Hospital Quits Hiring Smokers, Introduces Nicotine Tests For Medical Workers

[retro]

No, but it may prevent them from adequately helping someone who needs it. Is it fair that a child with asthma or a pregnant woman/preemie baby have to be exposed to someone's third-hand smoke? Just because they aren't smoking around them doesn't mean anything. If they want to smoke while they're not at work, that's fine, whatever. But wearing your scrubs and taking a smoke break while you're at work seems hazardous, reckless, and shows a potential lack of respect to the patients you have to care for. I realize this may be blowing it out of proportion to some people, but cigarettes are a touchy subject with me.

I know it is I don't disagree with you either. Our local hospital district has a no smoking policy at all of its buildings. I think that's a good thing.

Maybe I read it wrong, but I thought they were refusing to hire people that smoked period, which would be discriminatory.

 

[anathelia]

Same argument could easily be made for hospital workers or medics who go in w/ a cold or the flu. If they're transporting nursing home patients, who are notoriously more susceptible to germs, they could literally be killing their patient.

I agree completely. I realize we can't prevent anything, and I'm certainly not all for a nanny state. I'm merely pointing out that while smoking may not hinder the nurse from the physical duties that their job requires, it can pose problems from a health standpoint to their patients.

 

[anathelia]

I know it is I don't disagree with you either. Our local hospital district has a no smoking policy at all of its buildings. I think that's a good thing.

Maybe I read it wrong, but I thought they were refusing to hire people that smoked period, which would be discriminatory.

I don't think you read it wrong, and to be fair, I didn't read the article before I responded. I, however, do not think it would appropriate to not hire someone who smoked, but perhaps there should be some sort of consideration given to whether or not it is ethical for nurses to smoke on the job.

 

[Staci]

The irony of it is that the health care professions have the highest percentage of smokers amongst all career fields; I think law enforcement is second, though I'm not 100% sure on that one. They're stressful career fields, go figure.

Personally I use dissolvable snuff tabs while at work, look like lozenges, no need to spit. I don't personally have a problem with a no smoking policy while on company time and property. But a nicotine test? Well, I'd fail that because the tabs contain what? I hope someone tries to push that policy here in NC, I'd like to count the seconds before a lawsuit got filed.

the bolded statement is very true!! and if they are saying that cigs are bad the next step will be saying that being overweight can restrict you from a job.

too me this is too much control of something that is legal

 

[Zorak]

I'd have to smoke if i worked in a hospital, just to try and get that smell of fat old people shitting themselves out of my nose.

 

[NuckingFuts]

The hospital I work at just went smoke free on Jan 1st. I went smoke free the same day.

 

[porterjack]

I guess the idea of someone reeking of fags after their break going right back into an environment full of sick people isn't very appealing.

i have to remind myself often your people speak a different English than us

 

[HK]

i have to remind myself often your people speak a different English than us

LOL sorry yeah, I didn't mean to imply that our nurses and doctors spend their free time setting homosexuals on fire.

 

[Dana]

LOL sorry yeah, I didn't mean to imply that our nurses and doctors spend their free time setting homosexuals on fire.

:24::24: While I don't condone this... I find this extremely funny for some odd reason.

 

[Alien Allen]

No, but it may prevent them from adequately helping someone who needs it. Is it fair that a child with asthma or a pregnant woman/preemie baby have to be exposed to someone's third-hand smoke? Just because they aren't smoking around them doesn't mean anything. If they want to smoke while they're not at work, that's fine, whatever. But wearing your scrubs and taking a smoke break while you're at work seems hazardous, reckless, and shows a potential lack of respect to the patients you have to care for. I realize this may be blowing it out of proportion to some people, but cigarettes are a touchy subject with me.

not picking on you but now we are worrying about 3rd hand smoke?

next thing you know people that smoke will have to go into decontamination chambers before going out in public.

keep in mind I never bought into the crap about 2nd hand smoke.

to take it to another level do we then demand health care employees not wear any perfume. Or is that already a no no?

How the heck did people ever live 60 years ago anyway?

 

[porterjack]

LOL sorry yeah, I didn't mean to imply that our nurses and doctors spend their free time setting homosexuals on fire.

there is a US Army Doc we know who might have some sympathy with this (jus kidding)

 

[Staci]

not picking on you but now we are worrying about 3rd hand smoke?

next thing you know people that smoke will have to go into decontamination chambers before going out in public.

keep in mind I never bought into the crap about 2nd hand smoke.

to take it to another level do we then demand health care employees not wear any perfume. Or is that already a no no?

How the heck did people ever live 60 years ago anyway?

i know here in texas, at least houston, most of the 911's tell you that you are not allowed to wear perfume, but that is stated BEFORE you are hired.

to me there are starting to be too many restrictions that i as a free citizen can do.

 

[HK]

i know here in texas, at least houston, most of the 911's tell you that you are not allowed to wear perfume, but that is stated BEFORE you are hired.

Do they say why? I've not heard that one before.

 

[Staci]

Do they say why? I've not heard that one before.

different people have different smell issues plus allergies. they say that its not professional to wear it. however i do keep body spray because if i get a really nasty call i dont want to smell it the rest of my shift so i will spary it on my clothes. the body spray is not over powering like perfume.

case in point we have a girl here that wears so much you can smell the room she was in for a good 15 minutes after she leaves, and it smells like shit! LOL

 

[Abcinthia]

Do they say why? I've not heard that one before.

I'm guessing it's because perfume irritates a lot of people and it can be a problem for people with allergies and respiratory problems. I cannot stand to smell some perfume, especially when a person seems to be drenched in it, and I would not be happy to have a doctor or nurse covered in perfume leaning over me for any period of time.

 

[Alien Allen]

Ok so perfume might be a bad example

How about garlic

My brother would put so much garlic in his food that his body would reek of it the next morning

Now I could see some of these things perhaps might apply when in a confined space such as an ambulance where a co worker would be stuck for hours on end.

My issue is that smoking is legal. They want to control it but don't have the stones to just ban it. Just one of my many pet peeves.

 

[Panacea]

I'm glad smoking isn't allowed in buildings, I get so sick my allergies are crazy all the time living with a smoker. I hide in my room most of the time and have to wear a dust mask if I'm cleaning the house.

I do think this is too far, however, despite being extremely anti-cigarette.

 

[Mystic]

I think thats bloody great! I hope they set the standard for other health care providers.

 

[Alien Allen]

I think thats bloody great! I hope they set the standard for other health care providers.

pfft

leave your UK/Canadian ideals out of our country

 

[retro]

I think thats bloody great! I hope they set the standard for other health care providers.

You're right... discrimination is ​bloody great! :cheerleader: