To think most smokers are inconsiderate??

[Stapelberg]

I'm working as a nurse in a nursing home. A lot of our residents are bed bound and unable to move themselves. These most of vulnerable people rely on us, the staff, to reposition them, make sure they are dry, warm/cool enough, and get a drink when they're thirsty.
This means that we are coming into very close contact with them, right into their personal space and basically literally into their faces.

Now, I'm very much a 'live and let live' person, but it goes against everything I believe in and stand for as a nurse, that carers (and some nurses) go for a 'smoke break' right before residents have to be turned. From a distance I can smell their stale cigarette breath. Goodness knows how these poor frail people feel when that foul breath is breathed right into their faces during personal care...
AIBU to think that any right thinking, considerate adult would do whatever it takes to make their invasion into another person's space as pleasant as possible, either by smoking earlier or by at least having a mint or gum in their mouth before attending to people's needs? I'm not a smoker but I'm aware that after eating, my breath may not be too pleasant close-up so I always have a polo mint (which isn't eye watering strong) ready while dealing with my client group.
I have seen frail old little ladies trying to turn their heads away from the awful smell coming from smokers immediately after a cigarette, only to be laughed at and told that unfortunately we're all there is so if she needs turned she will have to take it on the chin. Not even an apology for smelling like an ashtray...

How do I deal with this?? In today's work environment nobody can say anything to someone else, or you are branded some kind of 'phobe'.
I really feel for my residents and I wish there was a way to make the majority of smokers understand how disgusting 🤢 (let alone unhealthy) their habit is that they now force on the rest of us who want to (and have the right to) breathe clean air... 😭 😭

We had the worst time with caregivers for my mother. In addition to having cancer, she had severe asthma. The wrong nurse coming to do a vitals check could trigger an attack. Anytime she had to be lifted or turned it was terrifying.

Your supposed to stay away from a baby for at least 5 minutes after a cigarette. I find (also working in care) that the elderly seem to need the same rules as a newborn eg bath water temp etc
They should only go on official breaks for a cigarette and have their last one at least 10 mins before returning to actual work after either getting changed back into uniform or taking off their coat eliminating at least half the stink then brushing their teeth or having a piece of chewing gum in the 10 mins before they go to a resident.
I'm a smoker so I'm certainly not against people's rights to smoke but I would never get into somebody's personal space (able or not) smelling like that. I have quit several times when my babies came along and for a long time when they were little and know how nasty it smells to others.
I think a senior needs to sort this...it isn't fair

Have you raised this with your manager? You say people are coming from a smoke break and having personal contact with patients. Have they complained? Smoking on a break is legal. It's up to your employer to put in process.

It sounds like your judgement.
Maybe a policy needs putting in place

My friend has carers because she has asthma so severely that she uses a wheelchair so as not to put strain on her lungs. A carer coming in after a cigarette put her into hospital, the carer was just there to cook so had not come into physical contact with her.

I know NHS staff are not allowed to smoke in uniform and there are all kinds of other rules about washing after they smoke. It should be up to the management to implement similar rules where you are and actually enforce them.

It was the same in the care home my mum was in.
Staff had fag breaks every 30mins, they only took their uniforms off if the manager was in.
They always stood outside the main doors, underneath the NO SMOKING SIGN.
I used to smoke, the smell didn't bother me. My mum hated smoking.

I have seen frail old little ladies trying to turn their heads away from the awful smell coming from smokers immediately after a cigarette, only to be laughed at and told that unfortunately we're all there is so if she needs turned she will have to take it on the chin. Not even an apology for smelling like an ashtray Well you're also in the wrong here for witnessing this but failing to report it (unless you have but it doesn't sound like it).

I manage a care home. One of the first things I did was amend the smoking policy. Nobody has smoke breaks on top of their usual breaks. All smokers must change into their own top when going for a cigarette then back into their uniform. They must also have a mint. The senior carers enforce this when I'm not there and myself and the deputy do random spot checks at random times when staff don't think we'll be in.

Speak to management, put it in writing. You have a duty of care to the residents.

Oh staff have to wash their hands after smoking too but that's the policy for all staff returning from all breaks.

I'd hate to be cared for by someone who stank of smoke. Yuck

Sounds disgusting. I have never even tried a cigarette and have mild asthma. Unfortunately, I think smokers don't tend to realise just have awful they smell and so without realising that they don't feel the need to do anything about it. But if a patient made a polite comment or turned their head away it's extremely rude to just expect them to put up with it. It's not just a matter of 'you smell bad' it's second-hand smoke and can/does cause harm. I'd speak to your manager and see if something can be done?

I suppose if you can’t be considerate to your own body, you’re not going to care too much about other people.

Tbf to the smokers I think some of them genuinely don't realise just how strong and disgusting their breath smells. If they've smoked for a long time they won't notice it at all.

Not that this makes it ok of course, they still should be considerate. I just think they don't realise how bad they smell. They probably think people are exaggerating.

YANBU
It’s vile. The smell turns me sick and I don’t have any health issues. I work from home now but there was nothing worse than getting into the office lift with the smokers who’s breath would stink the lift out. Absolutely vile.
I think you need to raise it to the management.