[cuetygirl05]

I was wondering how other travelers that smoke deal with this. I will admit that I smoke and that I really want to take at least one break during a 12 hour shift. Most hospitals are smok-free now, and while I think that is great, I am just not ready to quit yet. The hospital that I am at now does not have a prob. I just worry about going to a new place and how they feel about it. I am starting in Austin in June and I know that they are a smoke-free city. Any advice?? Please no lectures haha.

[AmandaWIRN]

You are legally entitled to a 30 minute lunch & two 15 minute breaks during a 12 hour shift. If the hospital grounds are smoke-free, go across the street, & if the whole city is somke free, go sit in your car. I haven't really had any problems, yet...

[AprilRN]

It depends on the facility. WHere I did clinicals- it was a smoke free property. Even getting caught smoking in your own vehicle was grounds for termination.

[naskippy]

I work in a smoke free hospital, but the city has no restrictions on smoking outdoors in public like on the sidewalks. So about 3:00am (I work night shift) I go to the garage at the hospital, down the elevator to the street level and to the sidewalk...of which I own just as much of as the hospital does and I get my fix in. The rest of the staff at the hospital does the same. The hospital does not like it, but legally there is not much they can do if you are off the clock on a lunch break and you are on the public sidewalk.

[robinkay]

Originally Posted by AprilRN

It depends on the facility. WHere I did clinicals- it was a smoke free property. Even getting caught smoking in your own vehicle was grounds for termination.

The Supreme Court ruled that a person's car is an extention of their home. Even though I am now a non-smoker, I dare ANYONE to try to terminate me for smoking in my car.

I am NOT attacking the person who wrote this message---I'm attacking coorporations who think they can control and intimidate me and threaten my freedom.

[jmulford]

umm, i just break the rules/law and don't get caught....it's pretty simple

stay away from eye's...including the security camera's.... hehe i used to smoke in the bathrooms, and blow the smoke up into the air intake vents....and flush the butt.... then wash hands free of the smoke smell if i thought nessecary..... hehe

like someone once told me, "it's ok to do it, unless you get caught".

so just be smart when u break the rules

breakin tha law, breakin tha law, duh duh!!!!

[SoldierNurse]

Originally Posted by jmulford

umm, i just break the rules/law and don't get caught....it's pretty simple

stay away from eye's...including the security camera's.... hehe i used to smoke in the bathrooms, and blow the smoke up into the air intake vents....and flush the butt.... then wash hands free of the smoke smell if i thought nessecary..... hehe

like someone once told me, "it's ok to do it, unless you get caught".

so just be smart when u break the rules

breakin tha law, breakin tha law, duh duh!!!!

...
BTW, the OP started this thread back in April. It would be good to hear an update. I just spent most of my 18 days R&R in Austin.

[jmulford]

like i said

if i get caught, then i deserve to get "smoked".

[TJRN]

I just worked at a Dallas facility that was supposed to be smoke-free. My suggestion is to "follow the butts" There are always night shifters from the ER that will find places to smoke and the butts are the telltale sign of where it is safe. Usually behind a larger structure, ac/heating/wall/top of parking lot. If you don't find it readily, go through the ER and ask; or, just go out the ambulance doors and start sniffing. You already know the times the cravings kick in and you are sure to find at least one other when the time is right.

[AmandaWIRN]

I am a smoker, but I also agree that smoke-free means smoke-free. If a facility is smoke free, I just go out to the public sidewalk to get my fix. Trying to hide in bathrooms, behind AC units, etc is just a little too high school for me. I can walk the extra 50 feet out to the sidewalk.....