THUMBS UP to hospitals banning smoking!!

[AnnieOaklyRN, BSN, RN, EMT-P]

Hi,

Just wanted to voice my oppinion, not that anyone will truly care, but anyway.

My step father, who was basically my father died in October of 2005 from Lung Cancer. He smoked for 30 years and I truly feel this obviously played a big part in his cancer which caused a lot of suffering before his death, and for us after his death as well. For three months he sat in a lazy boy chair and could do nothing more than get up with help to go to the bathroom, and even then he fell many times. He spent countless hours receiving chemo, hydration, and blood transfusion as well as experiencing painful procedures and the uncomfortable side effects that come with chemo and cancer.

He was 56 years old when he died.

I am not looking for sympathy, I just want people who think they should be allowed to smoke wherever they want, why they shouldn't be allowed to do so. Its ok if you want to kill yourself, but YOU ARE harming others with your smoking, and not just physically.

I won't pretend that I know how hard it is to stop because, thankfully I never started. I just want people to think about the consequences of smoking and how those consequences effect themselves, their families, and the strangers that are exposed to second hand smoke.

Ok I am off the SOAP box now... AND A BIG THUMBS UP TO THOSE THAT HAVE QUIT.

Swtooth EMT-P, RN

[PyshRN]

Sorry to hear of your loss!

Our hospital is going to a totally non-smoking facility. Quite a few people are upset about the change, but I think it is a fabulous idea. If people choose to smoke and harm themselves it is one thing, but it is another when they are putting others around them at risk. It is a shame that they are putting those who may already have respiratory compromise at risk, and those who are healthy at risk.:angryfire

[tingle]

We became a non smoking hospital awhile ago but they still smoke!! We only have hired security enforcing this and it has proved quite a challange. They smoke almost everywhere but directly in the facility. How do others deal with this?

[AnnieOaklyRN, BSN, RN, EMT-P]

bump

'tooth

[ann945n, RN]

I think its great hospitals going smoke free. In a place that is supposed to promote health it seems a bit funny that smoking would be allowed. I also have a problem though with cafeteria food being so fatty and deep fried. I would like to see that change as well!

[tntrn, ASN, RN]

Providence in Everett, WA (I think; Puget Sound anyway) is going one better. Any patient who wants to go out and smoke is dischargedc!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm all for that as well. If you're well enough to get outside, I can see little need to be inside and it's obvious that a smoking patient has no real desire to help in the healing process.

I only hope many more facilities follow Prov's lead.

[Altra, BSN, RN]

Providence in Everett, WA (I think; Puget Sound anyway) is going one better. Any patient who wants to go out and smoke is dischargedc!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm all for that as well. If you're well enough to get outside, I can see little need to be inside and it's obvious that a smoking patient has no real desire to help in the healing process.

I only hope many more facilities follow Prov's lead.

I don't agree with that sweeping statement.

However I do agree, in principle, that if you are well enough to go outside to smoke, you are probably well enough for discharge.

[teeituptom, BSN, RN]

Yes indeed

Gotta love those people with their PCA pumps , their cup of coffee, heading out for a ciggie. 3 fixes all at the same time. Gotta love it.

[suanna]

I am a nurse and one of the evil smokers that are apparently destroying the world as we know it. Be assured your hospital did not go smoke free for some altruistic ideal. The government has mandated health care facillities become smoke free. In addition I am sure they get a break on thier insurance rates. Is smoking good for you - no, but what is next - anyone who is overweight - no health care for you. Mandatory exercise for the patients at 6am - 20 push ups or you are out! Many of the health problems we see in our patients today could be avoided or mittagated be good health practices. We should teach and encourage but this post seems to be full of punitive horrays for the persecution of smokers. I don't smoke around nonsmokers. My hospital is non smoking. I wish I never started, but if I am in the hospital for some health crisis or spending time in the critical care waiting room praying for a loved one, it is not the most effective time for me to focus on quitting.

[meandragonbrett]

We are going non-smoking......we have already instituted a policy that if you (hospital employees)are caught smoking in a non-smoking area, you are imposed a fine.

[Diary/Dairy, RN]

The place I used to work - if you got caught smoking on hospital grounds, you would be subject to termination - I think this was not emforced though - I still saw cigarette butts in the parking lot!

[teeituptom, BSN, RN]

I think that is absolutely wonderfull