Recently, Akron Children’s Hospital in Akron, Ohio has announced that it will not hire new employees that smoke. To read Akron Children’s Hospital’s news release about the ban on smoking, click here.
According to The Medical and Science News from The Plain Dealer, Akron Children’s Hospital will not hire employees that smoke. On August 1, 2008, all applicants will be given a nicotine test. New hires who test positive for nicotine will be given the opportunity to enroll in the hospital’s free smoking cessation program. On Nov. 1, new applicants who test positive will not be hired. They can reapply in 90 days.
The ban does not apply to current employees. What is the purpose of this ban? Akron Children’s Hospital employs 3,600 employees. Smoking is smoking. Apparently, it’s all right for pediatric doctors and nurses who smoke to keep their jobs and to care for children. It’s probably because they “scrub up” with anti-septic soap which would kill the nicotine and not transfer it to the children. Perhaps all employees of Akron Children’s Hospital who smoke will be “scrubbing up” before they deal with people.
Furthermore, what if a new applicant who does not smoke comes in contact with an employee that does smoke? Non-smokers who accompany their friends to bars and clubs will tell you that they come out smelling like an “ashtray” from being around all of the smokers. God help all applicants if Ohio has gusty winds on the day of their interviews!
It’s great that Akron Children’s Hospital is doing something to curtail smoking by employees on the hospital’s property, but is this an effective way to do it? Could the hospital ban smoking for all employees and not just new employees? After all, it’s a hospital which is a place of health, healing, recovery, and rest. Isn’t it ironic that a place of health would allow smoking on its premises in the first place?
Since the hospital has “snuffed out” new applicants who smoke, next up will be potential employees who are 30 lbs. or more overweight. Let’s not forget that America is still “fighting” the war on obesity. Here’s a suggestion. Instead of fighting the war, attack the “battle of the bulge” with common sense healthy diet and exercise. Turn off the TV, get moving, and watch the portions! Yes, it’s that simple!
Comment for 8-1-2008.Do You smoke. I am a former smoker who quit 3 years ago. I went cold turkey, because I was going to have knee replacment surgery and I had to quit smoking for 10 days before surgery. I decided right then and there to give it up for good. It was hard no doubt about that. But I am proud to say I did it. I agreed if you are a non smoker your clothes do smell, so new people who try to get a job at the hospital shouldn’t be penalized for something they don’t do. Like the old saying goes ” WHAT IS GOOD FOR THE GOOSE IS GOOD FOR THE GANDER!” I feel that the employee’s working there now should abide by the rules.
THIS COUNTRY IS BECOMING MMORE AND MORE LOKE BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU. YOU CAN’T SMOKE YOU CAN’T EAT FOODS WITH TRANS FAT IN ,NEXT THEY TELL US YOU CAN’T HAVE SEX,SEE MOVIES ,TRAVEL ECT . SINCE IT IS THE 21ST CENTURY WE ARE GOING BACKWARDS IF SOME ONE WANTS TO SMOKE AND GOD FORBID IT KILLS THEM MORE POWER TO YOU. I LIKE CHOCOLATE AND LIKE WINE EVERY NOW AND THEY NEXT THEY’LL TELL ME I CAN’T HAVE MY CHOCOLATE THEN I’LL RELLY BE PISSED AND IF IT KILLS ME SO BE IT!
SMOKING DOES NOT BOTHER ME ,I WORKED FOR DOCTORS AND THEY SMOKED CIGARS AND DRANK AND I JUST LAUGHED WHEN THEY TOLD A PATIENT YOU SHOULD BE DOING THIS AND NOT THAT IT’S NOT HEALTH FOR YOU .
THE MEDICAL SYSTEM REALLY SHOULD PRACTICE WHAT THEY PREACH. R GIGIS
THIS COUNTRY IS BECOMING MORE AND MORE LIKE BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU. YOU CAN’T SMOKE YOU CAN’T EAT FOODS WITH TRANS FAT IN ,NEXT THEY TELL US YOU CAN’T HAVE SEX,SEE MOVIES ,TRAVEL ECT . SINCE IT IS THE 21ST CENTURY WE ARE GOING BACKWARDS IF SOME ONE WANTS TO SMOKE AND GOD FORBID IT KILLS THEM MORE POWER TO YOU. I LIKE CHOCOLATE AND LIKE WINE EVERY NOW AND THEY NEXT THEY’LL TELL ME I CAN’T HAVE MY CHOCOLATE THEN I’LL RELLY BE PISSED AND IF IT KILLS ME SO BE IT!
SMOKING DOES NOT BOTHER ME ,I WORKED FOR DOCTORS AND THEY SMOKED CIGARS AND DRANK AND I JUST LAUGHED WHEN THEY TOLD A PATIENT YOU SHOULD BE DOING THIS AND NOT THAT IT’S NOT HEALTH FOR YOU .
THE MEDICAL SYSTEM REALLY SHOULD PRACTICE WHAT THEY PREACH. R GIGIS