specializes in MS/Tele/Urgent Care.

this situation here is horrible!! i have worked the same hospital >5yrs, before rehab floor, i worked a tele floor. if cab's and mi wanted to light up, just sign form of not liable and the elevator is that way! now, cause i'm in rehab, i have to "escort"!! am currently looking to transfer to "nonescorting" floor:chuckle !! clee1 - i'm a smoker too!! and if i didn't care about smelling like an ash tray, trust me, i'd be out there q.o. chart check!!

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One of the other things that my grandma taught us was about Karma, we came away from her knowing that the quickest way to have to deal with a problem yourself, either with you or a loved one, is to look down on, disgrace, or tell someone they're jerk for doing something. Again karma may be instant or it may wait until later before you have to deal with it, but by all means ...you will have to deal with it in some way. She would say, if you don't understand the plight of someone enough to be empathetic to them, then you will have to experience it yourself in some way so that the chip can be knocked off of your shoulder. That is where the phrase "eat your words" came from i would imagine.

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Specializes in MS/Tele/Urgent Care.
HERE HERE!!!!!! My thoughts exactly. What hypocrits those nurses are.
All nurses are hypocrit when teaching/educating pt's! Whether it be about diet(don't know one nurse who isn't a single or combo of hi fat/Na/cal/2000+/etc), alcohol,weight, DM, HTN do's and don't's. Don't ostracize smoking nurse. It's is a habit, addiction, whatever, just like anything else we preach about to our pt's with each and admission form!
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Specializes in Hospice, Med/Surg, ICU, ER.
This situation here is horrible!! I have worked the same hospital >5yrs, before rehab floor, I worked a tele floor. If CAB's and MI wanted to light up, just sign form of not liable and the elevator is that way! Now, cause I'm in rehab, I have to "escort"!! Am currently looking to transfer to "nonescorting" floor:chuckle !! clee1 - I'm a smoker too!! and if I didn't care about smelling like an ash tray, trust me, I'd be out there q.o. chart check!!

Hi Melrina...

Despite the narrow attitudes of some, we will still do the best we can for our patients considering that we are fallible human beings.

I'm just greatful that my nicotine needs are not as frequent as some folks.

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This situation here is horrible!! I have worked the same hospital >5yrs, before rehab floor, I worked a tele floor. If CAB's and MI wanted to light up, just sign form of not liable and the elevator is that way! Now, cause I'm in rehab, I have to "escort"!! Am currently looking to transfer to "nonescorting" floor:chuckle !! clee1 - I'm a smoker too!! and if I didn't care about smelling like an ash tray, trust me, I'd be out there q.o. chart check!!

Good luck in looking for a nonescorting floor! What they have you doing now is really unfair!

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