Wouldn’t it be adding stress to a patient’s life to suggest they quit smoking while they are dealing with a hospitalization?
Not necessarily. In fact, if you don’t address smoking, it may increase their stress. Although some nurses may have this misconception, research has demonstrated that patients welcome, and in fact many expect to receive, cessation interventions provided by nurses and other health care professionals while hospitalized. Additionally, behaviors sometimes interpreted as “stress” are nicotine withdrawal symptoms from not smoking while hospitalized and may signal the need for medication to help with withdrawal symptoms. When nurses provide patients with evidence-based cessation interventions (as included in the pocket guide) including discussion with the health care team about pharmacotherapy support (such as nicotine replacement therapy), they assist in minimizing withdrawal symptoms associated with abstinence/quitting and they provide patients with high level quality of care. If the patient who smokes does not have his or her nurse and other health professionals discuss cessation while hos
