Position Statement Background Info (ANA Members Only): Environmental Tobacco Smoke - 12/12/97 ANA's Official Position on This Issue: The American Nurses Association believes that nurses should provide smoking cessation services and educate smokers and non-smokers about the hazards being introduced to their homes and workplaces through environmental tobacco smoke. Nonsmoking spouses are exposed to the poisons and carcinogens in smoke, and their chances for long-term disease and death are, therefore, greatly increased. Parents need to understand that smoking in the home may lead young infants and children toward acute and chronic respiratory problems. Nurses should also actively support legislation promoting a healthy and safe environment for the general public. Work site environments must have rules established and enforced that restrict or prohibit smoking. Nurses, as nonsmoking role models, need to enhance public awareness and education about the hazards of environmental tobacco smoke within the work setting, and the benefits of smoking bans as mechanisms for enhancing the health of both smokers and nonsmokers.
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