Do Students Get Breaks In Clinicals?

[FutureNurse2008]

Hi, I really would like to know if nursing students are allowed to have breaks during their first Medical-Surgical Clinical. Our CI only gives us 10 min. for a break and we are in clinicals for 6 hrs I feel we should at least have 30 minutes. It takes at least 3 min. to take the elevator and that is not enough time to do anything. When we asked her about the breaks, she got pissed off and for the rest of the day treated everyone unfair and wrote most of us up for any and everything. She stated that we were there to learn and do patient care not to take breaks. Please give your opinion on this situation. Do you feel this is fair? What would you have done? Oh by the way, we still only got 10 min.

Confused and Discouraged

[johnjrb]

We had 8 hour clinicals and were supposed to get 2 10 minute breaks and a 30 minute lunch. We were also told that we needed to act like nurses and if there was not time, then do not take it. We usually at least got one 10 minute break. Uggg. Good luck.

I am currently an RN and work 12 hour shifts. I make it a point to always take my lunch break. From time to time I might take my lunch break a little late but I have always taken it. As long as they do not pay for my lunch break there will always be time. When I was in school we got 30 minute breaks.

[beth66335, BSN, RN]

We only got breaks in OB clinicals. About 20min. for a breakfast break, but if you were in L&D that day you didn't take a break...in case your pt decided to deliver while you were gone! On the other clinicals I have had we get no official break, we go to the bathroom if we are caught up w/ pt care and paperwork/charting. We have 6 hour clinicals, but that includes pre and post conference so we don't really need a break and we eat lunch at post. Personally, I wish our clinicals were longer...when I was a CNA I worked 12 hr shifts. Our clinicals feel like we are barely there to me!

[deannicholas]

We only got breaks in OB clinicals. About 20min. for a breakfast break, but if you were in L&D that day you didn't take a break...in case your pt decided to deliver while you were gone! On the other clinicals I have had we get no official break, we go to the bathroom if we are caught up w/ pt care and paperwork/charting. We have 6 hour clinicals, but that includes pre and post conference so we don't really need a break and we eat lunch at post. Personally, I wish our clinicals were longer...when I was a CNA I worked 12 hr shifts. Our clinicals feel like we are barely there to me!

So if you aren't caught up with pt care and charting you just pee on yourself? :)

[beth66335, BSN, RN]

So if you aren't caught up with pt care and charting you just pee on yourself? :)

No...I used to work as a CNA, I can hold it for 10 hours if I have too,lol!