A real Lunch Break!

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Do any of you get a REAL Lunch Break? I work at a 600 plus Elementary School and it is constantly busy. I have no set lunch and the office staff does not seem to care if I eat at my desk or not. The main secretary is supposed to relieve me but her office is always packed with teachers and she will usually say, I was just leaving myself or I need to run over to Admin, etc. So I try to bring my own food and I usually start eating and kids come in 5-10 minutes later. The Prin is new and have other things as top priority and doesn't say much when I complain. :no:

I haven't even tried to take a lunch the last 2 years. Yesterday just as I sat to eat my chicken a student with very few social skills (asperger's) came in with a bloody nose and literally stared at me while he held it. Not relaxing at all.

I am fighting to have in our contract that we will be paid an extra 1/2 hour if we are unable to take 30 consecutive, uninterrupted minutes for lunch.

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I do not take a lunch break, but am entitled to one. I start work at 7:30, lunch and recess starts at 10:30 and lasts until 1:30, school is out at 3:00. I work until 4 pm - so my lunch is scheduled sometime between 3 and 4 - but there is no one else to break with so I just stay in my office. It's nice and quiet at that time.

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I have to force my lunch break. I used to skip it and try to eat quickly at my desk but there is no reason the school nurse needs to be a nutrition martyr. It really dawned on me that I was getting the short end of the stick when I realized that teachers get PAID if they miss their prep or their lunch. I am on the same contract and pay scale. The teachers would not put up with what I do. I sent out an email explaining policies and procedures for my office which included my lunch time. I did get feedback from my principal that some teacher(s) were not happy with "emails sent by the nurse." At first I was annoyed but I learned to blow that off. Apparently there are some teachers that will complain about everything. Too bad. I get a lunch. I usually eat in the faculty room so staff can find me if there is an emergency but I made it clear that I am not to be bothered unless it's an emergency. I won't come for bandaids, ice packs, stomachaches, headaches, peed in pants, etc. My break is after lunch/recess so it cuts down on injuries and staff asking general medical questions.

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Nice. I remember being very pregnant and peeing once, working a 13 hour shift. I was a hot mess when I got home.

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