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Okay, I'll be the bad guy.

I am a nurse at a pediatric hospital. Our hospital has decided to go smoke-free beginning January 1. The hospital is offering smoking cessation classes for all employees and will also be offering smoking cessation aids. The employees can get up to three months of Zyban or patches.

Because I take care of kids with asthma and other pulmonary issues, I see the wisdom in this. Smoke is very aggravating to kids with asthma. I have seen kids be weaned to getting breathing treatments every four hours, then have a parent come in stinking of smoke, and the kids is back in ICU on continuous breathing treatments. I have also taken care of kids who are admitted constantly and the parents can't seem to grasp that smoking around the kids has a direct effect on their health.

On the other hand, I realize that it isn't easy to quit, and I can't imagine how some parents will cope. It you have a seriously ill child who may die, walking outside to smoke may be the only vice the parents have at such a stressful time (the parents will not be allowed to smoke on hospital property either).

We all know it is detrimental, but in this case, I feel the benefits will help many ill kids.

BTW, I am a smoker.

We all know it is detrimental, but in this case, I feel the benefits will help many ill kids.

BTW, I am a smoker.

Well, I respect what you say. But what is next? Fat Classes? It just never ends.

And I am sure most educated smokers today would never smoke around the kids. (Did I say that?)