Looking down on those who take lunch breaks???

SmilingBluEyes · Mar 21, 2007

I do not frown on others who take breaks; I take them myself. But knowing WHEN to take them helps!!!!

wincha · Mar 21, 2007

I just wanted to see if any of you other Nurses look down on those who take lunch breaks. I am working at a new facility and when I go to take my lunch break I notice I get smart little looks and comments. Now I make sure that all my patients are comfortable and not in need of anything before I go so that no one has to do my work. Now you guys know that as nurses sometimes you just need to take a moment to yourself especially when you are stressed and I feel that I should not have to explain, feel guilty or be belittled because im taking my lunch break which # 1 I am not payed for & # 2 is required by law. I just want to know how you others feel about this subject and has anyone of you encountered this same situation.

You need to take care of yourself. No one else will. You deserve your lunch break, I also took a break when I worked on the floor. I need to be able to take care of my patients and take care of myself. No one seems to look down on nurses who take their smoking breaks so why is is any different to take a break or even your lunch? I don't care what others think of me I get my work done and take my breaks and lunch break. If you can't do this I would find another area to work in.

wincha · Mar 21, 2007

I have a problem if my teammate takes a lunch break without getting someone to cover for her when it's busy. I have no problem with the break being taken, but if there are more than 3 pts then I need someone to relieve her.

Nurses need to cover each other for their lunch breaks, if this is not possible your manager needs to get out there and cover lunch breaks.

wincha · Mar 21, 2007

ok so what do you do when you are short staffed and you're not allowed to eat at the nurses station & your nurse is feeling faint or lightheaded? do you let him/her take a moment to eat or take the risk of her going home sick and you being there by yourself? This is the type of situation I encountered sunday. I felt like i was gonna drop at any second and finally at 10pm (I work 2nd ) I said you know what im taking a break and after i put something in my stomach I felt better mentally & physically

You start with another nurse who is supposed to cover you, if this is not possible then the charge nurse to head nurse while you take your required 30 minute lunch by law. if your manager is unable to cover you, you get the nursing supervisor to cover you. this has been done! if not i would get the heck out of dodge and find another place to work that is staffed better.

mismissy69 · Mar 21, 2007

You start with another nurse who is supposed to cover you, if this is not possible then the charge nurse to head nurse while you take your required 30 minute lunch by law. if your manager is unable to cover you, you get the nursing supervisor to cover you. this has been done! if not i would get the heck out of dodge and find another place to work that is staffed better.

I agree with everything you are saying I just wanted to see what others thought about this situation. I am in a new place so I cannot safely speak my mind, but when I can everybody better look out!!!!!!!!!!!!

Myxel67 · Mar 21, 2007

Originally Posted by TazziRN

There is a difference between taking a moment to eat and leaving me alone for half an hour.

You know, it really does take more than a "moment" to eat. Also, many nurses have diabetes and take medication that may cause hypoglycemia if meals are not eaten on time. No one should be made to feel guilty for taking a lunch break.

When I used to work nights, it always suprised me that right after taking report, many of the dayshift nurses would run down to the cafeteria to get breakfast & would eat while they checked charts. And they always seemed to have time for lunch too.

Myxel67 · Mar 21, 2007

Do those in other professions, particularly male-dominated ones, and those with more prestige than nursing, "look down on those who take lunch breaks?"
Nursing is my third career, and I have worked with lawyers, actuaries, and sales and investment professionals. The work ethic is entirely different in most of these areas. First, no one is paid by the hour, so the people who are frowned upon are those who race for the door at 5pm. Attorneys and actuaries compete with each other to bill the most hours for the month. The sales force is famous for two-hour three-martini lunches with clients. Everybody in the office goes to lunch--and it's a lunch hour so you actually get to leave the office and go out for lunch. But when there are deadlines to be met, you're expected to stay late--and there's no such thing as overtime pay. Sometimes we would get compensatory time off at a less busy time, but rarely was it hour for hour.

fultzymom · Mar 21, 2007

I never took lunches when I worked the floor (I am now in MDS) but I did not look down on others who did. I was happy that they had time to take a break et often wished that I did. But I was the RN supervisor of a 150 bed facility plus had an assignment of my own.

