Today, legislation has passed Congress and is on its way to President Obama that will allow the F.D.A. for the first time to regulate tobacco products. This truly is a huge step. As a health care provider, I see the harmful effects of cigarette smoke, not only on my patients, but on their families and on unsuspecting members of the community. Just recently I spoke with a patient that at one point in his life was smoking 4 packs a day. He now enjoys regular trips to his pulmonologist and annual arterial blood gas draws from his wrist - not fun nor painless. (If you ever thought having blood drawn from a vein is uncomfortable, as is the case with most labwork , drawing blood from an artery is a completely different ballgame). Unfortunately in this legislation, nicotine (the highly addictive "feel good" substance found in cigarettes) isn't banned altogether but some chemicals in tobacco products are and there are restrictions put on advertising. It still amazes me whenever ...
This is my blog that will highlight current issues, trends and policies affecting Nurse Practitioners and the health care system today.