Do you talk to your coworkers alot on your lunch break?

Okami_CCRN, BSN, RN · Jul 30, 2015

I work in critical care where the majority of the day senior staff have been working with one another for well over 15 years. They share a lot about family and social events. They have multiple parties every year where all the ICU staff is invited.

I love the fact that we get a long and have such awesome teamwork. I have worked in a couple of other places that unfortunately do not have the same set-up and it makes working sometimes difficult especially in a high stress place like the ICU, n

RNperdiem, RN · Jul 30, 2015

I think of my coworkers in terms of a bell curve. At one end are the nurses who spend time outside of work together, share a lot of their personal life. At the other end of the spectrum are the mysteries. We know pretty much nothing about who they are outside of work, they very much keep to themselves, do their work and go home.

Most of us live somewhere in the middle. You might hear a few public details of my private life (married, two kids and a cat) but not any thing too sensitive. We share enough to be liked and stand out as interesting, but not enough to stimulate gossip.

xoemmylouox, ASN, RN · Jul 30, 2015

I am very close with a few of my coworkers. Many I consider to be close friends. Most of my co-workers know little about me. I prefer it that way. I'm what I call "selectively social".

Adele_Michal7, ASN, RN · Jul 30, 2015

Mainly talk about work and nursing things. Personally I keep it light and I don't share anything about my personal life. Most of coworkers will from time to time. They may ask advice or share about a family matter. I always listen and sometimes offer advice if they ask.

allnurses Guide · Jul 30, 2015

I take an approach similar to what others have said here. I talk about my personal life but without a lot of detail. I go to some social get-togethers (ie a baby shower) and usually holiday parties and pot-lucks at work. I've learned to never repeat stories or gossip about anyone out of self-interest. Even casual talk about others can end up biting you in the butt.

BecomingNursey · Jul 30, 2015

I'm like the above poster. :) Selectively social! Lol

annie.rn · Jul 30, 2015

Lately I have grown a bit distrustful of some of my fellow colleagues so while I am still friendly toward them and go out of my way to be a team player, the relationships pretty much end when I clock out.

As far as lunch goes, I generally take a later lunch than everyone. Work has been very high acuity and we are working understaffed so by the time lunch rolls around I need some "me time" in order to recharge and get through the rest of the shift. I take my cell phone and my headphones and find a quiet corner just outside the unit to sit and eat my lunch while listening to a podcast. I work nights so no patients or staff frequent this hallway.

All that said, if it's time to eat lunch and there's someone I really like in the break room, I'll usually eat there and chat.

Soliloquy, MSN, APRN, NP · Jul 30, 2015

I don't think I even answered my own question. lol Because I was so approval seeking, I use to go out of my way to try and make friends with my coworkers. I didn't want to feel left out and thought they'd gossip about me (some have) and wouldn't help me out when I needed them if i wasn't more outgoing and social with them. And that kind of took a toll on me and made me feel really burnt out. So I've kind of stopped.

I have made some friends from my jobs as an RN and I've stayed in contact with them but for the most part I'm not interested in making anymore like that. Usually on my lunch break I'd like to have a minute to read or talk to maybe one or two people but otherwise? *shrugs* I've learned to trust my gut and go with first impressions.

mmc51264, BSN, MSN, RN · Jul 30, 2015

I work weekends, we are called the "weekend warriors" Most of the others have been working together for many years. I fit in with them better than the week day people because I am an older new nurse. There are some cliquey (is that a word??) people that spend a lot of time together but everyone is pretty friendly. I don't think we have any that are at the far end of the bell curve (I like that analogy!!)-the weird end.

We have a really diverse staff so it is nice to get to know people from other places. We all work as a team no matter and we try to have a good working relationship. I tend to stay away from the gossip, but I know it goes on

Lnr567 · Jul 30, 2015

When my "work besties" are working the same shift and floor with me, we take lunch together and talk. I have a few more acquaintances I'll talk to now and then. Most of my other coworkers annoy me to no end so either we don't talk if we are in the lunch room together, or they ask me a million annoying questions while I give them very brief/vague answers until they get the hint and leave me alone and let me eat in peace. Lol. I'm kind of an introvert and while I love talking to my patients, a lot of times it's just mentally exhausting to constantly talk to people all day and when I have downtime I need peace and quiet to recharge and de-stress.

loriangel14, RN · Jul 31, 2015

Oh heavens yes. We are good friends and many of us socialize outside of work. Break time is when we talk about shopping, kids, our vacations, what we are doing on our days off, what we are making for dinner, everything.