Why do so many nurses smoke?

CollieFit

I guess the biggest question is, should we expect the medical profession to practice what they preach?

Should we have have higher expectations of doctors or nurses in terms of how they manage their own health? Should they set some kind of example because of the job they're in? Is it "hypocritical" when a bunch of nurses are fagging away outside of a lung clinic?

My mother is end-stage COPD thanks to a life of smoking. She is in her early 60s and gave up after a near-death bout of emphysema two years ago but it's all too late. She has approxmately 20% of lung function left, is in a wheelchair, can hardly walk up the 4 steps into her flat and is on permanent oxygen. I expect that this will be her last Christmas.

When she was an inpatient at a specialist lung clinic after her emphysema I must say I feel very uncomfortable walking through a group of smoking nurses to get into the clinic to visit my mother. Also, if they can't manage their own addiction, how can I expect them to have the skills to achieve the necessary cognitive changes in patients to enable them to change?

I don't know, but it's an interesting question.

Mustang_Susie

I guess the biggest question is, should we expect the medical profession to practice what they preach?

Should we have have higher expectations of doctors or nurses in terms of how they manage their own health? Should they set some kind of example because of the job they're in? Is it "hypocritical" when a bunch of nurses are fagging away outside of a lung clinic?

My mother is end-stage COPD thanks to a life of smoking. She is in her early 60s and gave up after a near-death bout of emphysema two years ago but it's all too late. She has approxmately 20% of lung function left, is in a wheelchair, can hardly walk up the 4 steps into her flat and is on permanent oxygen. I expect that this will be her last Christmas.

When she was an inpatient at a specialist lung clinic after her emphysema I must say I feel very uncomfortable walking through a group of smoking nurses to get into the clinic to visit my mother. Also, if they can't manage their own addiction, how can I expect them to have the skills to achieve the necessary cognitive changes in patients to enable them to change?

I don't know, but it's an interesting question.

Interesting perspective and good points

whierd

We should ban nurses. They are too unhealthy to work in the medical field. Smoking and obesity? Terrible role models!

skadoosh33

We should ban nurses. They are too unhealthy to work in the medical field. Smoking and obesity? Terrible role models!

There are plenty of overweight/obese physicians as well. Some have problems such as alcohol, gambling and drug addictions. That's what happens after dealing with stupid people for so many years. So we should just ban idiots instead.

anemoneprose

stress = responsibility without control. the definition of nursing, as i understand it.

a family member of mine was hospitalized last year. prior to that, i had no idea what hell they deal with daily. not religious but bless bless bless the nurses who took care of my own (and me a little bit, too) despite being pushed past every reasonable limit.

anemoneprose

I guess the biggest question is, should we expect the medical profession to practice what they preach?

Should we have have higher expectations of doctors or nurses in terms of how they manage their own health? Should they set some kind of example because of the job they're in?

We should expect the organization and management of health care delivery to support the health of those who provide it, which ultimately serves the health of patients.

I can't imagine how an ER doctor or nurse is able to be effective at the 35th hour of a 36 hour shift without compromising their health with eg stimulants, etc. Ie it's a systemic thing.

Nicotine is a stimulant that increases alertness, attention, etc. In addicted people, contrary to what most think, it is effective at modulating negative affect, very quickly (7 minutes). People just want/have to get through the night.

zorbaru

im more surprised at the number of chef's that smoke. surely that would affect the palate.

Mustang_Susie

We should ban nurses. They are too unhealthy to work in the medical field. Smoking and obesity? Terrible role models!

TMLPatrick

Confirmation bias.

MyChocolateDiet

why do dr.s get sick?

why do cops speed?

why do strippers ever wear pants?

why do divorcee's marry?

sooooooooooo many questions.