Supervised smoking in LTC

[Jerez]

Just wondering what other peoples thoughts are on residents smoking in LTC? I work PRN at an LTC facility that allows residents to smoke, basically I am told it is their right. So they do have scheduled smoke breaks for the residents throughout the day, however, we are often short staffed and are constantly looking for a staff member to take these residents out for assistance & supervision last minute. One of the residents fumes and fumes over it, bad mouths the staff & demands us all to stop what we're doing to take her out when we are not exactly on time and seem to be scrambling to help them out. I understand how frustrating it must be to lose that sort of control but I for one do not want to go out and light everyone's cigarette and expose myself to all of their second hand smoke and I really think it becomes a health issue for all our staff involved that is forced to do it. Additionally one of the residents is unable to hold her own cigarette and has to have full assistance to help her smoke, all but the actual inhaling...however in all reality we're doing this too.

Does anyone know what legalities exist on this? Do I or any of the staff members have a right to refuse to expose ourselves to second hand smoke? I just don't know what laws exist but with our understanding of all the dangers of cigarette smoke, including second hand, should this "right" be changed? Please enlighten me

[Triddin]

Could you wear n95 masks when you go out?

[beekee]

I have refused to do it. I don't want to breath it and I don't want the smell/chemicals on my clothes. If I get fired for refusing, then I'd find another job. I get the whole resident's right thing, but it's not something I'm willing to do. It's not negotiable for me. It's a difficult situation for both parties.

[Sour Lemon]

Could you wear n95 masks when you go out?

The smoke gets all over your clothes and hair and is with you for the rest of the shift. It's also with the other patients you take care of because it's all over you.

I've worked in a few units that allow this and I have no solution other than to seek work elsewhere. My current facility (psych) is not so bad, because they're ambulatory, we light for them, and we leave them on an enclosed patio.

In a prior med surg unit, staff was expected to haul them out of bed and sit with them for the duration of their break. Absolutely ridiculous. No one has time for that. It's certainly not a priority.

They never want nicotine patches, either.

[KelRN215, BSN, RN]

I doubt there are laws relevant to this issue but I'd refuse to do it as well. Fortunately I work only in pediatrics and children are not allowed to smoke. Their parents aren't officially allowed to smoke on hospital grounds either and certainly there's no way I'd ever assist one to do so if asked.

[Flatline, BSN, RN]

Most states will have laws concerning this and the protections due to workers. This is not dissimilar to the smoking laws for restaurants and bars.

[caliotter3]

I have respiratory issues from the smoke that enters my living space from the neighboring apartment. I can't escape from this environment, so I know fully well what I would do if exposed on the job too. If given the choice to find another job, I would find a job where I am not subjected to unwanted smoke.

[Kitiger, RN]

I've done pediatric private duty home care for most of my career, and I'm flexible with a lot of things. I really do try to do things the way the parent wants them done.

But smoking is a deal-breaker.

I will not continue to work in a home where smokers live. Smoke triggers a cough that I cannot control, and if I cough too much, I end up sick.

I certainly would not help a person smoke, even if it was outside.

Nope. No way.

If they could not/would not take me off the case, I would quit.

[caliotter3]

I've done pediatric private duty home care for most of my career, and I'm flexible with a lot of things. I really do try to do things the way the parent wants them done.

But smoking is a deal-breaker.

I will not continue to work in a home where smokers live. Smoke triggers a cough that I cannot control, and if I cough too much, I end up sick.

I certainly would not help a person smoke, even if it was outside.

Nope. No way.

If they could not/would not take me off the case, I would quit.

I can not like this post enough. You express my sentiments exactly, down to the p, q, r, s, and t of it.

[Not_A_Hat_Person, RN]

When I was in Nursing Home Hell, we had scheduled resident smoke breaks. An LNA who smoked would round up residents 2 or 3 times a day, and they would all go out to the smoking area.

[KelRN215, BSN, RN]

I've done pediatric private duty home care for most of my career, and I'm flexible with a lot of things. I really do try to do things the way the parent wants them done.

But smoking is a deal-breaker.

I will not continue to work in a home where smokers live. Smoke triggers a cough that I cannot control, and if I cough too much, I end up sick.

I certainly would not help a person smoke, even if it was outside.

Nope. No way.

If they could not/would not take me off the case, I would quit.

It only happened twice in the 3 years that I worked as a visiting nurse that I had a patient whose parent smoked IN the house. I could never get out of those houses fast enough.

I also once held a temp job in college (2003) at the sewer department in my town and the woman I was hired to help was a legit chain smoker. She smoked all day long every day in that office. There's no way that could have been legal in Massachusetts in 2003 but she somehow got away with it.

[OpinionatedCNA, CNA]

I'm sorry but if a resident can't wheel themselves to the smoking area, or for gods sake lift the cigarette up to their own mouth, they have no business smoking and nicotine patches and withdraw should be discussed with their doctor. Screw residents rights, you have a right as an employee not to be subjected to inhale second hand smoke for 8+ hours if you don't want too and the health risks that go along with that.