Caught a patient smoking

[cassandraschild]

Yeah... patients in my hospital aren't allow to go out to smoke. If they do try to go outside they will be deemed non-compliant and won't be treated further. I learned this while working on my old floor. From where my old floor was it's about 1/4 or so mile walk to where the "smoking area" is, which is the side walk by the main street that runs in front of our campus.

Not that the psych patients are even allowed to leave our floor. It used to be years ago from what I've been told that they used to take the psych patients outside for an hour or so for fresh air and maybe a walk or volleyball. A couple of patients tried to run off, so that ruined it for all the ones to come.

 

[meanckz]

As a U.S. citizen, the thought of employers dictating employees personal lives and then taking body fluids (an admission that they don't trust the employee) to check on them horrifies me on several levels. It reminds me of that movie, Gatica, where the employers were using dna discrimination against everyone. I simply will not work for an employer that crosses these lines. I cannot understand why so many Americans are so willing to give up their own human dignity. Because of lawsuits and courts? No, I say, we still don't have to do it. It's getting harder to believe this nation started with a revolution.

it's the mentally of "I have nothing to hide" and "I'll find some loop hole to get around it"
the innovative things I heard about to get around fluid testing is ridiculous, if as much effort would be put forth to fight this indignity, it wouldn't be there in the first place.
But it's not even enough for employers to test fluids anymore, some have gone on to hair testing, because it's a more scientifically sound (and less 'loop-holey') method.

 

[patkin]

That's just another cruelty in my book. Back in the day hospitals used to have internal open-air courts where patients could sit for fresh air and sunshine. To me that's especially necessary for depressed patients. We've had family members stay long periods in the hospital and we kind of joked about it "If you weren't depressed coming in here, you will be leaving."

 

[meanckz]

They were concerned about reprisals if they said no when they saw the Semovar. Of course, the existence of The Semovarians is only an Urban Legend....as far as most people know.

I'm on a venture to join BOTH:
The Provarinari
and
The Semovarians

 

[cassandraschild]

Generic Mutant: Sorry I'm a day late. I poked around a bit online, and I asked one of the psychiatrists at my job about the schizophernia and champix discussion. From what I can glean there is very little data, and as always seems to happen it's contradictory. One study I found reported no real problems, but it was supported by Pfizer, which makes it suspect IMO.

The FDA website on the updates on Champix warns against people with schizophrenia using it, but I have a feeling they lumped that in with all the data pouring in about the bad effects on people with mood disorders, to cover their butts.

Looks like your friend is basically a guinne pig. I'll pray for him.

 

[meanckz]

Well, you have spelled out at least one reason for at least some of the behavior we all see. But I stand by my post that you quoted. Are we really going to let corporate greed push us ALL the way to a Gatica-type system? Really?

Oh, and you do realize that taking up vaping full time is tantamount to rebelling against the system, right? In essence, we are throwing the tobacco into the bay. Just imagine what would happen if all smokers dumped their cigarettes and took up openly vaping at the same time.

something would seriously break

 

[meanckz]

I know it depends on the hospital and everything, but I know a lot of them allow vaping by patients. I have 2 sisters and 2 friends that work in the local hospital system, 2 are smokers, one's a non smoker, and one is one of my first converts to vaping. I know that this year in order to keep health coverage offered they wanted a nicotine swab - unfortunately kinda unfair against vapers or smokers who've already quit. But even our hospitals are no-smoking with a zero tolerance policy, nowhere on campus. Apparently, the vaper is allowed to vape but she cant walk down the halls vaping; has to wait for break time just like everyone else.

zero tolerance policies are also very very st00pid

 

[steveo9043]

Ill be honest I have not read the whole thread. However I wanted to share my experience with hospitals and vaping.

Back in June my gf's dad was diagnosed with lung cancer. By the time they had found the cancer it was there long enough to spread to other parts of his body but they were still hopeful on him recovering.

The Dr told him to find any way to stop smoking analogs. He tried the patch and the gum and all that before so he got himself a ecig and it really was helping him with the cravings. (by the way I was out of the country when this all happened)

When I got back she told me everything that was going on and that she got him an ecig (it was a cig a like). So I grabbed a couple old ego batteries I had laying around, picked him up a few tanks and some good juice. He was a lot happier with that setup then he was the cig a likes.

