Learning Objectives: Discuss strategies that can be used to assist registered nurses who smoke to maximize their role in reducing tobacco dependence among their clients.
Abstract:
Problem/Objective:
In their frontline clinical role, nurses are ideally positioned in the healthcare system to intervene with clients by assessing for and advising them of the health risks incurred from smoking. Nurses can also assist those who smoke toward smoking cessation. Such health promotion opportunities are numerous, as almost 70% of smokers access a health care provider each year.
The smoking behavior of nurses poses a drawback to these health promotion opportunities. An estimated 14% to 20% of nurses smoke cigarettes, well above the targeted goal of less than 12% for the general population established by Healthy People 2010. In addition to increasing their health risks, nurses who smoke are also less likely to encourage smoking cessation among their clients affected by smoking.
Nurses are professionally obliged to promote health, including the prevention and treatment of nicotine addiction. Research about nurses and their smoking behavior, as related to their clinical role, is limited and dated.
Methods:
A grounded theory study was undertaken in May 2003 to collect and analyze interview data from 30 registered nurses who smoke to examine how they address the health promotion needs of their clients who smoke.
Results:
Findings from this qualitative study, to be completed in December 2003, will be presented.
Conclusions:
The human costs from smoking are devastating, and nurses are ideally situated to promote tobacco-free lifestyles. The knowledge evolving from this study will serve to inform nursing education and practice through the development of effective health promotion strategies to reduce tobacco dependence and diminish the human costs associated with smoking.
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