: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).
remind me never to take a trip to maryland and get ill enough to land in the icu!! can't imagine what kinda nurse j6 is! no empathy and totally ignoring the question asked. definitely don't wanna be assessed or cared for by that kinda nurse!
Wow, that just breaks my heart. BTW... Your attention is not something that I particularly pine for. :)
What is important to you Jaber06, how would you handle it if one of your children would become a smoker? Would you tell them they are a stinking jerk? And please don't tell us that you would never allow one of your children to smoke, that just doesn't hold water with those of us who have lived a few years.
You don't seem to have any problem insulting people, I'm wondering why you don't "WANT" to answer any of the questions asked of you. It is hard to be responsible and back up the things that you say...I understand.
I dont' have a problem with not smoking at work, but what Scott's is doing is just wrong. What people do on their off time isnt the company's business. How long before they decide drinking a beer after work or maybe eating something not quite good for you for dinner is not acceptable? I don't smoke anymore but I can't see an employer putting their nose in the employess business off the clock like that
In that case, the smoker should have the option to "opt out" of employer-paid insurance coverage, rather than lose their job.
Slavery was outlawed in this country 150+ years ago. Allowing the employer to invade an employees life (except where occupational safety is concerned, i.e. drug use among people with public safety roles) is tantamount to reintroduction of slavery.
I don't even think they should have to be put in the position to "opt out". Whats next? If you have a drink at home your fired? How about if you eat too much bacon?
I quit smoking 7 years ago, but occaionally have one on a very bad night....not too often-smells bad, makes me have a headache etc. I don't really care if anyone smokes or not, as long as they don't reek and they have the pt covered when they go out for a break. And we also have to escort our pts out, which I think is major crap, BUT we are allowed to not let them go out if they have been administered pain meds in last hour or have a PCA. This is for their safety. For those who can go out, they have to sign a release of liability form stating that we have notified them of health risks and have offered counseling for cessation . We have been notified that we will be a smoke free campus as of 8/1/06, and if you are on the clock, absolutely no smoking-0 tolerance. Once off the clock, do as you wish......Already, the 6-8 smoke break a shifters (12 hr) are screaming unfair, but how unfair for non smokers to constantly have to cover, and NOT get any break. Smoking pt are pi$$ed. I'm just waiting to see how this plays out..........BTW, our county is trying to pass an ordinance banning public/outside smoking. Anyone dealing with that yet?
Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.
Thread reopened after cleanup.
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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
I don't think "fair" is the correct question. This proposal, if carried out, is illegal in the United States. The EEOC would have a field day. Scott's better have a substantial legal budget saved up because they will need it.
It's not illegal IF it's a signed condition of your employment there. Which it would be.
Sorry-but I would not put myself in danger from second hand smoke or from "dangers" outside of the hospital just so these patients could have a cigarette! No way!
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...
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
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!!
i would refuse to escort smokers. it does not promote health to do so, and i can't stand the inhalation of smoke myself. i would either enlist a smoker to do this or if my back were forced to the wall, move to a unit where this was not a condition of my job. if it does not spell that out in my job description and i have not signed my consent, i am not escorting smokers anyplace. either they are well enough to go out and smoke themselves or be escorted by family or not. if they are well enough,well maybe they don't need to be in a hospital bed that may be used by someone who is more desperate. strong words, but i feel them strongly. i know smoking is a tough addiction, i have been there,done that. but it can be tougher on us to be expected take our time to escort others out to do this----we just don't have the staffing.
i know "rehab" is different, more long-term, but maybe you need to work another area, if this is a requirement of your job and you object. in the acute care areas, no nurses are escorting smokers where i work. there simply is no time for that.
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
I dont' have a problem with not smoking at work, but what Scott's is doing is just wrong. What people do on their off time isnt the company's business. How long before they decide drinking a beer after work or maybe eating something not quite good for you for dinner is not acceptable? I don't smoke anymore but I can't see an employer putting their nose in the employess business off the clock like that
LIke I said, if that is a condition of employment and you agree to it, I guess you have no leg to stand on. You will have to go elsewhere. Fair or not, right or wrong, this is how it will be.
. We have been notified that we will be a smoke free campus as of 8/1/06, and if you are on the clock, absolutely no smoking-0 tolerance. Once off the clock, do as you wish......Already, the 6-8 smoke break a shifters (12 hr) are screaming unfair, but how unfair for non smokers to constantly have to cover, and NOT get any break. Smoking pt are pi$$ed. I'm just waiting to see how this plays out..........BTW, our county is trying to pass an ordinance banning public/outside smoking. Anyone dealing with that yet?
Thread reopened after cleanup. 
melrina75
38 Posts
remind me never to take a trip to maryland and get ill enough to land in the icu!! can't imagine what kinda nurse j6 is! no empathy and totally ignoring the question asked. definitely don't wanna be assessed or cared for by that kinda nurse!