A Professional Challenge: Nurses and Smoking

The problem of cigarette smoking remains a priority on the American health care agenda. The National Cancer Institute (1994) maintains the position that “cigarette smoking is still the nation’s largest cause of premature death and disability and remains the only product that, when used as intended by the manufacturer, will kill the consumer” (p. xi). The significance of cigarette smoking as a major public health problem that contributes substantially to morbidity and mortality in this country is well documented. However, many political challenges to public health measures are accelerating, and tobacco companies are renewing efforts to deemphasize the dangers of smoking. There is a need for a rallying call to reinforce the importance of prevention and health promotion in order to preserve the health of the public against the dangers of tobacco use.