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Discussion

cigarette breaks

I work on a very busy vent/trach unit with parayzed patients. There are about 4 nurses, 2 or 3 CNAs and 30 patients. I have nothing wrong with people taking cigarette breaks but we have this one nurse that takes about 4 or 5 cigarette breaks in a 12 hour shift. Each cig break she is gone off the floor about 45 mins and still has the nerve to take a 45 min lunch break. We are allowed two 15 minute break and one 30 minute lunch break. I barley get those two breaks and I dont think its fair that I have to look after that nurses patients when she is gone on one of her breaks. If I dont answer her call lights then the patient is not being attened to. The other nurses notice her behavior also. The charge nurse is aware of the situation and is always asking where that nurse is. So i tell the charge nurse that she is off the floor on her break. The charge nurse and this nurse are friends. So the charge Nurse always tells me to go see what her patient is ringing for. When I tell her no then they say that im not being a team player. Im busy taking care of my own patients and i get behind on my work when i have to pick up somebody elses slack. Im just really annoyed and just wanted to VENT!:banghead:

Featured Replies

I smoke myself but I don't take "cigar" breaks unless it is my breakfast or lunch break. She is abusing her breaks. I would tell her to start the patch while she's at work and smoke on her own time.:smokin:

Smokers are role models when it comes to taking breaks! We shouldn't complain, but follow their lead.

Smokers are role models when it comes to taking breaks! We shouldn't complain, but follow their lead.

Say What?

  • Author

There is nothing wrong with taking breaks and everyone needs them, but we still have a job to do

Well, and everyone is only allotted so much time. Burdening your co-workers so that you can take breaks (without returning the favor) is selfish and dangerous.

I agree that is good to take breaks, but 45 minute breaks are ridiculous. Even when I quit smoking I would take "smoke" breaks just to get out and get some fresh air.

WHAT is she smoking that takes 45 minutes????:confused: People like that give smokers a bad name. My smoke breaks take 5 to 7 minutes (yes, I have timed them). Someone needs to speak up to this person! :smokin:

  • Author

The unit manager did speak to the nurse about her cigarette breaks a few months ago and the only change that we noticed is that when she leaves the floor she will tell the charge nurse that she is going for her break, before she would just be gone from the floor and knowbody knew where she was at

how about talking to the unit manager?

explain that you'd feel uncomfortable talking w/the cn, since she is friends w/the offender.

bottom line, is the excessive amt of time she spends off the floor, w/you being held responsible for her pts.

that is just extremely unfair.

leslie

  • Author

im actually going to bring up the issue on monday to the unit manager because the other nurses on the floor feel the same way but I dont think they want to say anything

She's definately NOT working a 12 hr shift..but gets paid for it

If she gets one hour in breaks for the day - I'd not object to her using them anyway she wanted as long as it fitted in with the work that had to be done.

@ 7 minutes/cigarette = 8 breaks.

I'd set her a time tally chart - clock off and clock on then when her 90 minutes is gone every smoke after that is fraud (as she's getting paid for the time she 'works' not smokes).

I'm a smoker and I take 'extra' number of breaks but I don't have the other breaks as well. My total time is probably the same as those who don't but if someone thinks I'm over doing it I don't object to being told.

My smokes vary from 7 minutes to 3½ minutes on a busy day.

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