Fed up with the "rules"

carolmaccas66, BSN, RN · Mar 29, 2011

A manager tried to pull this crap on me one day, saying we couldn't have water bottles near us. As long as my water bottle was down on the desk ie: so the public wouldn't see it - or behind in the doctor's office, I refused to not have it near me. You have a right to stay hydrated. And I used to get very hot and sweaty in summer running around - you need lots of water at work I reckon.

Check with the higher ups re uniform policy. As long as I wore a white, professional top, and my ID badge, no-one cared. I just looked clean and professional looking.

They're giving you a hard time over nothing. Point out that you DO work hard, are given praise and are not asking for much re the water bottle. Stand up for yourself and they will probably back down

thinkertdm · Mar 29, 2011

I feel for you, I really do. But if you don't like their rules, you don't have to play. Take a walk. And by that, I mean, quit. You can do that.

SharonH, RN · Mar 29, 2011

I never heard of a nurse not being allowed to wear white. when I worked pool, I always wore white because I couldn't be bothered to try to blend in with the various colors at various units.

As for the water thing, it seems to me that is some sort of JCAHO thing-not allowing food in work areas. That was a long time ago but I believe that was the deal with that.

P_RN, ADN, RN · Mar 29, 2011

I think the water at the desk is actually an OSHA thing. I kept one of those little 6 oz plastic water bottles in my scrub jacket pocket, and refilled it from a frozen water bottle in my locker. I replaced it daily.

When I was in the float pool we had a special burgundy top we wore so we didn't have to meet each and every unit's dress code. Maybe you could suggest something like that? The various agencies that supplied us each had their own uniform top.

As far as the clinical bladder, and the no lunch..."welcome to hospital NURSING." I went through a lot of vending machine food in my many years (and put on beaucoups of weight.)

addendum:

I found the OSHA regs at

http://thehappyhospitalist.blogspot.com/2009/09/why-is-food-and-drink-prohibited-at.html

Here are the actual OSHA regulations
1910.1030(d)(2)(ix)
Eating, drinking, smoking, applying cosmetics or lip balm, and handling contact lenses are prohibited in work areas where there is a reasonable likelihood of occupational exposure.
1910.141(g)(2)
Eating and drinking areas. No employee shall be allowed to consume food or beverages in a toilet room nor in any area exposed to a toxic material.
In other words this is not a patient safety issue, but rather an employee safety issue. The Joint Commission has no specific standard on the issue other than for hospitals to comply with OSHA regulations.

He also suggests (tongue in cheek) that a doctor's note saying you need hydration might work.

MedicalLPN, LPN · Mar 29, 2011

A nurse in white? That's the most unprofessional thing I've ever heard of Some rules were made to be stupid, others like the "No drinks at the nurses' station" one are due to infection control although many people don't follow it.

I'm sorry you're having a rough time, I think all facilities have their "moods" where everything seems to be against the rules.

McGyverRN · Mar 29, 2011

"No drinks at the nurses' station" one are due to infection control

I would love to see the research on that. It is a ludicrous rule and I would love to see OSHA, JCAHO, the health department, and CEOs work a 12 hour shift without a drink...day in and day out. If they are so concerned about infection control...they should start with the disgusting, been all over the hospital, and never get cleaned charts!

NaKcl, BSN, RN · Mar 29, 2011

sounds like she has too much time on her hands. She needs to find better things to do.

She needs to be realistic. Does she have any floor nursing experience? or how long has she been out of floor nursing? does she not have a set of eye to see her staff nurses working their butts off? I don't see any code violation having a sip of water while charting at the dest. :eek:

MedicalLPN, LPN · Mar 29, 2011

I would love to see the research on that. It is a ludicrous rule and I would love to see OSHA, JCAHO, the health department, and CEOs work a 12 hour shift without a drink...day in and day out. If they are so concerned about infection control...they should start with the disgusting, been all over the hospital, and never get cleaned charts!

I agree. I think I'm at higher risk of developing an infection from exposure during patient care versus having a closed container drink at the nurse's station, hmmm maybe if I gloved and gowned before having a swig of my diet Dr. Pepper JCAHO would be happier?

Mulan · Mar 29, 2011

http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=INTERPRETATIONS&p_id=25506

Been there,done that, ASN, RN · Mar 29, 2011

Thanks everone for the support/ideas.

I am bringing this up for ALL NURSES. We simply are not treated like the professionals we are.

Any links for State mandated breaks/ access to water... etc.?

**canoehead, BSN, RN** · Mar 29, 2011

I quit a job that wouldn't allow water bottles at the nurses station. Even brought in a physician's note for water...no dice.

Every job I've had since I mention at the first occupational health interview that I require water during work hours. No problems. Having some distance from the situation I think it's unreasonable to restrict fluids. Patients are allowed to eat and drink, in patient care areas. I would leave the job again, in a minute. As I get older it's funny how I start to know my own limits, what I can put up with, and what won't work.