In one of our recent blog posts on The Leaders' Lounge, we talked about how a Tennessee hospital will no longer hire nurses who smoke. Officials at Memorial Hospital believe healthcare organizations need to set a healthy example for the community, and that not hiring smokers is a step in the right direction.

However, not everyone agrees.

Here is a sampling of some of the comments:

"I do not agree with the hospital’s stance on not hiring those who test positive for nicotine. I would be interested in viewing the 'Officials at Memorial Hospital' and noting whether they have normal BMI’s or not. Let’s go a step further and scrutinize their exercise regime and evaluate their blood for elevated cholesterol/triglyceride levels. One could even argue that other moral choices could be challenged for review – such as how much alcohol is consumed weekly by the staff? (all in the name of setting a good example)."

"I don’t believe the issue is about 'setting a good example for the community.' It should be about the PATIENT’S perception and experience. After all, without them, we wouldn’t have a job in the first place."

To read what other people had to say and leave your comments, click here.