Why do so many nurses smoke?

NoAdditives

I could smell cigarette smoke on a nurse I had in the hospital recently.
I thought of saying something, but as she was jamming a tube up my urethra at the time, I went for the whole discretion being the better part of keeping my pee pee thing.

I spent a month in the hospital in October and most of the nurses were obese and they just looked like they had been around the block lol. You could definitely tell the smokers from the non by their teeth and skin. Gross.

Definitely this. I used to work in the medical field (not as a nurse) and I'm telling you 80% of them (including RNs, yes) were sleazy ex druggies, chain smokers, obese and constantly drinking huge sodas and jamming fast food and donuts down their gobs. Like to the point of freaking me out. They also saw no reason, apparently, to ever fix their hair or makeup at all and wore hideous scrubs.

The other 20% were all of 24 yrs old and model gorgeous, impeccably turned out, etc. They usually lasted about a year before going back to school to become NPs or doctors...or marrying well and becoming SAHMs.

I used to work for surgeons and one of our patients was a nurse who needed major work done on her leg because she shot meth into her thigh. There were pictures in her chart and they were awful. The skin was so damaged that it had to be excised all the way down to the muscle. No joke, all four of her quads were exposed on one leg and her calf was exposed on the other leg.

Mustang_Susie

I don't even know why we have nurses at all! They are just undertrained doctors!

You mean "underpaid" doctors...

AmerTunsi

For those who are asking why it matters, and it is their body ... well it matters because of second-hand smoke and the fact that they interact with patients everyday. Just like not wearing strong fragrances, if at all, smoking leaves behind a very strong odor that can cause issues to patients who are allergic and/or have allergy induced asthma. I'm allergic to cigarette smoke and I remember once going to an ER and while I was in the worst pain of my life, I remember the odor of cigarettes coming from the nurse the most, which triggered my allergies and made it very difficult to breathe.

We have come a long way in anti-smoking and educating people about the effects of second-hand smoke. I'm a supporter of many of the current policies and laws that are in place for anti-tobacco including hospital policies for new hires being non-smokers, increased cost of health and home insurance to smokers, and for it being illegal to smoke in cars with children under the age of 16

AmerTunsi

I don't even know why we have nurses at all! They are just undertrained doctors!

You mean "underpaid" doctors...

Who didn't have to lose 10 years of their lives, potential income they could have made from choosing a different field, or go into hundreds and thousands of dollars into debt to obtain that education to get that job. I suppose if nurses had to undergo the same training, lose that much of their lives, and go into the same amount of debt ... then they would certainly be underpaid doctors.

ReinasWrath

They're people too. Just cuz they work in the medical field doesn't make them impervious to temptations. Some may have been smokers for years before they started the job.

RN514

I don't even know why we have nurses at all! They are just undertrained doctors!

......

NRSPAM

I don't even know why we have nurses at all! They are just undertrained doctors!

You mean "underpaid" doctors...

^^^This! Lol

Mustang_Susie

Oh, and I ride my bike to work in my hideous scrubs...

skywa

I think that as a health professional they should have the self restraint to quite, or at least find an alternative. Second hand smoke is just as dangerous as actually smoking, it's their job to make/keep people healthy.

One can say it's a "personal choice", but if you're affecting the health of the people around with your habits you're just being selfish.

Thanks just my opinion on the matter though. I use to smoke myself and I understand it's hard, but definitely do-able and the wiser choice!

whierd

I don't even know why we have nurses at all! They are just undertrained doctors!

You mean "underpaid" doctors...

Who didn't have to lose 10 years of their lives, potential income they could have made from choosing a different field, or go into hundreds and thousands of dollars into debt to obtain that education to get that job. I suppose if nurses had to undergo the same training, lose that much of their lives, and go into the same amount of debt ... then they would certainly be underpaid doctors.

Exactly!

tallmansix

I know a doctor that smokes as well. It can get anybody addicted. All smokers know it is bad for them, not just nurses.

bernied262

One can say it's a "personal choice", but if you're affecting the health of the people around with your habits you're just being selfish.

Sure, if the nurse was smoking whilst dealing with me, I would have a problem with that. Last time i checked the hospitals had a no smoking policy so it is all good.
I am an ex smoker (still have the odd slip up), i am also an ex nurse (psych). The career choice should not dictate what the person can do in their private life. What they do on their time is their business!

phred_52

Uhmmm, maybe they want to? I'd rather have a nurse/doctor smoke, than be an excessive drinker and maybe take out a loved one. Maybe a better question would be, why do so many teens drink? Then again, don't effect me, so whoopty doo.

vtmoon

I don't even know why we have nurses at all! They are just undertrained doctors!

Someone has to bridge the gap between a doctor and someone walking off the street and helping you medically.

hotmomma0612

Why do so many alcohol consultants drink?
People do what they want....

jenilla1

Having been a nurse for 43 yrs my answer to this question is... It was the ONLY way we got a break.

Same reason so many chefs and cooks smoke , or at least is the case where I live. I had a tutor at culinary school who picked up smoking JUST so he could get the same number of breaks as the smokers at his work.

This used to piss my dad off. He was a non-smoker and only the smokers were allowed to go on break. If you didn't have a cigarette in your mouth you couldn't be out there. That sounds like some bull$#it to me.

KMMRN

Oh, and I ride my bike to work in my hideous scrubs...

Susie.....I ride my bike to work too! It psyches me up for the shift. Usually shower and change when I get there as it is uphill all the way. Nice coasting home though.

Warchortle

Nursing has a high rate of obesity as well.

laughed so hard.

m76b

I don't! but is their choice!

HollisGrant

Nursing has a high rate of obesity as well.

Why do people get bent out of shape about fat and not about smoking? Because we've been talking about smoking for the last 20 to 30 years. In the beginning, people were furious about smoking restrictions and the rights of smokers versus nonsmokers. We've talked that one to death. The fat conversation is fairly new.