Just out of curiosity I am wondering how many nurses get an assigned lunch break and how many actually take it.
I work in a small community hospital, a ten bed ICU. It can be somewhat busy some days but then there are days when if lunch were assigned and my co-workers could organize themselves, we could all have a 30 minute break on our 12 hour days. Instead everyone decides at the last minute they are going to "run and get something" (our cafeteria closes at 1pm) they then bring it back to the station and eat while answering call lights, the phone, charting and letting visitors in.
When I am in charge I post a lunch break schedule for people to fill in the time they would like to go, based on what they feel may come their way during the shift. It is my attempt to get them organized. There are many days when others are in charge that no lunch break is even thought of till almost 12:30 or 1pm. I then ask if anyone has thought of lunch and I get a "roll of the eyes." People seem pretty content to eat on the run but I feel like an outcast because I need a few minutes to decompress during my shift. Another "no-no", is that if I am not assigned lunch and I have no opportunity to take 30 minutes, I put in for "no lunch", to get paid for it. In reality we should get three 15 min. breaks and a 30 min lunch. (We sign in 15min before our shift and out 15min after because we do not get a paid lunch break) Thoughts?
We make every effort to make sure every one of us gets a break.
I have been tempted to work through, but like my charge told me, "Um no! We are not about to to set that precedent!"
And she's right.
Working through break, to get things done on time, does not accurately reflect the actual work conditions. You know how it can be: get everything done on time or a bit early, and bam! You just signed your death warrant, because management wants to give you more (useless and necessary) crap to do.
As for the hideous "Lunch and Learn" garbage... oh. hell. no.
Unless I'm getting paid, I'm not sitting through any boring class.
We do our best to make our breaks and make sure our colleagues are getting their breaks, too. We have 3 rounds of breaks for each meal of the day. If, for example, someone is on first break, they'll look and see who else is on first break and encourage them to leave together.
Or, not too long ago, I was having an incredibly stressful and busy day. The charge nurse approached me in the afternoon and said, "Ok, people have come to me because they're concerned about you. Have you eaten yet?" LOL I told her I had actually gone for breakfast but had missed lunch. My "break buddy" (the nurse who covered my breaks and vice versa) then told me, "I know you're on 3rd break but you missed lunch, so when dinner comes along, go for first break. You need to eat!"
It definitely is a very busy and stressful job, but there has only been one time where I technically missed all my breaks. All the other times, I've made it to at least one break, but most of the time I make it to 2 of the 3.
Hygiene Queen
2,232 Posts
We make every effort to make sure every one of us gets a break.
I have been tempted to work through, but like my charge told me, "Um no! We are not about to to set that precedent!"
And she's right.
Working through break, to get things done on time, does not accurately reflect the actual work conditions. You know how it can be: get everything done on time or a bit early, and bam! You just signed your death warrant, because management wants to give you more (useless and necessary) crap to do.
As for the hideous "Lunch and Learn" garbage... oh. hell. no.
Unless I'm getting paid, I'm not sitting through any boring class.
So there...
pthhhhhh!!!