He was doing better and started chemo but ended up back in the hospital, he used his e cig during chemo and the whole time he was in the hospital. He then ended up at a rehab facility and they let him use the ecig in there as well.

Unfortionatly 2 months after he was diagnosed with cancer he caught pneumonia while in the rehab center and passed away.

I was very surprised and thankful for the staff to allow him to have his ecig.

 

[navigator2011]

Ill be honest I have not read the whole thread. However I wanted to share my experience with hospitals and vaping.

Back in June my gf's dad was diagnosed with lung cancer. By the time they had found the cancer it was there long enough to spread to other parts of his body but they were still hopeful on him recovering.

The Dr told him to find any way to stop smoking analogs. He tried the patch and the gum and all that before so he got himself a ecig and it really was helping him with the cravings. (by the way I was out of the country when this all happened)

When I got back she told me everything that was going on and that she got him an ecig (it was a cig a like). So I grabbed a couple old ego batteries I had laying around, picked him up a few tanks and some good juice. He was a lot happier with that setup then he was the cig a likes.

He was doing better and started chemo but ended up back in the hospital, he used his e cig during chemo and the whole time he was in the hospital. He then ended up at a rehab facility and they let him use the ecig in there as well.

Unfortionatly 2 months after he was diagnosed with cancer he caught pneumonia while in the rehab center and passed away.

I was very surprised and thankful for the staff to allow him to have his ecig.

I am sorry for your loss. Just next week, we will be having a funeral for my wife's cousin, a proper Marlboro Man who is now dead at 46-years old due to congestive heart failure. Thank you for posting this example of healthcare professionals taking a positive view of ecigs. I would expect the hospitals, doctors, and nurses to be the first to embrace the ecig. It is not curative to harass people and make their lives increasingly miserable. How has such an approach worked with other drug addictions?

 

[navigator2011]

zero tolerance policies are also very very st00pid

The concept of the zero-tolerance policy was developed by bureaucrats to help other bureaucrat avoid using sound reasoning skills.

 

[cassandraschild]

Or how about "discovering" one in the room: "Oh, Mr. Jones, is that electronic cigarette yours? They have nicotine and aren't allowed, so you better tuck that away."

This particular patient was a bit to psychotic for me to believe he could even remember to hide it.

Though I have been thinking over the last 24 hours, and part of me is starting to lean a little toward maybe keeping a couple disposables in my backpack, for patients who I do think CAN and have the capacity to keep them hidden.

 

[DC2]

I am strongly considering finding a hospital in my area that has a zero-tolerance no-smoking/vaping policy on campus...
And then going there, vaping outside on a bench, and refusing to stop.

Does anyone have any reasons to offer as to why I should NOT do this?

And yes, I am serious, and I can afford whatever the fine may be.
It may not accomplish anything, but in my heart it feels like it's time to do something.

 

[navigator2011]

I am strongly considering finding a hospital in my area that has a zero-tolerance no-smoking/vaping policy on campus...
And then going there, vaping outside on a bench, and refusing to stop.

Does anyone have any reasons to offer as to why I should NOT do this?

And yes, I am serious, and I can afford whatever the fine may be.
It may not accomplish anything, but in my heart it feels like it's time to do something.

I can understand your feelings, it is time for someone (more like 'people') to do something. But I have some reservations that you might first consider. I would certainly not go to a hospital just to vape. Rather, I would vape at a hospital that I had to go to due to a relative or friend being there--see, then you have a reason to be there in the first place. If you have no reason to be there in the first place, it is hard to justify your position on the matter later. Another question is does the hospital have security guards or a branch of city police? After spending many years working in security, I can tell you that a security guard's authority to infringe your rights is very limited. But I can also guarantee you that many security guards do get kick out of, well, kicking some butts. If it is city police you will probably pay a fine, or worse if you refuse to cooperate. If it is security, I don't see how a fine is attached unless the police are called and back up the security guard's report.

