An odd & unexpected dilemma. I've been so excited about vaping 'on the job' I've been out of work a while & I've wondered how working & vaping...would work. I'm beginning to explore my dream of working in the medical field working as a CNA (it's a start!). I could have most likely taken a position in a rest home or elderly home or the like. As it is I've taken a position in home health, which I think I'll much prefer, other than this job doesn't offer benefits, & I need benefits.
She is a hospice patient in late stages of COPD, as a result of smoking her whole life. I know her daughter smokes, of course not in the home. I'm working 12 hour shifts 3-4 days a week, 8am to 8pm.
I am usually the only other person in the home during my work day, other than my sweet patient. It's come up that I use an ecig & am a past smoker. We didn't talk about it in great detail. So I have been occasionally vaping away from my patient off the kitchen towards the den, or if I step out to put out trash I'll grab a puff. My patient is in the living room on the other side of the home- probably 700 feet away. So today the patients adult kids were there, & at 2 opportune moments, I excused myself to walk out by my car outside the den door, near the trash can & take a couple puffs. These have been moments I know I'm not needed & can take 1 or 2 minutes outside. I don't usually go outside.
So the daughter asked if I was going out to smoke & I said no, I use an ecigarrette & went outside to take a couple of vapes. She asked if I went outside usually & I admitted, no I don't leave the home or your mom, I vape off the kitchen towards the den. She said she'd heard it to be very dangerous. I smiled anxoiusly & said I'll have to disagree with that. She said she'd heard that sometimes if it were 'shared', bacteria could be passed along & exhaled into the air! I said I'd never heard anything like that & anyhow maintained my vmod on a regular basis & it was clean. She seemed satisfied, & most concerned that I was not being neglectful & leaving her mom alone to 'go vape', which I assured her I was not. We didn't have time to discuss it further right then.
So it appears to have been resolved, I have not been asked to not vape, but I'm afraid it will come up again.
So what a wierd dilemma!! I fully understand, in their position being concerned about all this. Thier mom is dying & uses an oxygen tank & can't walk more than a step before becoming terribly winded & needing 5 to 10 minutes to move again, say from the bed to the cammode to the chair next to the bed. One of these 3 positions is where she spends every day, will continue to spend every day for the rest of her life. She doesn't have the strength or breath or lung capacity to do any more, & I've a feeling that will rapidly get worse soon. I get the sense she is just trying to get through this holiday... She is 76 years old.
So now I almost feel guilty having a vape. Am I doing anything wrong? I don't think so! But I feel very odd about the situation suddenly. Would love some thoughts & feedback on this. What do I do if they ask me not to vape in the home? I suggested I could step out the kitchen glass slider, where I could see her & she could see me, but they were worried about the draft of the door being opened. They have the right to ask me not to vape (they've not yet requested that, but I wouldn't be surprised if they do), I'm working for them in their home. What will I do with my nicotine addiction on a 12 hour shift?? I hate to think that making this change to vaping, that I deeply & sincerely believe has saved my life, could so ironically jeopordize my new job.
On a personal note, the patient & I get along wonderfully & are working very well together, the family hugs me & appears to greatly appreciate what I'm doing & appear to like me too....
Thanks for listening & for any possible feedback or thoughts!
Steph
She is a hospice patient in late stages of COPD, as a result of smoking her whole life. I know her daughter smokes, of course not in the home. I'm working 12 hour shifts 3-4 days a week, 8am to 8pm.
I am usually the only other person in the home during my work day, other than my sweet patient. It's come up that I use an ecig & am a past smoker. We didn't talk about it in great detail. So I have been occasionally vaping away from my patient off the kitchen towards the den, or if I step out to put out trash I'll grab a puff. My patient is in the living room on the other side of the home- probably 700 feet away. So today the patients adult kids were there, & at 2 opportune moments, I excused myself to walk out by my car outside the den door, near the trash can & take a couple puffs. These have been moments I know I'm not needed & can take 1 or 2 minutes outside. I don't usually go outside.
So the daughter asked if I was going out to smoke & I said no, I use an ecigarrette & went outside to take a couple of vapes. She asked if I went outside usually & I admitted, no I don't leave the home or your mom, I vape off the kitchen towards the den. She said she'd heard it to be very dangerous. I smiled anxoiusly & said I'll have to disagree with that. She said she'd heard that sometimes if it were 'shared', bacteria could be passed along & exhaled into the air! I said I'd never heard anything like that & anyhow maintained my vmod on a regular basis & it was clean. She seemed satisfied, & most concerned that I was not being neglectful & leaving her mom alone to 'go vape', which I assured her I was not. We didn't have time to discuss it further right then.
So it appears to have been resolved, I have not been asked to not vape, but I'm afraid it will come up again.
So what a wierd dilemma!! I fully understand, in their position being concerned about all this. Thier mom is dying & uses an oxygen tank & can't walk more than a step before becoming terribly winded & needing 5 to 10 minutes to move again, say from the bed to the cammode to the chair next to the bed. One of these 3 positions is where she spends every day, will continue to spend every day for the rest of her life. She doesn't have the strength or breath or lung capacity to do any more, & I've a feeling that will rapidly get worse soon. I get the sense she is just trying to get through this holiday... She is 76 years old.
So now I almost feel guilty having a vape. Am I doing anything wrong? I don't think so! But I feel very odd about the situation suddenly. Would love some thoughts & feedback on this. What do I do if they ask me not to vape in the home? I suggested I could step out the kitchen glass slider, where I could see her & she could see me, but they were worried about the draft of the door being opened. They have the right to ask me not to vape (they've not yet requested that, but I wouldn't be surprised if they do), I'm working for them in their home. What will I do with my nicotine addiction on a 12 hour shift?? I hate to think that making this change to vaping, that I deeply & sincerely believe has saved my life, could so ironically jeopordize my new job.
On a personal note, the patient & I get along wonderfully & are working very well together, the family hugs me & appears to greatly appreciate what I'm doing & appear to like me too....
Thanks for listening & for any possible feedback or thoughts!
Steph
If it does come up & I'm asked not to vape inside the home, I don't see any option but to respect & honor that request... lots more swedish snus may be the solution possibly, having a hard time visualizing not vaping at all for 12 hours though! 
