No Smoking Allowed

Health Care Employees

See that! Finally! A smoking ban in the health care field.. at least at this particular hospital! There has been many rumors flying around the last year about this rule being put into place.. and I had not officially heard of its passing until a few weeks ago. However, on March 1st, 2010, it will be official that employees of Parma Community General Hospital will be required to be smoke free!

There are people that disagree with this decision saying that an employer has no right to make decision regarding their employees personal habits.

I disagree.

I believe that in the health care field, specifically, this is a reasonable request. As a nonsmoker, the high intensity smell that radiates from any smoker is offensive. I grew up in a smoking household and never realized that I smelled.. ever.. until I had a place of my own. Going home to visit family with my small children has and always will be difficult. I do not like the smell and the health risks for myself and my family is unbelievable.

When it comes to the hospital setting, you cannot help but chuckle when you hear a smoking co-worker preach to a patient about the risks of smoking and the options available for quitting. I have had patients complain about the smell. I have also had patients requests new nurses and even refuse testing because hospital employees reek of smoke.  Believe it or not, I have even been around nurses in the nursery (not at this hospital) who smell like smoke and pick up newborns!! It’s an outrage and it drives me insane.

So, YES! I completely agree with the hospitals decision. I am also in favor of their commitment to helping employees who are current smokers to quit. I think that it is one thing to ban smoking, but it takes real respect for the field  and their employees to assist your in the quitting process. The resources are not cheap and will have a short term effect on the budget.. but the long term health effects of the employees and possible decrease in insurance rates in the future due to a nonsmoking facility would be a bonus.

Congrats Parma Community Hospital!