After writing all of the above, I highly doubt that starting a fight on purpose is the correct approach. Most of the time, when someone says something to me about an outdoors cigarette (which is hardly ever), I just say "OK," and then keep smoking it until I'm done. As long as nobody tries to unlawfully touch me, push me around, or take my cig or vape, then we're cool; and the next time I smoke, I will just go somewhere else. Honestly, I don't want to offend or inconvenience anyone else, and all I want is the same treatment in return.

 

[cassandraschild]

DC2, a better thing to do would be instead to try and convince the administrators of the hospital why allowing vaping is good for their patients. The administrators aren't going to give a *bleep* about one vaper doing what you propose. They will just use you as an example to everyone else at the hospital why they are right.

But, if you do it civilly and back it up with CASAA research, you might win more hearts and minds.

But that's just my way of looking at it. (Unless you can get 1000's of vapers to join you who live in that area.)

 

[Baldr]

It's awful isn't it? A more permissive attitude towards vaping (in general) could enhance peoples lives so much - anything to make someone's stay in a hospital less traumatic to them could only be a good thing - hopefully someday we'll get there but it's a long way away yet

Not only would it make the hospital stay less tramatic for vapers, it could be a chance to get a smoker off the cigs and onto vaping, a much safer alternative. But hospitals don't give a crap about your health, they care about $$$.

 

[DC2]

I would certainly not go to a hospital just to vape. Rather, I would vape at a hospital that I had to go to due to a relative or friend being there--see, then you have a reason to be there in the first place. If you have no reason to be there in the first place, it is hard to justify your position on the matter later.

I have vaped at many a hospital, because my father is in such a condition that he is often taken there.
I would rather do this at a time and place where I won't care if they get rid of me.

But I really do thank you for your input, as that is exactly what I asked for.
Please feel free to offer more, seriously.

Another question is does the hospital have security guards or a branch of city police? After spending many years working in security, I can tell you that a security guard's authority to infringe your rights is very limited. But I can also guarantee you that many security guards do get kick out of, well, kicking some butts.

Good question, and I wasn't even aware of these considerations.

On the other hand, I am 6'5" and 260 lbs and I know for a fact the security guards aren't going to want to deal with that.
And if they do, well, that just may be what I'm wanting.

I want to cause a stir, and get the hospital administrators thinking about if this is really how they want to handle things.

If it is city police you will probably pay a fine, or worse if you refuse to cooperate.

I will definitely not cooperate, which is the point of this whole thing.
I would go into this expecting to be arrested, and have already discussed with the wife that bailing me out would be necessary.

I'd like to take this in front of a judge.
I really want to see where that goes and how it turns out.

Again, I really appreciate your input.
This is something I am fairly serous about doing.

 

[DC2]

(Unless you can get 1000's of vapers to join you who live in that area.)

I wish I could, but not enough of us seem to care enough to do something.
And it's starting to make me quite angry.

 

[ancientgeek]

I wound up in a local hospital for a week this past August. Signs were posted in every conceivable place that Hospital police was that smoking or the use of any tobacco product anywhere on the property was not allowed. Fine. They didn't specifically say anything about e-cigs and since I prefer a vanilla (the flavor) vape, I decided to vape in my hospital bed. I did not openly vape in front of the nurses, but a couple of them said upon entering the room, "What smells so good?" I explained and nothing more was said. It really helped being able to vape when I felt like it.

 

[navigator2011]

I wound up in a local hospital for a week this past August. Signs were posted in every conceivable place that Hospital police was that smoking or the use of any tobacco product anywhere on the property was not allowed. Fine. They didn't specifically say anything about e-cigs and since I prefer a vanilla (the flavor) vape, I decided to vape in my hospital bed. I did not openly vape in front of the nurses, but a couple of them said upon entering the room, "What smells so good?" I explained and nothing more was said. It really helped being able to vape when I felt like it.

It's so refreshing to hear that some people can be human.

 

[EddardinWinter]

I wish I could, but not enough of us seem to care enough to do something.
And it's starting to make me quite angry.

I wish I lived closer, DC.



Tapped out