Experienced nurses, How do you tell your supervisor?

[Fireflynurse]

Hi, experienced nurses, How do you tell your supervisor that you want your CNAs to take a break? I am new at my job and also a new grade. unfortunately, I am also the only nurse on my shift in the house . After about a month on my job, I want to be more assertive. Yesterday, I heard the ADON told our first shift nurse supervisor that my shift nurse supervisor does not allow our CNAs to take a break. I told both of them that I disagree with this decision and I decided to tell CNAs on my shift that even we are crazily busy, I want them to be able to take a break. It is their choice to not to but they have choice to take a break and recuperate. My question is that if someone tell him ( my shift supervisor ) that I have a different rule in regards of break, how should I explain myself? I am not a confrontational person and I am not very good at express myself so I am afraid that I would not be able to express my opinion completely.

Another question is that one of our shift lead cna feels cellphone has become a distraction at work so she want to ban using cellphone at work. Our shift supervisor agreed . Should I go with the flow? I am concerned about if they would get emergency call from home but I am also concerned about them to be on their phone and forget their work. I have a very good group of cnas so I am very lucky . It is really something that I want to learn to give them flexibility but not letting them walking all over me.

Thanks for any advice :)

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

Re: no breaks. What are the laws regarding breaks? Pretty sure the law states that they are to get one uninterrupted or they must be compensated. If they are denied breaks, are they paid? Could end up being a legal issue for the facility.

Re: Cell phones and emergency calls. If it's an emergency, the person can always call the facility. I'm not allowed to have a cell phone on my person in the OR; when I needed to be reached in an emergency, they called my department and got the call to me. Cell phones aren't a necessity.