Spring Break
Clinic to stop hiring smokers
Kiera Manion-Fischer
Issue date: 7/11/07 Section: News
Originally published: 7/10/07 at 8:32 PM EST Last update: 7/10/07 at 8:31 PM EST
Nursing students looking for a job after graduation may have to look beyond the Cleveland Clinic - if they smoke.
As of Sept. 1, Ohio's second largest employer will no longer hire smokers.
All applicants will be tested for nicotine, and the Clinic will offer free smoking cessation programs to prospective employees who smoke.
Michael Roizen, chief wellness officer at the Cleveland Clinic, said smokers will be encouraged to re-apply after quitting.
"We have decided to get as many toxins as we can out of our environment," he said.
Once the policy is implemented, employees will not be tested again, Roizen said. The policy will not affect current employees, but they are also encouraged to quit smoking.
Yvonne Smith, assistant dean of the College of Nursing at Kent State, said the Cleveland Clinic is one place nursing students go for clinical experience. Students who work there are expected to comply with the policies of the institution.
Smith said she hopes students who smoke might see it as an opportunity to quit.
"There are nurses who smoke," she said. "It's an addictive behavior."
But, she said the College of Nursing would not "police students" by requiring them to quit smoking.
Nursing instructor Theresa Hahn oversees students at the Cleveland Clinic.
She said she hopes the policy will not affect students because they should be "living a healthy lifestyle," and she thinks the new policy is a good idea.
Senior nursing major Steven Samaco agreed.
"It's a good idea for them to set an example and hopefully start a trend," he said.
Samaco said the policy is a "bold step" on the Clinic's part because while smoking is legal, it's up to the Clinic to decide it doesn't want smokers on the payroll.
"It's a condition of employment," he said. "You don't like it, go work somewhere else."
Samaco also mentioned it's difficult to hire nurses because there's a nursing shortage.
"It eliminates more potential candidates, and that makes it an even bolder step," he said.
Senior nursing major Nick DiMauro said he sees the policy as a problem. He said it's unfair for the Clinic to target people for an unhealthy behavior. He mentioned obesity as another example.
"We tend to think of obesity as a disease but addiction as a weakness," DiMauro said.
He said he accepts the idea of hospitals banning smoking on their grounds, but the Clinic has gone too far.
Smoking, he said, is "something (employees) do in their personal life that doesn't affect their nursing care."
Senior nursing major Laura Denczak said she sees nurses come out of smoking breaks and use body spray to cover up the smell of smoke.
She said nurses see first-hand the ill effects of smoking.
"Every single one of them that I know of is trying to quit," she said.
Contact principal reporter Kiera Manion-Fischer at kmanion@kent.edu.
As of Sept. 1, Ohio's second largest employer will no longer hire smokers.
All applicants will be tested for nicotine, and the Clinic will offer free smoking cessation programs to prospective employees who smoke.
Michael Roizen, chief wellness officer at the Cleveland Clinic, said smokers will be encouraged to re-apply after quitting.
"We have decided to get as many toxins as we can out of our environment," he said.
Once the policy is implemented, employees will not be tested again, Roizen said. The policy will not affect current employees, but they are also encouraged to quit smoking.
Yvonne Smith, assistant dean of the College of Nursing at Kent State, said the Cleveland Clinic is one place nursing students go for clinical experience. Students who work there are expected to comply with the policies of the institution.
Smith said she hopes students who smoke might see it as an opportunity to quit.
"There are nurses who smoke," she said. "It's an addictive behavior."
But, she said the College of Nursing would not "police students" by requiring them to quit smoking.
Nursing instructor Theresa Hahn oversees students at the Cleveland Clinic.
She said she hopes the policy will not affect students because they should be "living a healthy lifestyle," and she thinks the new policy is a good idea.
Senior nursing major Steven Samaco agreed.
"It's a good idea for them to set an example and hopefully start a trend," he said.
Samaco said the policy is a "bold step" on the Clinic's part because while smoking is legal, it's up to the Clinic to decide it doesn't want smokers on the payroll.
"It's a condition of employment," he said. "You don't like it, go work somewhere else."
Samaco also mentioned it's difficult to hire nurses because there's a nursing shortage.
"It eliminates more potential candidates, and that makes it an even bolder step," he said.
Senior nursing major Nick DiMauro said he sees the policy as a problem. He said it's unfair for the Clinic to target people for an unhealthy behavior. He mentioned obesity as another example.
"We tend to think of obesity as a disease but addiction as a weakness," DiMauro said.
He said he accepts the idea of hospitals banning smoking on their grounds, but the Clinic has gone too far.
Smoking, he said, is "something (employees) do in their personal life that doesn't affect their nursing care."
Senior nursing major Laura Denczak said she sees nurses come out of smoking breaks and use body spray to cover up the smell of smoke.
She said nurses see first-hand the ill effects of smoking.
"Every single one of them that I know of is trying to quit," she said.
Contact principal reporter Kiera Manion-Fischer at kmanion@kent.edu.
Viewing Comments 1 - 8 of 11
Robin Anderson
posted 7/10/07 @ 10:36 PM EST
Well folks;
The truth hurts, don't it? Smokers have a history of increased chronic/acute illnesses and that's a fact.
The City of Cuyahoga Falls is one municipality that requires new employees to remain "smoke-free" for the duration of their employment with the city. (Continued…)
Jackie M.
posted 7/11/07 @ 9:50 AM EST
Employees shouldn't be allowed to restrict their employers from partaking in something that is their legal right. Simple as that, Ms. Anderson.
rupert54
Robin Anderson
posted 7/11/07 @ 5:44 PM EST
Hey, I resemble that remark...I think! Ok, Jackie, it's time to stop watching the reality tv shows and get hooked into reality itself!
Many activities that are "legal" in our society may be carried to such an "addictive" extreme that they harm the individual, incurring enormous costs to the individual and society in general; thus, they are considered to be undesirable character traits deserving to be either corrected or eliminated. (Continued…)
Jen
posted 7/12/07 @ 4:51 PM EST
No one is arguing that smoking is a good thing for people to do, Robin; merely that it should not be the deciding factor when hiring. And I'm not sure I follow your argument about other addictions. (Continued…)
JM
posted 7/13/07 @ 11:00 AM EST
Figures you'd be quick to jumping to pulling the "socialist/ libertarian" card.
Vera
posted 7/18/07 @ 10:05 PM EST
I was curious, does anyone know how long nicotine even stays in your blood system to be detected by a test?
Robin Anderson
posted 7/19/07 @ 10:20 PM EST
FYI folks!
It appears that Mayor Robart has placed the City of Cuyhahoga Falls in the avant gard of society's battle against the nefarious cigarette smokers! In response to my direct e-mails, the HRS Departments of Summit County, the City of Akron and the City of Stow informed me that they do not have a "no smoking for the duration of employment" policy. (Continued…)
Robin Anderson
posted 7/28/07 @ 10:39 PM EST
Well folks;
It appears as if "JM" was right...I did jump-the-gun, so to speak but not in my reference to this being a Libertarian/Socialist type of debate. (Continued…)
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