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... 😠ðŸ˜