WASHINGTON 鈥斅燗 hospital in Annapolis, Maryland聽says it聽won’t hire people who聽smoke or use other products with nicotine.
recently announced that potential hires would be tested for聽nicotine as part of聽its聽screening process. If the applicants聽failed, they could聽reapply for a聽job in six months, though they would聽still聽have to be retested for nicotine.
The policy would not effect those hired before July 1, the hospital said in a news release.
Ex-smokers who use nicotine patches or other smoking聽cessation products聽can disclose the aids and still聽be eligible for hire, thereports.
Anne Arundel Medical Center has been “smoke-free” since 2007, but the old policy was limited to cigarette use. Last year, the policy was expanded to ban all tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, hospital officials said.
The reports that at least three other Maryland hospitals disqualify job applicants聽who smoke: Carroll Hospital in Westminster, Maryland and two University of Maryland Upper Chesapeake Health locations in Harford County, Maryland.
