I read alot of threads on here that talk about not having time to take a bathroom break, not being able to take a lunch break, much less 15 minutes breaks every, what, 4 hours or so.
Why does this happen?
There are laws that protect you. I fully intend on saying, "um, no, I am going on my lunch break, if you don't like it, talk to the labor department, or whoever passed the laws that certainly do exist.
What do you think? Tell me why you allow yourself to be abused like that. I promise you it won't happen to me.
I'm only a nursing student, but this scares me more than a little. I do get lightheaded when I go more than about 6 hours without food. I'm also on a diuretic for hypertension, so I can't wait 12 hours to pee - I can wait a couple if something crazy is going on, but not a whole shift! I don't necessarily need 30 straight minutes to sit and eat, but 10-15 to shove something down in the middle of my shift might be nice. Please reassure me that no breaks whatsoever isn't the norm - I also don't want to have to job hop around town when I'm still new.
I really don't think it's a matter of not being able to eat at all. To be honest, that has never happened to me. Yes, many times I didn't eat until the 9th or 10th hour of a 12 hour shift.
But, my point is most facilities take out 30 minutes regardless of the fact that your "lunch" consists of wolfing down a few bites at a time while working. It is your 30 minutes. You should be able to leave the floor, sit down, or prop your feet up in peace.
IT IS YOUR TIME.
When they take out your time, repeatedly, and they are aware you are essentially working for free........... and do nothing to correct the way our hands are tied and unable to take a break...........
I can relax later, if someone needs me and I'm not there and serious injuries result, can I live with myself if I was unavailable because I needed a break and just "had" to get off the floor for 30 mins?
That is very noble of you.
But it is ok that you are being taken advantage of and that you are "giving" your time?
And don't be fooled.
You are not "giving your time" to your patients..... you are giving it to your facility.
Think of all the time that is given to hospitals. It adds up to millions per facility.
And we wonder why they aren't rushing to help us take our breaks.
Oh, and for the record......... I am just as guilty as anyone else.
I can relax later, if someone needs me and I'm not there and serious injuries result, can I live with myself if I was unavailable because I needed a break and just "had" to get off the floor for 30 mins? Nope, I would feel awful about that for a very long time, and so would the patient.
Do you mean to say that a nurse should feel guilty for taking a break? A given break? Nurses are allowed and rightfully do take breaks every single day here in the good ole U.S.
I am a student and we have been doing clinicals on busy med/surg floors all year. From what I have seen, all the nurses take 2 breaks. 1 breakfast break around 9-10 am and one lunch break around 11-1. It may be late but they always make sure to cover each other and get a break. It may be short and sometimes they eat in the breakroom on the floor to be close but I have never heard one that skipped a break. They eat their breakfast during their shift not before. Not sure why but that is what I've seen on the 7-3 shifts. As a student we are required to take a break and lunch or we get in trouble. I think the nurses are required to do so also. They seem to be good about taking turns and partners to cover for them.
It is wonderful to work at a facility that takes care of and respects its nurses.
I once worked at Methodist in Indianapolis. There we were strongly encouraged to take an hour away from the unit. I would usually get my food in the cafeteria, take a comfy seat in the atrium, prop my feet up and read.
It was great.
Not only was it refreshing for the obvious reasons, but you felt appreciated.
It is wonderful to work at a facility that takes care of and respects its nurses.
I once worked at Methodist in Indianapolis. There we were strongly encouraged to take an hour away from the unit. I would usually get my food in the cafeteria, take a comfy seat in the atrium, prop my feet up and read.
It was great.
Not only was it refreshing for the obvious reasons, but you felt appreciated.
Nice. Nurses who can take a break are a lot more clear-headed than those who can't. (Speaking only for myself, here :)) I always get something to eat during the shift, but occasionally it's just graham crackers or pudding from the fridge. Usually I'll take ten minutes to run to the cafeteria and eat it in the break room (or at the back of the nurse's station if I don't think JCAHO is going to wander by
And on the graham cracker days, I absolutely punch out no lunch. Haven't heard any complaints from management.
