Kathleen Oare Lindell, MSN, RN
and Lynn F. Reinke, MSN, RN-CS

The purpose of this article is to provide the staff nurse with an overview of the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR) Smoking Cessation guidelines. The authors outline the practical components of the guidelines to enable nurses in any clinical setting to implement various smoking cessation strategies according to individual patient needs. Treatment options, including behavioral modification are discussed, including a comprehensive review of pharmacological therapy.