I have a question to nurse that smoke

IS IT WRONG AS NURSE THAT SMOKES, EITHER AT A HOSPITAL OR LTC FACILITY, WOULD IT BE WRONG TO GIVE A SMOKER PATIENT A CIGARETTE IF HE/SHE ASKS FOR ONE?

THE REASON FOR MY QUESTION IS A FELLOW NURSE GOT FIRED HERE AT MY HOSPITAL BECAUSE OF HANDING A 37YO PATIENT A SMOKE. THE PATIENT CAUGHT THE NURSE OUTSIDE SMOKING AND ASKED.


THANKS IN ADVANCE FOR REPLIES!
Who fired the nurse and how did they find out about it? There might be more to it: Is smoking allowed where the cig hand-off took place? Was the nurse not on break/lunch? I've done it. I've given patients a cig. before. They were in with things unrelated to smoking and were just between paychecks or w/e and I was outside and they asked. Some will tell you you've crossed some line, given up on your role as a "teacher", others will say the pt. is not actively seeking to quit, not the time for teaching. I've also seen nurses refuse to give cigs to patients for fear of what you described. At the time, I didn't blame them. Certain hosp. admin. despise seeing workers lining the streets just outside the facility when they should be inside working. I picture an admin. coming to work, passing by people outside smoking, then going in their office to hear a bunch of complaints about being "short staffed". I can see where they'd be annoyed. Giving a cig to a pt. may be the last straw and make them feel its necessary to do something. My solution to the debate was to quit smoking so, I have none to give anymore lmao.

I smoke and I think it is absolutely a horrible habit. However I do not smoke a pack a day for instance I haven't a cigarette in 48 hours, i usually smoke maybe 5 or 6 a day if I'm out and about. Anyway I'm young and have been only smoking for 4 or 5 years so hopefully I will quite soon! To be able to quit you have to have the desire and passion to do it! I have really good genes, my grandfather smoked for 60 plus years and passed away at 85 from natural causes, my aunt smoked for 40 years and just recently quite and she's really healthy, I have 12 aunts and uncles and about 50 first cousins and 90% of them do not smoke and thank the lord no one has had any cancer or disease other than high cholesterol. Anyway I plan on quitting soon, but what is so hard is that smoking really does relieve tension when your stressed and makes you feel better probably because you are addicted to it. My friend works on a psych floor at a major hospital and the residents are allowed to have 1 cigarrete a day. I dont think she hsould have fired, maybe reprimanded or given a warning I think firing for giving a patient a cigarete OUTSIDE the hospital, and may she didnt even know they were a pateint?

Quote from longislandlpni smoke and i think it is absolutely a horrible habit. however i do not smoke a pack a day for instance i haven't a cigarette in 48 hours, i usually smoke maybe 5 or 6 a day if i'm out and about. anyway i'm young and have been only smoking for 4 or 5 years so hopefully i will quite soon! to be able to quit you have to have the desire and passion to do it! i have really good genes, my grandfather smoked for 60 plus years and passed away at 85 from natural causes, my aunt smoked for 40 years and just recently quite and she's really healthy, i have 12 aunts and uncles and about 50 first cousins and 90% of them do not smoke and thank the lord no one has had any cancer or disease other than high cholesterol. anyway i plan on quitting soon, but what is so hard is that smoking really does relieve tension when your stressed and makes you feel better probably because you are addicted to it. my friend works on a psych floor at a major hospital and the residents are allowed to have 1 cigarrete a day. i dont think she hsould have fired, maybe reprimanded or given a warning i think firing for giving a patient a cigarete outside the hospital, and may she didnt even know they were a pateint?

When you smoke, you stimulate both the nicotinic receptors in the parasympathetic and the sympathetic nervous system. Rest and Fight at the same time. You may think you're "more relaxed", but you are being misled.

It's a stupid thing to fire someone for that. Could've just given an oral warning or something.

What's next? An obese nurse getting fired for giving a french fry to a patient with high cholesterol? Isn't it about the same thing? In my opinion it is, but you would never see it happen.

Ok, I just read my post and it's kinda comparing apples to oranges. What I should have said was what if an obese nurse gave an obese patient a french fry or something that was contraindicated for their condition. The point is that smoking is somehow seen as more taboo than most other unhealthy habits in nurses. Not sure why this is.

The last LTC I worked at I gave a resident a cig and the other CNA with me told me not to do that again 'cause if the higher ups caught me doing that I could get written up or fired. I don't remember the reason why, but I thought it was stupid.

Here's another thought: Don't patients have Dr. orders that say that they can smoke? I know a lot of LTCs do this. So, if that is the case, and the patient has an order that reads "may smoke prn/one cig a day/etc" then why does it matter where they got the cig?

LTC that I've worked at doesn't have smoking orders from the doc. The CNAs lend cigs to the residents all the time. The only thing I have an issue with is them taking them from the residents. In prison cigs are a currency. LOL

I'm not a smoker but there is way too much big brother. Next thing you know a nurse will get fired for giving someone a cinnamon roll and we will have a " cholesterol hut" to eat in. Or better yet, a " sit on my butt, eat fattening food and watch bad tv hut". Oh wait, we have one of those, it's the ED waiting area. HA!

There are several reasons for an employee to be reprimanded or even fired for giving a cigarette to a patient or resident.1. Is there a policy in place and if so, is giving a cigarette to a resident or patient a direct violation? If so, no brainer on the facility's part and you may have a difficult time challenging a written policy.2. Orders. Does this patient or resident have an order to smoke or is an order necessary at the facility?3. Liability. You have now supplied the resident or patient with "your cigarette". If the patient or resident burns himself it was your property and you are also "property" of the facility which opens all up to legal consequences. You might argue it is no different than the risk of having their own cigarettes but a court may see it differently. I believe similar cases have already been argued in court which is why facilities make certain policies and enforce them when broken.4. Do you know how much supervision that patient requires to smoke?5. How well do you know the patient? Are they wearing a nicotine patch? 6. Are they having surgery or testing done within the next 24 hours to where they should refrain from smoking? This should also be checked which is why cigarettes are usually given out at a central station for monitoring of certain restrictions. 7. Encouraging certain behavior from a resident or a patient can also be an issue. It may not be the actual smoking but the expectation that others will give a cigarette to them whenever they want one. Other employees who are smokers may not extend the same generousity which can create hurt or angry feelings.8. Professional appearance and advocacy. This covers many areas and also one of the reasons why hospitals have banned smoking on the property and even for employment.The facility should have a separate smoking area for employees or ban smoking for employees on the property.