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by dalegirl

I am a new nurse off orientation beginning of july, still honing my skills. On busy day when my assignment was heavier than my fellow nurse including the charge nurse. After 4.30, the charge nurse told me I could take a break, I said I couldnt as I was so swamped and I would never finish on time if I did not continue charting, I had 8 pts to chart on. I asked her to sign my ot slip and she refused saying she offered me a break. I am going to address it with the nurse manager. What is the scoop here? do I take the break and then work after my schedueled time to finish. The charge nurse was aware that I had a heavy assignment and at one point suggested that as I was not taking a break did I want to take her admission, I said no as I couldnt possibly take her work. This person has been particularly helpful to me so I am stumped. Any advice would be great

[Toquay]

Re: working thru lunch

I would have taken the break the full 30 minutes and gave her my patients to watch since she offered. Then if you have to stay later to complete it is OT whether she likes it or not and the law is on your side. Sometimes workloads are heavy and sometimes events happen at shift changes that take a little more time. Being a new nurse time mangaement will get better but even for experienced nurses depending on the days events sometimes OT happens. As a nurse do the job the best you can don't compromise YOUR pt care ever. Why should you work for free?

Toq

[dalegirl]

Re: working thru lunch

Originally Posted by Toquay

I would have taken the break the full 30 minutes and gave her my patients to watch since she offered. Then if you have to stay later to complete it is OT whether she likes it or not and the law is on your side. Sometimes workloads are heavy and sometimes events happen at shift changes that take a little more time. Being a new nurse time mangaement will get better but even for experienced nurses depending on the days events sometimes OT happens. As a nurse do the job the best you can don't compromise YOUR pt care ever. Why should you work for free?

Toq

Thanks, I feel I need to address this with the nurse manager in an exploratory way so I can avoid this in the future

[lilcajunnurse]

Re: working thru lunch

I would suggest you take your lunch break. First, you deserve a break and secondly you dont want other staff getting used to you not taking a break and you end up monitoring pts. as each staff goes on break. Even if you dont take a full 30mins. walk away and take a breather and regroup yourself. Everyone needs a break from a hetic day..

[Deidre Shiobhan]

Re: working thru lunch

No matter how busy we are, we still deserve a break to recharge ourselves. Just hand over your work to her for the time while you are away.

[vamedic4]

Re: working thru lunch

Originally Posted by dalegirl

I am a new nurse off orientation beginning of july, still honing my skills. On busy day when my assignment was heavier than my fellow nurse including the charge nurse. After 4.30, the charge nurse told me I could take a break, I said I couldnt as I was so swamped and I would never finish on time if I did not continue charting, I had 8 pts to chart on. I asked her to sign my ot slip and she refused saying she offered me a break. I am going to address it with the nurse manager. What is the scoop here? do I take the break and then work after my schedueled time to finish. The charge nurse was aware that I had a heavy assignment and at one point suggested that as I was not taking a break did I want to take her admission, I said no as I couldnt possibly take her work. This person has been particularly helpful to me so I am stumped. Any advice would be great

First off, a new nurse like yourself shouldn't have 8 patients...that's ridiculous. Second, yes, you need to address it with the nurse manager. You're saying the charge nurse asked you to take an admission since you were too busy to take a break?? I hope you gave her the "eat sh*t and die" look...I would have. Your work ethic is admirable. After all, who wants to stay for hours after their shift to chart?? If you can get it done, do it. There does come a time when it is good to take a break. Don't stress yourself out too much or you will burn out. Take little breaks when you can - get something to eat or drink when you can - but don't go a shift without eating or drinking, that's asking for trouble - and you're not paid enough to afford that kind of trouble.

Good for you for doing your best.


vamedic4

[K98]

Re: working thru lunch

Lunch? What's that?

[nancykday]

Re: working thru lunch

All nurses meed to take their lunch break. this is unpaided time. By failing to take your meal break, and not getting paid, you are providing your employer a "gift " of 130 hr of free unpaided time over a year. That is equivilant of 3 1/4 week of free labor.
Take your breaks, if you don't respect yourself and give the employer 13o hours of free labor each year, it is no wonder Management continue to exploit their workforce.