Are you so busy that you don't get a lunch break?

NBVRN · Oct 19, 2011

I don't remember the last time I actually sat down in the break room to eat and decompress. I work overnights on a heavy unit. There are people that take the time, but I tend to bring quick snacks that I can eat at the desk so I don't have to leave my patients unattended.

You'll figure out what works for you.

MN-Nurse, ASN, RN · Oct 20, 2011

I am a new nurse who works 12 hour shifts on days in Med/Surg. I am very annoyed that sometimes I am so busy that I can't take a lunch break. Sometimes the other nurse with more experience also go without lunches on my shift. Usually, we are so busy I never take a morning or afternoon break and I often have to work an hour or so of OT after my 12 hour shift. So, by the end of the shift I am exhausted, starving and my head hurts!!!
Do I expect too much?
Is it common to miss lunch breaks due to workload?

I bring food I can eat fast on the run. Fruit works really well, although sandwiches are good too. On my floor, day shift usually takes all their breaks and covers for each other. The most experienced and wise RNs work the day shift and the pt load is 3-4. They work well together and it's my favorite time to work.

Evening shift mostly gets a lunch break. Same patient load, but fewer experienced nurses. The last time I tried to report off to my "partner" she (a younger RN) refused. She's notorious for not helping out coworkers. I always help her out (because I'm really helping her patients, not her - which she doesn't get.)

Night shift gets no real breaks. We have a pt load of 6 and it's very difficult to leave someone with 12 pts for a 1/2 hour. So we report off, go get something to eat, bring it back and eat it on the floor. Gross, but effective.

If I have a crazy shift I clock out "no break" but I don't do it every day.

massrn116 · Oct 21, 2011

I work 12 hour shifts in an ICU, I make sure I get at least a 30min. break in that 12 hour period. We used to have the mentality that we were too busy to take breaks or lunch....when I am booked resource I make sure to assign lunch to give people a bench mark to shoot for. In nursing school I was fortunate enough to learn that in order to take care of others I needed to take care of myself. The norm for our unit now is for people to sign off to each other and take a break. Put your patients aside and plan for lunch, they will survive 30 minutes without you, no need for martyrdom, which a lot of nurses seem to give in to.

Sanuk · Oct 21, 2011

I could count on two hands the number of times I have had an actual 30 minute lunch. Food is eaten by the bite in between pt care, charting, answering phones, etc. Should it be this way? No. But it's the norm.

elthia · Oct 21, 2011

We are not reimbursed for lunches that we are unable to take. So I always make sure I take my lunch one way one way or the other. Even if it means I have to carry my phone with me to watch for call lights.

hazyblue · Oct 21, 2011

Lunch break?

There was a time that I was so busy I peed on my pants at work. Sorry too much information but I think I needed to tell to forget. And I was so busy that even if I had pee on my pants, I continued to work using the same pants.

And yes, it's normal to miss out on lunch.

grantz · Oct 27, 2011

I am a new nurse who works 12 hour shifts on days in Med/Surg. I am very annoyed that sometimes I am so busy that I can't take a lunch break. Sometimes the other nurse with more experience also go without lunches on my shift. Usually, we are so busy I never take a morning or afternoon break and I often have to work an hour or so of OT after my 12 hour shift. So, by the end of the shift I am exhausted, starving and my head hurts!!!
Do I expect too much?
Is it common to miss lunch breaks due to workload?

yes it is.. especially when I was in my 3rd year.. It is the busiest year for me that even dinner is forgotten :eek:

EDnursetobe · Oct 27, 2011

wait a minute, you're supposed to have a lunch break???

gninab · Oct 27, 2011

When I first got out of nursing school, I would frequently work eight hours before getting an opportunity to grab a quick bite. I wanted every med passed, every order noted and completed and every task finished before I would take a break.

Not anymore! I will get my lunch every shift. The way we are expected to work is crazy! What job would expect employees to work 12 hours without food and at least half an hour to sit and recoup? We are assigned buddies who will take care of anything that comes up during lunch that absolutely cannot wait. I refuse to go without my lunch break. If all hell is breaking loose, I'll ask my charge nurse to help out so I can eat.

Occasionally I have to eat later than I would like, but on most shifts, I am able to go sometime between 12 and 1330 because I JUST GO! There isn't a whole lot that can't wait for at least half an hour.

NursesAreAngels2 · Oct 27, 2011

I am a new nurse who works 12 hour shifts on days in Med/Surg. I am very annoyed that sometimes I am so busy that I can't take a lunch break. Sometimes the other nurse with more experience also go without lunches on my shift. Usually, we are so busy I never take a morning or afternoon break and I often have to work an hour or so of OT after my 12 hour shift. So, by the end of the shift I am exhausted, starving and my head hurts!!!
Do I expect too much?
Is it common to miss lunch breaks due to workload?

Never and I work nights in LTC. I usually get reemed for it too but I have 40-45 people I'm responsible for and they don't all sleep. On top of answering lights, I have tons of paperwork to do and try to tackle things that day and evenings didn't get done because they're super busy too. Oh and can't forget the added bonus of the usual nightly crisis either.

Anderle · Oct 27, 2011

I am a new grad, but when doing clinicals, most of the time the nurse I was with did not take a break or lunch. My preceptor never took lunch and seldom sat down, but I'd say she'd pace herself so she was seldom frenzied. Other nurses I met would come in as early as possible to get their patient assignments, start getting meds pulled before report and just get everything done early so they could take breaks and lunch.