Eating at the nurses' station

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Hey my fellow nurses,

I work in the ER and we very seldom get our "30 minute" lunch breaks. Well, one day, I was working day shift and around 2pm, no lunch break and I was starving!! I had a team of 4 patients and all the orders were done, I just had to chart....so I went to the back to get my lunch heated, brought it out, and ate it while I was charting in one of the back corners!! Does anybody else do this??

Brandie

Specializes in ICU/Critical Care.

I work in a busy ICU and sometimes I can't step away to eat. I'd rather sit at the nurse's station and eat and watch the central monitor than go to the breakroom.

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Specializes in LTC, Med-SURG,STICU.

In life you have got to do what you got to do. There have been days when I have been so busy that I could not leave to take a break, so I would eat something quick. This is only in the most extrem cases and I certainly did not have time for something like pizza. It is usually something like peanutbutter crackers so that my blood sugar would come back up. I hate trying to chart when feeling like I am going to pass out.

As far as infection control goes, I don't take the food into pts rooms. I also wash my hands before and after eating.

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Specializes in Peds Hem, Onc, Med/Surg.

Snacks are allowed at our nursing station. Food like Pizza and stuff is not.

While I am sitting there charting I have my mid morning snack. No one has said anything to me. In the afternoon everyone is munching on something but if we leave a bottle out or a cup out it will be thrown away by the manager.

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

Merged 2 threads for continuity

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Specializes in ICU, School Nurse, Med/Surg, Psych.

I've done it many times- eaten a whole meal right there with urine specimen bottles on the desk. I know my worth now and I either get a 30 minute break to eat and take care of my personal health or I get compen$ated for the overtime, and I don't work a tone of overtime. It turned out to not be good for my health.

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