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

[Jerez]

Give them their smokes. Give them access to whatever vices we can, they deserve it. Wear a mask if you have to go out with them, and stop with the hyperbole. Supervising a ten minute smoke break is not the same as working in a smoke-filled bar for 8 hours. Stay upwind, and enjoy the social time.

Ok but it's not just 10mins, it is several times throughout the day and on top of that I would prefer zero exposure...otherwise I might consider working in a bar. Call it hyperbole if you'd like but second hand smoke does just as much damage if not more and I happen to love my lungs. I can see things both ways but I find this to be a real concern for many staff members that don't want the exposure.

[It'sYaGirlK, CNA, LPN]

I work in an ALF and the residents there are allowed to smoke and I wouldn't dare assist them with it either..it is there right as long as they are able to do it themselves... One of my residents resulted in eating his cigarettes because he could no longer light them on his own..I walked up on him doing so and the administrator took away that privilege for him...I don't even allow my siblings access into my car with smoke residue on them..it's that serious for me.

[cleback]

Give them their vices... huh? At the cost of yourself? Strong nope from me. I have my vices too but if I become debilitated enough I realize I will not be able to have that self destructive freedom anymore.

Also ethically I don't agree with this practice. Maybe a worker at a small facility has been thinking about quitting... but now has to think about being the only one that will smoke with the residents. Seems unethical since we all know the risks of smoking and should be promoting quitting.