Abstract
This phenomenological study of the lived experience of eight health care workers who continue to smoke in spite of familiarity with the associated health risks, identifies five themes. The themes suggest that in addition to being aware of health risks associated with smoking, health care workers experience conflict regarding the double message they give clients by advising them not to smoke, while still smoking themselves. In addition, the themes suggest that concerns about withdrawal, use of rationalizations, stress associated with the workplace, and lack of a perceived adequate incentive to quit influence continued smoking.