I really don't think it's a matter of not being able to eat at all. To be honest, that has never happened to me. Yes, many times I didn't eat until the 9th or 10th hour of a 12 hour shift.
But, my point is most facilities take out 30 minutes regardless of the fact that your "lunch" consists of wolfing down a few bites at a time while working. It is your 30 minutes. You should be able to leave the floor, sit down, or prop your feet up in peace.
IT IS YOUR TIME.
When they take out your time, repeatedly, and they are aware you are essentially working for free........... and do nothing to correct the way our hands are tied and unable to take a break...........
IT IS THEFT.
that is correct they take out that 1/2 hr if you don't get it then you should put in for not getting that 1/2 hr and you should be pd for it .not the point though you should take your break
that is correct they take out that 1/2 hr if you don't get it then you should put in for not getting that 1/2 hr and you should be pd for it .not the point though you should take your break .it is the hospitals resonsibilty to see the staff gets it break.
Ha.... we don't even get paid for it. It is unheard of here to fill out a "no lunch break" form.
One nurse (a prn person) once asked our manager for one of those forms to fill out because she didn't take a lunch. (This was at the end of her shift)
I heard the manager say "Well I have a Slimfast you can have" and then he walked off.:angryfire
I live in a relatively small town (about 50,000) but there are 3 hospitals here....and they ALL are the same. They have nurses right under their thumb where they want them.
Leah, I know it's hard to realize that you nurses are your own worst enemies. But they have you under their thumb because you guys stay there. Only you guys can take yourselves out from under.
i worked a horrendusly busy er last fall on contract 11a-p i wouldnt get a break till 6or so if lucky and then told to hurry back (right) and if wanted a 15 in the eve when it was somewat slower to call home had to beg for it, one night i looked at time and was after 630 and caf was closed by then, went to charge nurse and she said 'oh we forgot to put ya on the list' after being there 6hrs and no break i told her find someone im going to wendys.. glad i want perm staff..
In my ER it's common to not get our lunch breaks when it's busy, depending on who the house supe is. S/he is supposed to relieve us for breaks but there is one in particular (who is on most of my days) who just won't relieve us. She will find every excuse in the book to get out of it, and we have no choice but to skip breaks. We do get paid extra for it, but that is small consolation when your feet are hurting and your stomach is growling.
Have you told this charming supervisor's boss about her refusal to relieve you?
You do have a choice, you are just afraid to stand up for yourselves. Not criticizing you, just have to try to get you to see the truth (as I see it from here). I know it's hard but there is no other way but to fight for yourselves and what you need. It's not going to be handed to you. You have to take it.
Ha.... we don't even get paid for it. It is unheard of here to fill out a "no lunch break" form.
One nurse (a prn person) once asked our manager for one of those forms to fill out because she didn't take a lunch. (This was at the end of her shift)
I heard the manager say "Well I have a Slimfast you can have" and then he walked off.:angryfire
I live in a relatively small town (about 50,000) but there are 3 hospitals here....and they ALL are the same. They have nurses right under their thumb where they want them.
I'd have told him I was not interested in a Slim Fast and demanded to be paid for MY time. Of course, your friend should have reached the manager early enough in the shift to actually get a break.
Leah, you can't blame the manager for trying to watch his budget if nurses are foolish enough not to stand up for themselves. Why should the manager stick his neck out? He's got a boss to please, too, a family to support, a retirement to fund. Why should he go out of his way to look for trouble?
That's how managers think. I know. I am one. I do try to take care of my people but I will not get myself in trouble for them. They have to have some self-respect, too.
LeahJet, ASN, RN
486 Posts
I really don't think it's a matter of not being able to eat at all. To be honest, that has never happened to me. Yes, many times I didn't eat until the 9th or 10th hour of a 12 hour shift.
But, my point is most facilities take out 30 minutes regardless of the fact that your "lunch" consists of wolfing down a few bites at a time while working. It is your 30 minutes. You should be able to leave the floor, sit down, or prop your feet up in peace.
IT IS YOUR TIME.
When they take out your time, repeatedly, and they are aware you are essentially working for free........... and do nothing to correct the way our hands are tied and unable to take a break...........
IT IS THEFT.