Setting a positive example

My office has windows that look out into an area where people occasionally visit to smoke. Yes, we have a no smoking rule on the hospital campus, but we all know that rules cannot force a behavior change. This was so reinforced recently as I observed a young man, perhaps the Dad, with a toddler in that area. He and the toddler walked to a tiny crepe myrtle and sat under some sparse shade. He then lit up and sat down- the toddler sat too. It was about 2pm and the temperature was at least 100◦. The shade provided no real protection from the sun. He finished his cigarette and got up- the toddler got up too. He looked up at his Dad as if to follow his lead in what they would do next. The young man put his hand out and the toddler grabbed hold as they walked off together. As I sat watching the scene I anguished over the young man’s choices. He chose to smoke, he chose to expose his son to the heat and worst of all, he chose to be a bad example.

I started writing my blog when I saw the young man and his toddler. A while later, I looked again, and to my surprise and regret, I saw a young woman smoking with her child nearby. I questioned myself, “how can your child’s health and future choices not be a motivator to quit smoking?” And I also answered myself, “Nicotine is highly addictive!”

As an oncology nurse for 20-plus years, I do know that. I have seen many patients on chemotherapy who still smoke. As a baby boomer, we grew up with parents who smoked and “movie stars” who made it look glamorous or masculine. What we now know about smoking and cancer can help prevent smoking but probably not enough to stop smoking. Once smoking becomes a habit, it is very difficult to stop.

A change in behavior will only happen when there is a motivator or motivators that is stronger that the will to do the behavior that needs to be changed. In this instance the child’s safety in the heat and sun exposure was not enough to prevent either of the adults from smoking. You could arguably say that the child was not really harmed by the short amount of time that he was in the sun and heat. Yep, that’s probably true. But the greater harm comes in the long run. The child will continue to be influenced by example and his lifestyle and choices are being developed now. Smokers often feel that they are hurting no one but themselves, but that is not true.

So if you don’t smoke, don’t start. If you do smoke, think about who you are influencing by your smoking and consider stopping. There are numerous programs, aids, tools and even medications to help you. Just google “stop smoking programs” or log on to the American Cancer Society’s Web site and you will find good information to a healthier breath of air!

Jenny Ellis, RN, MS, AOCN
Oncology Nurse Specialist
Texas Health HEB