ANGRY! There's no place to eat or drink 'round here!

Hoozdo, ADN · Sep 18, 2007

It been "the rule" ever since I've been a Nurse. My state health dept is called DHEC and they'll write the place up in a skinny minute. Do you really want to take a sip of that bright yellow substance on the counter and "assume" it's mountain dew?

Nope, but I will drink out of my bottled water with a cap screwed on it until they fire me for it. I am a human being, I might be able to go without food or a bathroom break for 12 hours. I will not give up my rights as a human being to drink water for 12 hours. I don't have time to go to the break room for a drink of water - if I did, I would also have time to pee at my leisure, which I don't.

I am not trying to argue with anyone, but if I don't have my water then I can't work.

time4meRN · Sep 18, 2007

I would be tempted to make frequent stops up to all those offices that make all of the rules, and make sure they arn't having coffee with their meetings or while working at the computer. I think we're all smart enough to fingure out where our food should sit and where we should eat. Once hsopitals start providing a place for nihgt shifters to eat, and make work load less so that we don't need a boost of energy because we are working like chikens with out heads cut off. What's good for the goose is good for the gander. I stand firm that the poweres to be need to participate in their own rules. I know they are just trying to comply with Joint comission etc... but, some where along the line hospitals need to grow some balls and tell some of these regulatory agencies to back off ! Most ER, ICU, OR RN"s would have no problem telling them to get lost,it's too bad the admin can't do the same.

RNperdiem, RN · Sep 18, 2007

Generally, our patient lounge is not the cleanest place. Forgotten cups left unwashed, open cans of flat soda, food not put away, crumbs on the table.

If I could not trust coworkers keep the nurses station clean(where everyone can see) if the staff lounge stays so dirty.

smk1, LPN · Sep 18, 2007

I have to have a snack. Even if it means wolfing down a balance bar on the run. Anyone want to deal with a nursing student that passed out in the hallway? Because that is exactly what could happen.

wooh, BSN, RN · Sep 19, 2007

OSHA demands a closed container. It's JCAHO that demands no food/drink at all (like most irrational demands, it's JCAHO.) The only way the germs that are capable of jumping out of the closed and bagged cup of pee onto the counter and back onto my drink and through the lid are going to make me sick, is if my immune system is depleted from lack of regular nourishment!

What kills me, is that I can't have my drink in the nurse's station, because it's a "patient care area" but we have to store BREAST MILK (body fluid!!!) in our staff refrigerator. So I've got body fluids right next to my lunch.

bagladyrn, RN · Sep 19, 2007

Your best bet if the "PTB's" are "going by the book" is to hand a little of that right back. If every shift, especially at night, multiple nurses on several units call the house supervisor to relieve them for every break they are supposed to have - "Sorry, my coworkers are all maxed out and can't watch mine too, and I want to be sure that I take my break in the appropriate place", then I'm betting that some slack will eventually be cut or a closer spot will be designated.

Now I know that you won't really get those breaks you are calling for, but the lack of such will be documented for filing a complaint, and the supervisor will likely be pushing for a solution just from the time consumed to answer all those calls.

loricatus · Sep 19, 2007

I was floating today and we had a JCAHO visit. One of the inspectors put his coffee down by the sink to wash his hands, :devil: I flew in and dumped that coffee in the trash, pretending not to know who that person was at the sink & ran away as fast as I could. I just couldn't help it since I was dying of thirst and he had the nerve to be walking around with a container of coffee. Don't think he ever found out who did it & I really don't care if I get in trouble for it. You should have seen all the ***kissing they were getting from management-I was getting quite sick watching it.

wooh, BSN, RN · Sep 19, 2007

[evil]

we had a JCAHO visit. One of the inspectors put his coffee down by the sink to wash his hands, I flew in and dumped that coffee in the trash, pretending not to know who that person was at the sink & ran away as fast as I could.

[/evil]

:lol2:Bwahaha! I love it!!! :lol2:

tddowney · Sep 23, 2007

My hospital has addopted a policy of No iota of food at or near one's work station. The rule is that all of your drinks (including bottled water) and all of any snacks are to be held in the lounge and never ever be near your area of work. Not even an innocent package of gum!
I agreee, having food in the hallway on counters left behind by staff from the last shift is troublesome and a nuissance when you have to spend time cleaning up other's messes. However, when the lounge is located 1/2 a football field's length from your patient's rooms, it's really quite inhumane to ask anyone to chase back and forth after an energy drink and take care of 5 patients all at the same time.
So that's basically my gripe! Not being allowed to have food or drink near your area of work!
I'll admit I've been known to hide my coffee now and then!

If they are going to enforce this policy, then you and your fellow nurses need to enforce the rules about luch and breaks.

Take this opportunity to let your supervisors know that you will require, for your safety and good patient care, regular breaks and lunch periods, and offer to help plan and implement a schedule, who will cover during busy times, etc.

This way, you aren't violating any policies that could get you in trouble by sneaking, and you are letting the hospital know that you expect them to follow the rules as well. You're not being obstinate, but assertive and cooperative in helping set a schedule.

suanna · Sep 23, 2007

This is not just a hospital poicy its a Joint Commission rule -no food or drink in the patient care area, (no food or drink at or around patient records may also be included but I'm not sure about this). As with all the J.C. rules it makes little sense but hospitals must complyif the want accredited.

tddowney · Sep 23, 2007

don'tcha just love it when people who have not worked at the bedside ever or in years get to make the rules for those of us who do???
crni

All bureaucracies come to serve their own interests first, and one way to do that is to make silly rules, in addition to the ones that make sense. More rules require more people to enforce them, and thus bigger empires for the bureaucrats, job security for the field enforcers, etc. 99% of would evolve the same way if we were in similar jobs.

If I was king (God help us all if that comes to pass) I'd shut every agency every 5-10 years, and start 'em all over, and make sure that none of the same people work at the new one.

tddowney · Sep 23, 2007

To say that I was embarrassed by my behavior is an understatement, but I had NO control over it. I didn't pass out, but someone ran and got me a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and some milk, and after they took effect I apologized to everyone and resumed my appointed rounds. Of course, I was called on the carpet and my rear end handed to me for my 'unprofessional' actions, but afterwards I noticed that the 'suits' sort of looked the other way when the occasional granola bar or soda bottle would find its way into the report room............:uhoh21:
Now, at my assisted living facility I don't allow anything in the med room or hallways except for a covered drink (travel mug or bottle with a lid), but I encourage the staff to take short snack and hydration breaks throughout the day whenever possible. It's only common sense........which is, I fear, what JCAHO and other similar organizations lack. They've been away from 'the floors' so long they have no idea of what the average nurse deals with in an average shift. 'Tis a shame they have so much power over us.

I don't mean to pick on you, but............................Why in the world did you apologize?

This wasn't your lack of professionalism, but lack of professionalism by your supervisors and management. Management is a profession, and it should be held to standards of conduct as well.

I'm glad you have a better situation now, and your treatment of your nurses is just what our profession needs.