Gennaver, MSN · Mar 21, 2007

thank you all for your input also what im noticing is the nurses that I work with dont get out on to the floor until like 20-25 min after report because they want to socialize, take 50 million smoke breaks and call their families instead of getting out there and starting their work and maybe if they started their work in a timely manner they would be able to take a break. I want to say this so bad but I am a new employee so i don't think thats the right thing to do at this time. Im just sick of feeling guilty because I take my break, which might I add we are entitled to to take 2 15 min breaks which I dont I just take my 1 lunch and thats it and most of the time it's a late one because I get so caught up that I loose track of time

Hi,

One place where I worked the "non" smoking nurses started to take as many "smoke" breaks as those who did smoke. :)

Pretty interesting results. Of course they were not smoking but, just enjoying the same benefits of those smokers. Now, our smokers were considerate and worked hard and didn't leave work for others but, taking their smoke breaks two or three times a shift for about 15 minutes. Plus their little lunch.

The non-smoking nurses who took those smoke breaks too were very pleased with how it worked for them after a couple of weeks.

Maybe you should join the smokers, (not in the habit, just in the breaks). It seemingly also really builds a sense of "community" with them too rather than isolating cliques.

Gen

RunnerRN, BSN, RN · Mar 21, 2007

My $.02? I work in a busy ER. We often have a float RN who can cover for lunches/breaks, but more often than not, this nurse is pulled into pt care. I always pack snacks in my lunch and keep my lunchbox under my desk - I keep a sandwich, some yogurt, misc energy bars, lots of water, I've even used the energy "gel" that athletes use. The point is that a lot of days I can't even dream of a lunch, but I can always find enough time while I'm charting to throw down a sandwich or energy bar.

I know it is completely against JCAHO regs, but I don't care. I also take care to not eat the random sugar/carb/chocolate snacks that often get put out.

In response to your OP, yes, I do look down on nurses in MY dept who insist on taking a lunch every day. We need to plan ahead and keep food around that can be eaten quickly to give an energy boost. Last week a coworker insisted on running upstairs at 1430 (she got off at 3p) because she said she hadn't eaten all day. Didn't give report on any patients, just expected us to watch them. Ummmm, no.

By the way, if I don't get my 30 minutes, I always clock out "no lunch." Additionally, we learned very quickly because we often do have floats that you can't pick your time to eat. If the float asks you at 11 if you want to eat and you prefer to wait until 1, you'd better go now. Beggers can't be choosers!!!

Bluehair · Mar 21, 2007

Taking your lunch break is important - for your own health and well being, as well as for your patients. It can seem impossible to do when things are swamped and you are short staffed. Personally I function much better when I do take my break, even if it is a little shorter on those busy days. I get less done and don't think as clearly when I have to go an entire 12 hour shift with no breaks. Burn out in nursing is prevalent enough as it is, not taking your breaks will only hasten it's onset.

BTW, I love the idea of taking the same breaks the smokers do! Our smokers are also conscientious, don't run outside for a smoke when a code is in progress sort of thing. I could see where this would just eliminate any of those smoker/nonsmoker adversary situations.

nursemike, ASN, RN · Mar 21, 2007

I nearly always take lunch. I work nights, so I tend to eat at the nurses' station, even though we aren't supposed to. There are usually several of us whose lunches overlap a bit, and it's good bs'ing time. If I get interrupted by a call light, I finish when I get back.

On a good night, I take two smoke breaks. On a bad night, I take one. I smoke alone. It aggravates me when all the aides on the floor go smoke at the same time. Some nurses smoke in pairs, which is generally manageable. Me, I like the few minutes alone to de-stress, and even if I manage to quit smoking, I'm going to want that time. Lunch is food. I eat so I can work. I don't look down on those who take a full 30 away from the floor, but it just isn't what I need. I do need my one or two 10-15s, though, and sometimes I really feel like I need some nicotine with them.