Breaks for only RN on unit?

I agree, take your break in a break room away from phones and coworkers, but where you are available if needed. And tell everyone ahead of time when you are going on break and ask them not to interrupt you for 30 min at that time unless it is really important.

I'm a new nurse at a small psychiatric hospital in Texas, and I've got a bit of a dilemma that I hope some of you can help me with.....

The hospital is set up to have only 1 RN per unit and 2 MHTs, with 1 LVN to be shared between 2 units.

I have no problem running over to the cafeteria or bringing lunch and eating at the nurses station (which is what most of us do here), but I do have a problem being docked 30 minutes for a break which I do not have the luxury of taking. The hospital deducts 30 minutes from each shift regardless of whether the RN takes a break or not.

My first question is this - would I put my license in jeopardy by leaving the unit for 30 minutes to take a "real" lunch break? I am under the impression that I would, as leaving "1/2" an LVN and 2 MHT's unsupervised does not seem right at all.

If indeed my license is on the line for taking that break, is it illegal for the facility to deduct 30 minutes per shift when I've worked essentially nonstop?

IMy intention is not to complain, I'm just new to this situation and wanting to do the right thing while not being taken advantage of.

Please help me out...

I work at a state psychiatric hospital and we are docked 30 minutes whether we take it or not as well. 11 - 7 staffing is minimal, but our units are set up so that two are connected by a short hallway "sister units". We are allowed to report off to the adjacent nurse who then provides care PRN for my unit. Not a perfect system...but you have to work with the system you have...

We get paid for the entire 12.5 hour shift, no lunch break docked, so we get paid 0.5 hrs OT every shift. Nice! You might see if you could work this out at your job.