[Kandi RN]

It just amazes me how nurses are expected to work like, as I call it, HUMAN DOGS. Even dogs take time out and EAT and PEE! I always feel if I take a "quick" lunch,I will find one or all of my patients crashing,on the floor, or dead.

[etok89]

In our facility we have an hour break that includes 30 mins lunch and 15 mins each coffee break. They paid half an hour and other half an hour is not. We are allowed to go out the building for the half an hour that is not paid. Were happy for that. But a lot of the staff abused it and now they won't allow. We have to punch out and puch in everytime we go for our break. Every one is not happy about this. You're not even allowed to speak on your oun language on your breaktime. But we cant do anything this is the policy of the facility.

[Teshiee]

I work the night shift and it really varies. My fulltime job we are allowed to take a nap. The lounge is set up for anyone to kick their feet up and catch a couple of zzzzz's, afterall what is a LOUNGE for? My registry job I can't. I feel some hospitals act more like a dictator than anything else. I personally feel what you do on your break "off the clock", is you god given right, just as long as you return in the proper time. If people abuse it punish those individuals don't make other responsible people pay for it.

[Danielle4]

I work in a doctor's office.

I guess the doctor was questioning what people put on their time cards so she went to the punch clock.
we had to punch in and out which seemed fair to me.
then the doctor found out that the overtime we were working was "documented" and the fact that she only pays people 40 hours regardless of overtime and the fact that even if we did not take a lunch they deduct a half hour anyway. I guess she decided to change back to writting our time cards again.
I thought it was illegal for her to alter our times, but evidently it is harder to prove in handwriting than the time clock.

we are not allowed to sleep on breaks either.
Kind of like a dictatorship, but not completely.

[Teshiee]

You mean she changes your time card when you worked some overtime? That is illegal. I don't work for free. I wouldn't work for anyone like that anyhow.

[traumaRUs]

I'm sure to be booted from this group for this reply but here goes:

I can't believe anyone would sleep while at work!!! If you want nursing to be viewed as a profession, well professionals stay awake. If you work night shift (and I do), you sleep during the day. If you can't or don't, then don't work nights!!

This just blows my mind!! Its no wonder nurses have no respect. And, just for the record, I have worked extensively in military, VA, private and public hospitals all over the US, Korea, Spain, Japan and Alaska and you would be written up for sleeping, even on your breaks. And, you should be.

[wildtime88]

Originally posted by traumaRUs
I'm sure to be booted from this group for this reply but here goes:

I can't believe anyone would sleep while at work!!! If you want nursing to be viewed as a profession, well professionals stay awake. If you work night shift (and I do), you sleep during the day. If you can't or don't, then don't work nights!!

This just blows my mind!! Its no wonder nurses have no respect. And, just for the record, I have worked extensively in military, VA, private and public hospitals all over the US, Korea, Spain, Japan and Alaska and you would be written up for sleeping, even on your breaks. And, you should be.

I have also worked at many hospitals in the U.S. where I have had to wake up residents and ER attendings who were actually provided a room with a bed to sleep in while the nurses where told they could not take a nap even on their breaks.

These physicians were viewed as professionals, but some how you suggest that a nurse who takes a nap on their own time is not?

These physicians were even on the clock and housekeeping cleaned and changed the linens for them.

[night owl]

Hey traumaRUs,

You worked VA and had no one sleep??? Now I know it wasn't at the one I work at! They're much better than what they used to be, but we have a few on 12-8 that like their "nap time" and it just makes me p.o.'ed when they do. The supervisors know they nap, but only one is willing to do something about it. The other two close their eyes to the fact...They're sticklers about being late, but don't care if you're alert once you're there...senseless thinking. Most of all, if I have to be awake darn it, you better be also I save my sleeping for my bed where I can do the most damage!!! I have a girl right now who's giving me the cold shoulder because I ratted her out. I'm SICK of her! Never checks her residents when she comes in, just sleeps then does her rounds when it's time to get them OOB at 5am. Oh well...You better believe she's checking them now and only takes a 30 minute nap. The cold shoulder? I make sure I don't lose any sleep over it...trust me

[Danielle4]

Tashiee-
Yes she changes the times. She varifies it by saying there is no overtime. Even when there are patients still to see. oh well. It does not affect me as much because I took another job and cut my hours so I don't work 30 hours anymore more like 25-30 now. It affects everyone else though. If I were everyone else though I would totally speak up. They work around MY schedule though so I cannot complain myself.
I know it is totally illegal and I know she knows it too that is why she had to go back to penmanship as opposed to the punch clock.


traumaRUs-
I think that most of us are talking about sleeping ON breaks. I do not work the night shift so I really have no need for a break. If I had a hour break though I personally would not want to sleep, but I believe that the employer should not be able to tell you what to do with your time as long as you are where you are supposed to be at that particular time. I thin that if anyone else wanted to it should be their choice as long as they are responsible about it. I understand you represent the hospital, but technically personal time is as it sounds- PERSONAL. The hospital has no right in inquire what you do on personal time. Unless of course it is in a signed contract at time of hire.

I am sure what you speak of has made you a great nurse. I just think some people function better than others...some people need more sleep than others to function normally.

[Danielle4]

I totally agree with you in the sense that NO ONE should be napping while "on the clock."

That is unprofessional!

It does not take a degree to become a personal napper, but it does take one to become a good nurse. I would say work on being a good nurse and leave the naps at home, or for break on your own time. The employer pays you to be a nurse, which is only done by being awake.