Unwritten Social Contract: Your Needs Come First! - Page 3

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  1. Aug 20, '12 by
    usually my shifts are too busy to eat, drink, and go to the bathroom
  2. Aug 22, '12 by
    I work PRN now on an Acute Rehab Unit. I have never really looked at my paystubs closely until two weeks ago. I work two 12’s for the pay period and did not take a lunch. The hours on my paystub equated to exactly one hour less in pay. I brought it to my manager’s attention. The response was, “we take out a half hour break automatically for lunches.” To which I responded, “funny, I never clocked out for lunches those two days because I did not have the chance to a lunch break.” My manager said, “That’s your fault for not taking lunch.”

    So, three days ago I told my charge nurse that I was taking a lunch. She got mad and was verbally unprofessional. I grabbed my lunch and went into the break room. About ten minutes later, the unit manager came in and said, “The floor is too busy for you to take lunch, you need to get back on the floor.” To which I responded, “I’m sorry, but if you’re taking time out of my pay for lunch, I am taking lunch. Besides, it’s your fault for not appropriately staffing the floor today.” She left upset. Who knows, maybe I will not receive another call to come in or perhaps I will be told that my services are no longer needed.
    afranklin, CherylRNBSN, ~*Stargazer*~, and 1 other like this.
  3. Aug 22, '12 by
    Quote from ParkerBeanCurdRN,BSN
    I work PRN now on an Acute Rehab Unit. I have never really looked at my paystubs closely until two weeks ago. I work two 12’s for the pay period and did not take a lunch. The hours on my paystub equated to exactly one hour less in pay. I brought it to my manager’s attention. The response was, “we take out a half hour break automatically for lunches.” To which I responded, “funny, I never clocked out for lunches those two days because I did not have the chance to a lunch break.” My manager said, “That’s your fault for not taking lunch.”

    So, three days ago I told my charge nurse that I was taking a lunch. She got mad and was verbally unprofessional. I grabbed my lunch and went into the break room. About ten minutes later, the unit manager came in and said, “The floor is too busy for you to take lunch, you need to get back on the floor.” To which I responded, “I’m sorry, but if you’re taking time out of my pay for lunch, I am taking lunch. Besides, it’s your fault for not appropriately staffing the floor today.” She left upset. Who knows, maybe I will not receive another call to come in or perhaps I will be told that my services are no longer needed.
    I don't know how this will end, but good for you! I worked last night and the same happened to me, I was denied my break or lunch inspite of the deduction from my pay for a break (that's a gov regulation, BTW). They deduct it because it is the law, then they benefit by paying us less while still not giving the required break. It's illegal, but everyone does it. Even other nurses work peer pressure on you to not take your break because they don't take theirs. I am taking mine- even if I have to break it up into two 15 minutes or 3 ten minute breaks. I have to eat something or I'm going to crash. It's unsafe for the patient and me. Period.
    afranklin and CherylRNBSN like this.
  4. Aug 24, '12 by
    Yikes, this whole thread peeved me.

    I am on orientation, and have not gotten a break for two weeks now.

    Took lunch at 2p (b/c that's when cafeteria closes).

    So I worked thirty minutes for free! Yay for employer!

    It was not b/c I didn't want my break; believe me, if I weren't on orientation, I would have taken them. But my preceptor looked at me and asked "Have you charted your am assessments?" Basically saying that I didn't deserve a break. Rather than argue with her about the need to be hydrated and nourished and refreshed in order to better render care, I turned on my heels and went right back to work, Seven hrs. without stopping.

    What a crap culture.

    So when it's my turn to orient a new nurse, I will make sure she gets her breaks, which she is being docked for.
    afranklin likes this.
  5. Aug 27, '12 by
    Quote from CherylRNBSN
    Yikes, this whole thread peeved me.


    What a crap culture.

    So when it's my turn to orient a new nurse, I will make sure she gets her breaks, which she is being docked for.
    I agree! It's going to take the new and upcoming to change the way things are! Good for you!