Do you have 30 minutes for lunch?

[Kurious RN]

Hi everybody

Is there any nursing specialty where you can actually sit down and have a 30 min break?

I'm feeling burn out...

Please share your specialty or ideas if you're able to have a 30 min lunch every time you go to work.

[bankssarn]

Nope! I work 7a-7:30p and I'm lucky if I get a 15 minute break! I'm breastfeeding my 3 month old, so I generally combine my pump break with my "lunch" break. I had one bathroom break during my shift yesterday! I work on a rehab unit and double as the nurse/CNA. They forget about me.

[turnforthenurse, MSN, NP]

When I worked on the floor, I would get a 30min lunch most of the time, surprisingly. It usually wouldn't be until 0200-0300, however, and the last time I ate was around 1730...

In the ER, very rarely do I get my full 30 minutes. I usually get 5 or 10 if I am lucky. I have learned to scarf down my food and to get accustomed to eating it cold or lukewarm.

[KelRN215, BSN, RN]

Most days, yes. I am an RN case manager for a home health agency. Some days I take more than that. Yesterday I didn't take a lunch but I also went in an hour late so you could say I took my break in the morning. :)

[canoehead, BSN, RN]

I've worked in about ten different positions in nursing, and about 80% of the time we got lunches. The problem areas I saw was labor and delivery or ER when there was only one RN, then I grabbed something at the desk, or chugged Ensure from the patient fridge to get through the crisis.

[M/B-RN]

I usually do get a break. It's rarely 30 consecutive minutes because we do not have PCTs so if a patient hits their call light I must get it. We have good teamwork so if someone sees you are eating they will go get it for you if they're available.

And on occasion I do not get a lunch at all. If I ever have to starve during a whole shift I make sure to mark down no lunch because not eating makes me angry and I shouldn't work for free and be hungry!

[Horseshoe, BSN, RN]

We always get our 30 minute lunch break, at the insistence of our manager. This is the first nursing job I've had where I actually get a lunch break.

I work in an outpatient free standing facility.

[studentnurse9806]

I get one hour lunch everyday but that's because I'm in an office :)

[cancermom]

As someone else mentioned, unit or facility culture often has a lot to do with getting a lunch break. Through my 23 years of nursing I must say that lunch breaks were very valued. Managers and charge nurses who pitch in and assure coverage for staff is a big help. Most of my career was in acute care and while I missed lunch on occasion it was not typical. For myself I found that I could not "catch up" if I was so hungry that I could not think of anything else. I have taken lunch at 2:30 already, if only 15 minutes, so that I could finish the last 45 minutes strong and thinking clearly. Remember that a float charge nurse or other colleague has the same skill set. I got over the fact that something might not get done the way I wanted while I was on lunch, but as long as the patient is not harmed, it was ok.

[RNOTODAY, BSN, RN]

The operating room....

[Stcroix, ASN, PhD, RN]

30 minutes is a rare event. We keep our phones on our floor and it is almost unheard of where you go without at least one interruption even on the days you eat over 15 minutes- cardiac tele.

[PD82]

Im a PCT (nursing student) and I rarely get a 30 min lunch even though it sure is deducted from my tiny paycheck.

Some days I do run and hide for 30 minutes because if not Ill go insane.

[davi000]

NO never able to take even 10 min i wish. working at long term/ rehab faciity at night with 48 to 50 pts. lot of work busy like hell. only eat while i am charting finger foods like banana or garnola bars . even i go work 30 mts before.