Nurses and their responsability....

[mom36]

My dad went to the doctor the other day and the nurse was one that he had while at a hospital in which he coded (died). She was one of the nurses who helped revive him, which the family was very grateful. She asked him at this visit, "Do you smoke?" his reply, "Yes, I do," her response, "Well if I knew you was going to smoke again I wouldn't have bothered with pumping on you."
What is the matter with people, just because of a bad habit that he has tried very hard to quit she made a comment of this nature. Everyone makes mistakes, some are able to overcome, some are not. I was wondering if anyone knew who to report something of this nature to.

[annie]

Did you tell his doctor what she said? It's her duty to do everything possible to save a patient, without pre-judging. Sorry I don't know who else to tell..........someone here surely does! So disturbing and scary!

[KYtransplant]

Holy smokes...(no pun intended) I would report her to the head of nursing at what ever facility you were at.
Her name would be in the chart and she should be reprimanded for it!

[SilverFox]

Unfortunately, nurses have gone the way of teachers. Standards have been lowered time and again. You can't even recognize an RN from a LPN or CNA unless you can see their badge. They all wear baggy scrubs. A good nurse is worth her weight in gold, just as a good teacher is. Any medical professional who would make such a comment is not fit to practice medicine. Their job is not to judge or preach to people.

[kdown]

One insensitive remark should not mean the end of this woman's career. It's just the society we live in. Smokers are the "scum" of the earth. Re-formed smokers are the worst. My wife quit a couple of years ago and I still smoke my pipe. I know of what I speak.........LOL

[Flame]

I am going to start off by saying that comment should have never been made. Yes when his doctor came in to see him he should have been made aware of this comment. It would not end her career but she surely would have been given a stern talk and told these type comments are not acceptable.

I too have a dear friend who I call an aunt who has tried everything in the world to attempt to quit smoking and can't. It is a terrible addiction.

I also want to say as a nurse I would never make such a comment to a patient. All this being said I do want you to know how frustrating it is to us when someone come in to the hospital begging for us to help them and so many times are very rude to the staff saying we aren't doing anything when we are doing everything in our power. I'm sure when you can't get air into your lungs every second feels like an hour but I am working as quickly as I can. Then a few hours later when the patient can breathe better they want to go out and smoke. That is frustrating for someone to want us when they come in to "fix them" and that is my job and very happy to do so but then you don't help yourself, by at least waiting till you get home to smoke. There have been times the EMT/Medics will say they had to make them put out a cigarette before putting them in the ambulance and complaining of shortness of air.

For as long as I can I will continue to help save the lives of everyone I can and if you want to go back to smoking that is your business my only request is treat me with a little respect as I do so and not curse me and be rude to me.

I for one do not get into a big lecture with folks about quitting smoking, adults that is. Children I will. Why? Because they already know they need to quit. I just simply say you know smoking is bad for you and you should try to quit and I'm done, no need beating a dead horse. They already know this stuff.

[mom36]

My dad is 74 years old had congestive heart failure at age 54, the good lord above only knows how he has survived a 7 bypass surgery with a valve repair and muscle flap sugery only to code and live to tell about it. We spent 48 days in a hospital with him praying daily, for a nurse to speak such a thing is wrong no matter what a man has done. He is not a complainer and never says anything to anyone, he did not deserse such a comment. My dad is very soft spoken and the same nurse was the one on duty when he coded because someone overdosed him on a blood pressure med. Nurses should not be in the business of caring for pateints if they don't have compassion and understanding about what is going on. Smoking is a bad thing I no, I do it myself.

[SilverFox]

I don't smoke but I certainly don't condemn people who do. There are many vices that harm our health-overeating, over medicating with prescription drugs, starvation diets, living on "junk" food, no exercise, not getting enough sleep, etc. I still think it is reprehensible for a nurse to castigate a sick, elderly person for any reason.

[Bengals_Mama]

My Mom has Emphysema so I know how frustrating it is to watch someone with a medical condition caused by smoking to slowly kill them. My Mom is only 48, and can hardly breathe at times... I wish they could just ban cigarettes because some people cannot overcome their demons by themselves.

[mom36]

If they ban cigerettes then you will have a worse addiction to drugs and alcohol.

[TheMan]

Honestly.. It's no ones business if a person smokes or not. It's a medical professionals job to advise of the health risks of smoking but not to lecture them about their habit. Their job is to provide medical services regardless of the situation. IF a man or woman works hard, has insurance and does not hurt others let them smoke on. Everyone has to die. It's not our job to choose they way they go.

[glenda]

the nurse needs to go back to school learn good bedside manner