[maggiecheung]

Can a supervisor/manager force the nurse the take the 30 mins lunch break at the beginning of the shift? While we still doing patient assessment, we are asked to take lunch at this time.

[brian]

It sure doesn't split up your 8 or 12 hour shift very much, and seems kinda cruel to me?? Not to mention, since you are responsible for your pts, you should be able to assess them fully before you report off to the nurse covering your pts. while you are on break, otherwise, you cannot give a valid report on how they are doing etc....

I'm not sure if it is legal or not? you might want to contact your dept of labor in your state to the specific rules?

[Tweety]

Gee, I haven't had anyone tell me when to take my breaks since I worked at McDonalds.

[SCmomof3]

You may want to check your labor laws but I really have no idea. Sounds ridiculous though!

[batmik]

From your posting it says you are from California. Did this practice of meals break at the beginning of the shift start when ratios started in January? We have a break nurse who works 11a til 7:30p, sometimes we have too many nurses on for her to relieve people for meals at normal meal times like between 5-7:30p for evening shift. I wonder if this is the reason. I don't agree it is the right reason. No one who works day shift would want their lunch break at 8am

[maggiecheung]

yes. exactly. But if the labor law say the employee entitle for a lunch break for every 5 hrs work, I would say after the break at 12 midnite I'm entitle for another break at 5am again. Don't you think so?

[batmik]

I agree that you should get another break. After reading your first post I search on-line for CA labor laws and it says that rest breaks should be if possible in the middle of each 4 hour work period. The key word is "if" possible, this gives management wiggling room. It didn't say anything about meal breaks when they should be given.

With the new ratios managment is trying to do everything possible to keep their costs down and still stay legal(not all are doing this on a daily basis either), though maybe not looking out for the best possible solution for the workers.

If you are unionized have you talked to your representative. I don't think this practice is in the best interest of the patients either. You report off to some break nurse about your patients that you haven't even fully assessed yet.

Is this always happening to you or are they rotating this lousy meal time, though that still doesn't make it any good.

[mattsmom81]

Every shift I have worked as a nurse we were given the opportunity to negotiate our 15 minute breaks and our lunch (1/2 hr) breaks. We work it out among ourselves in a way that works for everybody, so not everybody is off the unit together, etc.This just seems wierd to me that they are such control freaks out there about this issue. I don't know if you have any legal resource here; why not try to bring it up at the next staff meeting. Maybe you can build a consensus and renegotiate if you come up with a plan that works for everybody. Are there staff members who are not taking breaks then demanding pay and time and a half? If you find out why management is doing this you may get some insight and come to a solution. Good luck.

[Nurse4years]

Originally Posted by 3rdShiftGuy

Gee, I haven't had anyone tell me when to take my breaks since I worked at McDonalds.

Yep.
Sounds like the boss doesn't have on her thinking cap.
Are these all adults?? Big people with big people jobs???
Sorry, but I would have to laugh in the boss' face.

[lifeisbeautiful]

Originally Posted by batmik

I agree that you should get another break. After reading your first post I search on-line for CA labor laws and it says that rest breaks should be if possible in the middle of each 4 hour work period. The key word is "if" possible, this gives management wiggling room. It didn't say anything about meal breaks when they should be given.

You are absolutely correct!

This is what they do to us where I work. Most of us work 10 hour shifts. When we come on duty, the charge Nurse will tell us to go and take our 10 minute break. I will usually respond with a question like, "Break from what? We just got here." She will then proceed to tell us that if we don't take our breaks now, we won't get a break! So, we are forced to take our breaks early. Then they work us for 5-6-7-8 hours NO BREAK! We have to wait until our 1/2 hour lunch. I often don't even get my second 10 minute break because it gets so busy. If you take a break that late into the shift, I end up having to stay over to finish my work. Hmmm. They wonder why people get so burned out?

We don't have a union, unfortunately. I have tried to talk to people in management, but they don't care. I have even written a letter to the hospital explaining the situation, but nobody ever responds.