Do Nurses Eat?

suzanne4, RN · Jul 18, 2005

Not sure of who you are speaking to but I get a break for breakfast, as well as for lunch. The times may not always be right on schedule but all fo us get out on the breaks....at least most of the time, unless a our patient is too critical or a bad trauma comes in, etc.

You may have a long case in the OR that you can't get out of, but you should always get time for your breaks, that time is yours...........

Nathalie · Jul 18, 2005

i totally agree with you. I was just saying that is what I was told and heard from some people and current nurses.

allnurses Guide · Jul 18, 2005

I always take my lunch at work and eat something healthy. I take a protein bar and have it with coffee when I'm writing my assessments after 4 a.m. vital signs/assessment time. I also take a 15 minute break twice a day and sometimes walk outside and around the hospital. When I'm bored I have unfortunately been known to snack on things not good for me but am working on that.

I think everyone should take their lunch and breaks - no if's, and's or but's about it.

steph

ceecel.dee, MSN, RN · Jul 18, 2005

In the hospital setting (at least at our hospital) it is very easy to get into the habbit of missing breaks and even lunch. There is just so much to do! I can forget to eat, drink, or empty my bladder in a 12 hour shift on a really busy day! That said, many nurses do get in each and every break, just making the time, so really try to take the time to take care of yourself too. You'll feel much, much better at the end of your shift, and perhaps have more of yourself left for "life" stuff too!

jhowirn · Jul 18, 2005

Of course we eat! At least for those of us who work night shift (carpe noctem, baby!), that's how we stay awake. Along with lots of coffee and mountain dew. Plus, glucose is the brain's only source of fuel, so we have to eat to concentrate on the job.

Editorial Team / Admin · Jul 18, 2005

so many people i talk to say nurses/nursing students barely ever have time to eat. is that true? they say nurses live on protein bars and other things similiar to that. i even heard someone say that they give themselves shots of glucose!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! that seems a little extreme. whats your opinion or experience?

no, we do not eat. at times we gain weight, too much really. the caloric intake is provided by osmosis in most cases. often many nurses can actually touch a food product and absorb the calories.

now others can just think about food and maintain adequate caloric intake that way. these nurses are real pros.

as for breaks: yes, some of us actually get one, but, the time spent is usually utilized as bath room privileges as it takes the entire break to empty ones bladder.

meal breaks are often there for us to take care of personal business like, "talking with our children, significant other, parents, etc."

i really have never met a nurse who can actually work a shift and take advantage of the benefit of chewing and swallowing food and sitting down to rest at any time, on a consistent basis.

siri, crnp, clnc, rlnc

Tweety, BSN, RN · Jul 18, 2005

I'm not a fan of bars, they are just another processed food. But I have been known to eat them, but not at work.

100% of the time I take a lunch break. The scheduling can be a bit off, the worst was recently I took lunch at 2:30 just because it was that busy. But also because that was my choice.

I don't believe in not eating a meal. If I have time I eat a bowl of fruit, usually berries, mango, etc. that I bring. I also bring an apple and a grapefruit/orange that I eat in the morning time, usually on the run.

Lunch is a priority, as much a priority as patient care, charting, etc.

As a disclaimer, I have taken many a lunch break in front of the computer charting, and many a lunch break has been interrupted. But to answer your question, yes I do eat...never in 14 years have I worked a shift and missed a meal.

suebird3 · Jul 18, 2005

Lunch? What's that? :chuckle I have been known to "Eat and Run", as anything and everything happens when I try to eat. I work LTC, and I swear that the residents have radar...... Anything that can be handheld is a Godsend (Pizza IS based on the 4 food groups.)

As for bathroom breaks.....at times these are my ONLY breaks!

SWRN84 · Jul 18, 2005

I agree that you should take a lunch break 100% of the time. When I first started out there were many times it was "just too busy" to take a break or take lunch. Over the years I've learned it's really not worth it. Taking a half hour lunch or 15 minute break is totally necessary for your well-being. Even in home care, there were quite a few nurses who would not take lunch. I make the time, even if it isn't right at noon. I use it to eat, tune out my work, and concentrate on re-charging myself for the rest of the day.

Jo Dirt · Jul 18, 2005

i really have never met a nurse who can actually work a shift and take advantage of the benefit of chewing and swallowing food and sitting down to rest at any time, on a consistent basis.
siri, crnp, clnc, rlnc

i really can't afford to do this but i do anyway. lunch time is the time i'm alloted by law.

do what you can and let the rest go, is my motto.

ZASHAGALKA, RN · Jul 18, 2005

You know the old story about finding the body at the edge of the county and after CSI has a look, the can't ID the person but now know it's a nurse.

Why?

Empty stomach, full bladder and a** had been chewed on . . .

~faith,

Timothy.