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.

[AtomicWoman]

Oh, good. I was beginning to think I was the only nurse who never got lunch! I worked on a rehab unit, too. Wonder if it's something about rehab? Now that I am an NP I don't get lunch, either. Usually eat it while working on office visit notes.

[Katie71275]

I work L&D and sometimes we get a lunch break sometimes not. If I have a laboring pt on pit, they have to be monitored q 30min, so with the time it takes me to heat my lunch and eat....not much time. Thankfully we are allowed to eat at our nursing station as we are out of sight, and we can see the monitors. On a slow night, we have plenty of downtime...busy nights? we may not eat until 2-3am, and it's something quick(and I always pack my lunch so it may be a yogurt and even that may have to be set down to go tend to a pt).

[LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN]

Regardless of setting, MOST days I get a lunch break and bathroom breaks. There is always a charge nurse or unit supervisor making sure people are getting breaks, or, I buddy up with another nurse, and we look out for each other's assignment, whether a bathroom break or a lunch break.

[ShantheRN, BSN, RN]

I will always take my breaks. I may have to stay 15-30 mins late to finish charting, but so be it. I have to eat and drink, and since I can't do that on the floor....my breaks cover that. I need the mental break. If I get interrupted, my 30 minutes pick right back up when I'm able to sit back down.

[madwife2002, BSN, RN]

I used to work on a Tele floor and we always got a break we made sure we got off the floor to eat! There never is a good time but you have to time manage

[anotherone, BSN, RN]

not all the time. med surg . sometimes you can plan all you want but if we are short and constant bed alarms and frequent vitals etc.. with even other nurses pts , then there isn't anyone to watch yours. some shifts are a huge spiral there is never a break.

[merkline]

I would agree that this does depend more on the atmosphere of the facility

and the priorities of an organization. It is important that nurses remember that we have to take care of ourselves too. I like the staggered shift idea. We have individuals working staggered shifts but not to cover lunch breaks. I think that this may be abled to be reworked so that more people are able to get off of the floor for 30 minute. This would benefit both the nurse and the patients in which they serve.

[LifeCrisis]

Part of the reason I love my night shift. When I was trained on days I see how many nurses get shortened or no break at all. But is also your prerogative. If your contract says you are entitled to X amount of break time, endorse to someone and TAKE YOUR BREAK.

My job is union and we are contract 2 15 min break and 1 hour lunch. I know a lot of people on day don't take all their break or will skip it, but at night on my floor we lump it t breaks of 90 minutes. No one will do your admission or charting but we cover any scheduled meds, call lights, or any other task like monitoring blood transfusion.

It is up to YOU to take YOUR break.

[melmarie23, MSN, RN]

Almost always

[lpn20rnsoon]

I work LTC, over the years there have been 'no break' jobs.... But now days, it doesn't matter if I "have" 30 minutes, I take them.

Starvation, dehydration, burn out, and general poor health leads to actual medical issues.

Been there, still there and not going back.

[thecareerchanger, BSN]

I am not a nurse but but why on earth would someone not take a break after working 12 hours, or 8 for that matter? Not only is it unhealthy for the nurse but the patient as well since the nurse will be presumably working on half a tank? I would probably pass out before the end of my shift so that would be a real issue for me but again I am not in the field (yet) so maybe I don't fully understand the culture

[Kooky Korky, BSN, RN]

I almost always get my full break. I take it later in the shift when it is most convenient for me, when everyone else is already back after theirs, I like to be alone so I can read or make a call. Too bad the toilet is about 2 feet from the eating table. Our break room/locker room/toilet room is designed by someone who definitely doesn't have to use it. Very embarrassing for the toileter, very distasteful for the eater. But I do get my 30 minutes, short of some true disaster.

The break room is really ugly, but I do get my 30 minutes.