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

trudeyRN · Aug 1, 2015

I can see this coming down the pike: me getting branded as not social.

In truth, the stimulation of hospital cafeterias during meal times does me in. I like small scale socialization. Should probably do some more "exposure therapy" to the feeding frenzy so I don't get designated as odd girl out (after graduation).

Oh heck, who am I kidding...

Beatlefan, BSN · Aug 1, 2015

I have had other jobs and a different career, having gone to nursing school in my 30's. In previous jobs, I have made friends for life. In nursing, I find that most of the people are not the kind I want to be around. I have made a few friends who work on my floor, but for the most part, the worst part of my job is the people I have to work with (LOVE the patient population). Perhaps I am just getting older, but I notice that the talk at work can be nasty. They are cruel about co-workers who are not present, have a tendency to go on forever about boring details of their lives- it's all about them. I have a daughter with Down syndrome, and they all know it, and after 8+ years, they still all use the word "retard" and "retarded" out of context. Just not very nice or professional people. I sometimes feel very sorry for the patients, as the floor can get very loud due to staff socializing. I have a feeling it is the same most everywhere (?).

LockportRN · Aug 1, 2015

Why, I must say that I am impressed that you get a lunch. Like sit down? At a table? Using things like forks and spoons? Interesting concept lol!

Working in LTC, don't remember many of those at least not until it was charting time...and then...well, WOLF ha ha.

allnurses Guide · Aug 1, 2015

More often than not I have my "buffet" laid out on my work station. Rules, schmules. My work gets done, I don't get hangry, and I keep going and going.

I don't get angry about it as long as the supes not around I eat in the Nurses station all the time. I am trying to retire at exactly 65 which leaves me 13 years before I but a peace of land and start raising free range rabbits and chickens - oh and a horse or two.

Hppy

allnurses Guide · Aug 3, 2015

Back to the point of your post - I work in a small LTC facility it's usually me and one other nurse and two CNA's for 38 patients so we don't take breaks together and are pretty busy most of the shift. Some I will converse with others not so much - depends on what we have in common.

Hppy

Princess Bubblegum · Aug 4, 2015

My coworkers are (for the most part) really personable and fun to be around, but I usually like to nap on my lunch break. Nothing against them. Most my shifts are as unit secretary and I'm pretty introverted, the nonstop talking wears on me.

Conqueror+, BSN, RN · Aug 5, 2015

I am a "8 and skate" girl by nature but if the work culture insists, I talk about generic things that have zero chance of becoming personal. In a perfect world I would read and get a foot massage on breaks but...

CocoaLoverFNP · Aug 5, 2015

I have been practicing as a bedside nurse for 8 years and doing it for another 2 weeks.

I honestly prefer to be alone during my lunch break. The floor is really busy, phone is off the hook, patients talking left & right, charge nurse nagging, bed alarms going off, tele going off, etc. I rather be peaceful and enjoy silence during those 30 minutes of my day. I am a float nurse too so i don't really care much about anybody else's personal life. It's better that way for my mental health ;-)

betterinthesun · Aug 7, 2015

Most of my co-workers hang out with each other on their days off. I talk to my coworkers a lot, they know a lot about my life and vice versa, but I rarely ever mingle with them outside of work. We get along well enough to work together but there is no one there who I could really see myself being friends with and I'm fine with that. I've been to a couple of my coworker's weddings but other than that I only see them in scrubs.

And similar to some previous posts, I never actually go to lunch because it helps me leave on time, which I prefer over getting a lunch break.

cocoa_puff · Aug 8, 2015

No, I prefer to eat alone. With 12 hours of talking with patients/family members/co-workers, smiling, doing endless rounding and Q4 vitals, I need to be by myself for 30 min to eat my lunch in peace and quiet. I'm a complete introvert and not much of a talker anyway, although I do like the awesome nurses I work with! :nurse:

Tex. · Aug 16, 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.

THIS.

OCNRN63, RN · Aug 29, 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

Why is it weird to want to keep your private life private?