• E-mail
• Print
• RSS

Procedures for residents who smoke

Long-Term Care Nursing Advisor, May 19, 2006

Cigarette smoking presents a high risk for nursing home residents.

Because of this, each facility should have policies and procedures for retaining smoking materials and supervising smoking.

Consider the following for residents who smoke:

• Retain smoking materials and sources of ignition, even for competent residents.
• Monitor visitors; make sure they do not provide smoking material or lighters to the residents.
• Assess and document resident dexterity, skills and abilities to use smoking materials, and for unsafe smoking behavior.
• Designate a smoking area. Have staff document supervision of resident smoking on a sign-in sheet.
• Keep a fire extinguisher in the smoking area and be sure that staff know how to use it.
• Make sure the smoking area is equipped with a call system, even though staff are present. In a resident emergency, staff may not be able to leave to summon help.
• Maintain a supply of large, deep ashtrays. Each state seems to interpret the ashtray requirement differently. Check with your surveyors before purchasing ashtrays to ensure they meet the necessary requirements.
• Make sure the smoking area is equipped with a metal can with a lid for discarding cigarettes.
• Maintain a supply of smoking aprons.
• Plan smoking times carefully for residents who use oxygen. The resident's clothing will absorb extra oxygen. Avoid smoking for 30 minutes after oxygen is administered.

• E-mail to a Colleague
• Print
• RSS
• Archive