Speaking of Breaks

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

I went to a workshop yesterday and the head of "Team Resources" or whatever we are calling personnel dept. these days said that in Florida there are no laws requiring mandatory breaktime, only you must be paid for time spent working. So we can work 12 hours without a break and not blame our employer, but they are required to pay us if we miss a break.

Any other states not have mandated breaks? Seems to me North Carolina had some labor laws requiring employers to give breaks.

Of course, out of the goodness of their hearts our hospital allows for breaks, but it doesn't HAVE to by law. Interesting.

I take breaks, believe in breaks, and demand "my" coworkers take a break when I'm in charge.

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Not sure what our break policy is..have so much to learn. We are supposed to take our breaks, but for whatever reason we don't, we clock in "no lunch". And then of course, management gets mad because it is OT. Have not experienced this personally yet, but have seen it happen to a few nurses.

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Having worked all but one of my working years as a nurse we rarely got breaks as our policy was if it was feasible. Every thing was preceeded with IF this and that There were always conditions. When working in Mass. prior to nursing we were required to have a 15 min break every 4 hours that was paid but we were not paid for lunch. That way we were not considered full time even though we were there more than the required hours. In essence we worked 37.5 so we didn't have to get benefits but they did.

I will tell you the techs no matter what get breaks. I know of several who would go pick something up at Central and without a doubt you ask what took so long and the response was it wasn't ready. Even though you ordered it over an hour ago and the hospital was that big.

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I seldom take a break (no time or insufficient skilled staff to watch my patients for me) Like everyone mentioned, we get in trouble cuz it's OT.

The reason I do not is simple...fear. We are staffed too tightly with too much potential for problems. My patients can injure themselves or go bad too quickly and it will be my license. There is no promise my coworkers can intervene in my absence.

Most of my coworkers feel the same way and thus none of us leave the unit...choosing to sit at the desk and visit about nonwork things if the workload permits. We take our 'breaks' in the unit, which really is NOT a break IMO. But what do we do??

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taking a break is vital to keeping your mind functioning well.....it's not normal to go hours on end with nothing to drink or proper nutrition.......I wouldn't want a nurse taking care of me that hadn't had anything to eat in 8 hours much less 12.....I feel refreshed and renewed and able to tackle the next set of problems after my break

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Specializes in Corrections, Psych, Med-Surg.

My guess is that you were lied to (surprise!). You will need to check with your state's board of labor, or whatever it is called in Florida, or the national labor relations board, for a definitive answer.

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I live in Ohio, and employers are not required by law to give us breaks. I work for a manufacturing company (working on becoming a Nurse) and it doesn't matter if we work 12 hours a day, 7 days a week, we do not get breaks and there is nothing we can legally do about it. Employers are not required (in Ohio anyways) to give breaks.

We did get 2 - ten minute breaks several years ago, but they took those away from us for financial reasons and we never got them back - Surprise!

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Specializes in NICU, Infection Control.

I think that's why we have state legislators. Get in touch w/one of yours, present the problem, and request that the legislators fix it. Get your friends, neighbors and co-workers to do so as well. They will probably blame the State agency of ????, but you can ask if they can get in touch w/that agency and ask WHY, in the name of all that's humane, breaks are not required. Pose the question, When was the last time YOU [mr/ms legislator] worked for 12 hours w/o urinating, defecating, or eating or drinking. (Maybe not in that order!). Would you want your son, daughter, etc., working like that? Would you want to be cared for by such a worker?

It just slays me that we have legislate and regulate common sense.

I wonder what JACHO would say about that, too.

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Specializes in NICU, Infection Control.

Quick! Someone hose me down! I'm getting a little smoky here!!!

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Breaks...what are those? I haven't seen one in 8 months..wait...no, it's been more like 2 yrs. Someone mentioned techs...hmmmm I know all about those techs. I work with 4 that are worth a crap. Not only do they take several breaks a day, but extended lunches. I'm giving a resignation tomorrow due primarily to unprofessional, juvenile, defiant and unreliable behavior and attitude that runneth over from the techs in my unit and management and coordinators don't give a lucky damn. Now they will be down to 1 RN and 1 parttime RN. There were 5 RN's not counting me when I started 8 short months ago. Do you think there might be a problem in that unit guys? I'm pretty sure there is. hahahahah

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Specializes in Community Health Nurse.
Originally posted by prmenrs

Quick! Someone hose me down! I'm getting a little smoky here!!!

:rotfl: Getting a little smokey is right, prmenrs! I worked yesterday for NINE HOURS STRAIGHT without a break or lunchbreak! :rolleyes:

As mattsmom stated above, the unit was crazy yesterday like most days I work, and there wasn't anyone who could safely cover my patient load of five, nor would I have felt comfortable leaving for a break knowing how the floor was yesterday.

I wonder how many Admins and Managers got their breaks yesterday at my hospital? USA wide? How many times did they get to go potty? Read their email on the job? Call home and check on the kids...the pets...the hubby or wife?

Nursing is a "KICK BUTT" job, and we nurses are kicking some serious butt when we work. When will our "RELIEF" come? Retirement? Death? When will we take the reigns into our own hands again and bring LIFE back into our profession for us? Why do we as nurses just "take it and take it and take it"? :confused:

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I notice this is a hot topic now..Tenet is fighting a lawsuit and I know other giant healthcare corps have too...class action suits from nurses who have been docked or unpaid for worked break times on their paychecks, breaks that were never taken for safety reasons.... over a period of years....:(

Our policy clearly states breaks will be taken at the discretion of the charge nurse/condition of the unit. Usually potty breaks are it....LOL!

I DO insist I get PAID for my time...so I always badge out as 'no lunch' and my shift totals 13 hrs generally by the time I can 'escape'.

Breaks are a choice we make. In MY hectic ICU, I CHOOSE to remain in the unit ...for CYA reasons that are my own in today's litigious society.

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