Lunch breaks

Nurses Safety

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Lulu

12 Posts

In the hospital where I work we (nurses) are the only people that don't get lunch breaks, aside from the "grab something that doesn't bite back and stuff it in" break that you don't even need to pause to take. And I'm including the aids, unit secs, et. all who all find adequate time for them.

As far as smoke breaks are concerned, there are smokers who take 5 15min breaks in an 8 hour shift and still submit "no lunch break" when they sign out. Non smokers don't take the breaks because their first instinct is to get charting done where smoker's first inclination is "when can I smoke?". :smokin:

I don't want to offend anyone, but isn't that partly why it's an addiction?

So please don't say "nonsmokers should take their breaks" , it doesn't work that way.

Lulu

12 Posts

My nurse manager took my assignment just yesterday so I could take a lunch break. She said she was having a slow day and each of us got a 1/2 hour break -- the first time in months. She's new, I wonder how long she'll last!

aj1973

28 Posts

Specializes in ICU, PICU, Orthopaedics, Spinal.

Gee guys, I'm really starting to appreciate nursing here in Australia from reading these posts. The most recent wards I've worked on, we HAVE to take a lunch break, we aren't paid for it and we don't get overtime if we choose not to take it. We work out our lunch breaks first thing in the morning. I've actually been told to get my butt out of the ward when I've been busy and not been going to have lunch. On an 8 hour shift we also get a paid 15 min tea break. Now I work in PICU on 12 hour shifts its a little different, lunch can be at any old time of the day depending whats going on but we're still always encouraged to take our breaks. On nights we can basically split our breaks up however we want - you can take one whole hour or a couple of shorter ones, but there's always someone to cover, it wouldn't be a safe workplace otherwise. As for leaving the building - YOU BET!!! it wouldn't really feel like a real break if I'm still on the ward:D

SmilingBluEyes

20,964 Posts

Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

Lunch break? whats that? rofl just kidding. the short answer is NO...we never leave the floor for breaks. often, we take breaks on the run, period.

Since I read my first post, I am happy to report that I have finally learned when to take a lunch break to BREAK THE INSANITY. Unfortunately, the guilty concious about the decreased amount of time that on a whole that you get to spend with your patients. But I think that in the long run, any nurse that is able to take a break is cutting back on the burnout factor. Keep taking your breaks, we deserve it.

Aussienurse2

180 Posts

I think you guys need to get a better union. We work eight hour shifts and get a thirty minute unpaid lunch break and a paid fifteen minute morning, afternoon or supper break depending on what shift you work. Because your not paid if you are the only RN on shift and can't get off the ward you get toil and eat as you can. I love Australia!;)

layna

124 Posts

I think that moonshadeau says it all. It took me 10 years to finally convince myself that I deserved a break and to quit working through lunches and suppers. With the exception of an emergency taking place on the unit, since then, I have made time to take a lunch break. The amazing thing is that after I took my break, I was refreshed and did my work much more efficiently. Those people who feel that they "cannot" ever take a decent lunch break need to reexamine their patterns of practice. There are solutions out there if you are willing to take them. You can have the best union in the world but no one can "make" you take a break unless you feel like you deserve it. There is always plenty of work that can keep you working well through breaks and dinners...Good luck to those of you who are looking at ways to see that you get your well needed breaks!

Peace to you all.

adrienurse, LPN

1,275 Posts

I work 8 hr shifts and the facility does not allow us to leave the building. There were so many complaints to the above, how can a facility force you to do something during a time in which they are not paying you? Now we (members of the nurses union) have negotiated total 1 hr and 15 minutes within 8hrs total paid time. I believe that this is pretty uncommon. Only problem is there is no decent place to spend your breaks, since you're forced to stay in the building.

DelGR

124 Posts

Layna, I agree with you. I use to work through my lunch break to get out on time. I found I was less productive and my physical & mental energies were decreased when I didn't take a lunch break. I never got out early when I skipped my 1/2 hr lunch break. I started getting out on time or nearly on time when I started taking my 1/2 hr lunch break. It really helped me to be more focused and I was able to be much more efficient and productive after lunch.

slinkeecat

208 Posts

well, we are so bad we do not even take potty breaks..... we have a foley attached to a leg bag and each nurse has a picc-line for the iv nutrition....lol we order out alot and eat thru out the shift and we also are liberal on smoking..... we cover each other for smoking breaks.....

Katy

shrpgrl

14 Posts

If we are lucky we take 30 minutes. We are not allowed to leave the property. Many times I skip it so I will not be behind or I chart while I eat.

BBnurse34

209 Posts

We have two 15 min breaks and an unpaid 30 min lunch (we can't leave)

I believe it is each persons responsibility to see that everyone gets a break. Don't whine about no break when you have been staring at the charting screen, drooling for 15 min- or been on the phone.

Also, I think a person should not be thought poorly of for his break behavior. The nurses that jog the stairs get cheered but the smokers get dirty looks.

Use your break the was you want, eat, smoke, sleep, read or chase cars in the parking lot. Just return in time for MY break.

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