Hospital to ban odor of smoke on workers' clothes.

[LegginMF12]

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For a patient who is already hospitalized, how are they supposed to deal with their nurse or doctor bringing in that smoke that has a negative effect on them? If this was a decision based only on visitors who didn't like the smell, that would be one thing; but if it is adversely effecting the health of patients, then it should be dealt with. Now, how much it really is effecting patient health, I don't know, but I certainly wouldn't want my sick child exposed to it. When my son was younger, he was often sick and often hospitalized with pneumonia. I would definitely have had a problem with a nurse or doctor coming in with smoke lingering on their clothes to attend to my son who was already in respiratory distress and having to lay in an oxygen tent. There have been times we have left a restaurant or shop because of the smoke smell lingering on an employee, but we didn't really have a choice to leave the hospital if it had been an issue there.

Since we are talking about a smell here. Answer me this. What about the person in the next bed at the hospital who has diarrhea, who vomits, who has an infected wound? What happens if your nurse or doctor has Trimethylaminuria or plain old halitosis? What are we going to do about those odors? I guess we must ban them from the hospitals also. What are do these people do when the neighbor lights their fireplace of bar-b-que? What if I forgot to put deodorant on this morning or was lost in the wood for a week and couldn't shower before I was taken to the hospital. It's a caseof somebody has decided it is better for you so you must do it. Now eat your veggies.

 

[cupman]

Quote:
For a patient who is already hospitalized, how are they supposed to deal with their nurse or doctor bringing in that smoke that has a negative effect on them? If this was a decision based only on visitors who didn't like the smell, that would be one thing; but if it is adversely effecting the health of patients, then it should be dealt with. Now, how much it really is effecting patient health, I don't know, but I certainly wouldn't want my sick child exposed to it. When my son was younger, he was often sick and often hospitalized with pneumonia. I would definitely have had a problem with a nurse or doctor coming in with smoke lingering on their clothes to attend to my son who was already in respiratory distress and having to lay in an oxygen tent. There have been times we have left a restaurant or shop because of the smoke smell lingering on an employee, but we didn't really have a choice to leave the hospital if it had been an issue there.

Since we are talking about a smell here. Answer me this. What about the person in the next bed at the hospital who has diarrhea, who vomits, who has an infected wound? What happens if your nurse or doctor has Trimethylaminuria or plain old halitosis? What are we going to do about those odors? I guess we must ban them from the hospitals also. What are do these people do when the neighbor lights their fireplace of bar-b-que? What if I forgot to put deodorant on this morning or was lost in the wood for a week and couldn't shower before I was taken to the hospital. It's a caseof somebody has decided it is better for you so you must do it. Now eat your veggies.

We could play what-if all day long. I'm sure common sense will prevail in 95%+ of those situations.
Fireplace smoke and bbq smoke have very different smells than cigarettes, also, you are at home and spare clothing is readily available.
Many places do have hygiene expectations.
This is for hospital employees, it has nothing to do with people being admitted to the hospital.

I think a lot of you are missing the point. This isn't some federally regulated thing, this is one business making rules for their business. When they sign the paychecks they are the ones making the rules. You are not forced to work there, you can work elsewhere, so this really doesn't hinder your freedoms. Think about it from the businesses point of view, they own and operate, why should they not be able to enact policies that they feel would better their business? Just like restaurants who have banned smoking to make the atmosphere more appealing to others, the hospital is doing the same. It is entirely up to them.

 

[mom'sfolly]

I think the point also is that halitosis and urine odor are just that; odors. In the case of cigarette smoke on clothing, it is the chemical residue of the smoke embedded in the fabric. While halitosis and urine or whatever odors are microscopic airborne particles, they are not inherently toxic.

Anyone ever see the walls of a long time smoker, or the yellowing of their clothing? This isn't cause by little scent particles, but by residue from the smoke.

 

[Beekissed]

mom'sfolly :

I think the point also is that halitosis and urine odor are just that; odors. In the case of cigarette smoke on clothing, it is the chemical residue of the smoke embedded in the fabric. While halitosis and urine or whatever odors are microscopic airborne particles, they are not inherently toxic.

Anyone ever see the walls of a long time smoker, or the yellowing of their clothing? This isn't cause by little scent particles, but by residue from the smoke.

Exactly!!! I go into homes where people smoke....A LOT. They don't even smoke when I'm there but the toxic residue in the walls and furnishings of their homes is so strong that all my clothing and hair reek after a half hour visit. I then smell like I've been smoking... the fumes are that strong and persistent.

It's not really about smell at all, it's about air quality. People with compromised breathing can't handle fumes of this kind without difficulty. Smokers have adapted to poor air quality and function just fine....well... until they too die from it.

One of the ladies in my office burns cinnamon candles...I LOVE the smell but they give me an instant asthma attack wherein my throat starts to close off and I have to use a bronchodilator(inhaler or nebulizer treatment) to breathe easily once again.

Smokers are so used to breathing these deadly fumes they have no idea how much people around them suffer from them as well. I've been a nurse for a long time and have yet to see anyone go into respiratory distress from a fart...no matter how bad they can be!

 

[redhen]

Just another asinine law.

 

[mamawolf544]

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X 2

 

[speckledhen]

This is not a law, people. It's the policy of ONE hospital in one location. Workers around ill patients should not be covered in nicotine residue or smell like smoke (or heavy perfume, etc, for that matter). This is a particular situation and concerns the health of others who are recovering in a hospital.

If nurses, doctors, orderlies, etc, are more concerned with their addiction than the welfare of the patients in the hospital, they need to get out of their line of work, IMO. This is only about hospital workers in one hospital. We're veering off down paths this has nothing to do with.

 

[perolane]

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X 2

X 3...with correction: asinine policy

 

[speckledhen]

Just don't be surprised when patients demand that certain nurses do not come into their rooms because they cannot breathe when they do. I would be that way, no question. Hospital, folks, what part of hospital is unclear? Supposed to be all about the welfare of the patients, not the rights of the addicted staff *whether to nicotine or Chanel No. 5*.

 

[goobhen]

A.T. Hagan :

They should then also ban all perfumes, colognes, scented deodorants/antiperspirants, and anything else that forces other people to breathe the odors that people choose to douse themselves with. It's the same principle.

I agree!! I hate when I get on an elevator and smell the strong perfume that someone is wearing that rode the elevator 20 minutes before me!! How does this person think the patients are going to like it?​