Stupid q's: Has smoking cigarettes kept you from getting a job?

Nurses Activism

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Do any of you smoke cigarettes? And has it kept you from getting a job?

What happens if you quit smoking cigarettes but still use the patch, gum, or e-cigs? They all have nicotine in them.

That's a good point. I knew a girl that quit smoking 3 years ago, and still chews nicotine gum. She said she quit smoking when she wanted to, and will quit chewing the gum when she wants to.

LOL, discrimination applies to sex, race, etc. ie: PROTECTED class. CHOOSING to smoke doesn't give someone that

Hmmm. You can choose things like religion so how is smoking different?

Specializes in geriatrics.
I don't smoke. But I work for a hospital that won't hire people who do. Prospective employees have to pass a nicotene lab test before being hired.
I don't smoke, so it wouldn't matter for me. I find it interesting and a bit shocking that some hospitals are actually testing people and denying them positions based on this. Isn't this infringing on people's rights somehow? I ask, because Canadian facilities don't employ this practice. Workers here would probably be running to the media if they did.
Specializes in (Nursing Support) Psych and rehab.

I currently administer nicotine testing. Besides working at a psych hospital, I also do health assessments/screenings for corporations. Depending on if upgraded services are ordered, I have to test for nicotine. This is in addition to basic screening tests (cholesterol, triglycerides, glucose, bmi, etc. its pretty simple. Its a swab like approach. Break the seal and hold it in your mouth (cheek side) for about a minute. Everyone says it tastes awful. Then we send it off to the lab. Nicotine stays in the blood for a good while so its not something one can hide... any employee who refuses is automatically labeled a smoker and charged the highest premium, and of course those who do have nicotine in their system as well. This helps cover all the bases: cigars, snuff, etc. Typically, corporate clients that request nicotine testing are mostly insurance companies and hospitals

Since I can no longer edit my post I'd like to add Tanning to the list of nonsensical but legal crap that people do that negatively impacts ones health but employers aren't running around testing people for to manage health insurance premiums.

When my non-smoking peers have to stop binge drinking, tanning and eating at fast food restaurants then I will surrender my qualm, to whatever nicotine test I'm prescribed to.

I think it kills you anyway...

1800 QUIT NOW: call them & they may be able to provide free nictotine patches, which are as expensive as cigs Smokefree.gov: Frequently Asked Questions about Quitlines

American Lung Association provides a program with online modules to aid the process: Freedom From Smoking® Online

I've been there; it sucks.

Specializes in (Nursing Support) Psych and rehab.

Your point is valid, however, studies have showed (be honest, we didn't need the studies to tell us) smoking causes many of the most preventable diseases. Furthermore, there is second hand and third hand smoke to consider.... Yes, third hand. Smoking is one of those things you just cannot keep to yourself. They have discovered the remaining smell is not just a smell, but actual nicotine particles that latch on to dust in the air, clothing, furniture, etc. and can make its way into our lungs. Now, we know that employers want to make sure that their employees are capable of doing their jobs. If employees partake in smoking, which causes a preventable consequence, employers want to steer clear of having to be too financially involved because you have publicly shown yourself to be a liability. By the way the insurance companies are really the drivers in this race. The corporate health screenings I do, like so many others, are just to save face with the insurance companies, by allowing the employer to receive a discount on premiums which they then pass down to employees.

Specializes in geriatrics, IV, Nurse management.
LOL, discrimination applies to sex, race, etc. ie: PROTECTED class. CHOOSING to smoke doesn't give someone that

Forgive me for making the joke then. My employers have never had an issue. They can provide assistance to quit, but they cannot refuse to hire you based on the fact that you smoke. Same with age, gender, etc. Any interview/employment I've had has never stated the job would be unprotected based on the fact that someone smokes. Its a human rights issue.

Specializes in Legal, Ortho, Rehab.
I started to see that requirement and talked to some of my instructors who smoked. Where I live my state is an at will employer/employee state so in essence these practices are allowed. I am still debating whether it is right. BTW, I don't smoke and never tried but I don't know if I'm in the business of forcing others to stop something that may or may not kill them. We don't arrest diabetics so why are we doing this to smokers? This also brings to mind the abuse charges to parents with overweight kids. There are chubby kids who eventually lean out when they get older does this mean that the parents are at fault if they truly are raising a healthy child?

Second hand smoke (even the smell could cause an asthma attack in some) is harmful to others, while a diabetic might be harmful just to self. If it's unprofessional to wear heavy fragrance, than it's unprofessional to come to work smelling like an ashtray.

As much as I hate smokers (personal opinion), not hiring them because they smoke is really dumb. Sure, raise their insurance premiums but if they do their job it's really none of our business.

Specializes in geriatrics.

When does the slippery slope end? I'm sure people would be furious if facilities had a known weight policy. Example: if one isn't within a certain weight range, they aren't hired, because they may not be able to function on the job. That's discrimination, same as the smokers. Yes, I too agree that smoking stinks....but that's not a reason to deny someone employment, IMO.

I currently administer nicotine testing. Besides working at a psych hospital, I also do health assessments/screenings for corporations. Depending on if upgraded services are ordered, I have to test for nicotine. This is in addition to basic screening tests (cholesterol, triglycerides, glucose, bmi, etc. its pretty simple. Its a swab like approach. Break the seal and hold it in your mouth (cheek side) for about a minute. Everyone says it tastes awful. Then we send it off to the lab. Nicotine stays in the blood for a good while so its not something one can hide... any employee who refuses is automatically labeled a smoker and charged the highest premium, and of course those who do have nicotine in their system as well. This helps cover all the bases: cigars, snuff, etc. Typically, corporate clients that request nicotine testing are mostly insurance companies and hospitals

Do you also test for other drugs? What if someone isn't a smoker but they have a major drug problem? Reason I ask is cause I live in Colorado, right by Rose Hospital where that surgical technologist got caught a few years ago, switching her used needles that she used to shoot up with hospital needles and ended up infecting patients with hepatitis. I just thought if the hospital was administering drug tests that wouldn't have happened.

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