Meal and Potty Breaks

[Weeping Willow]

OK, I am seeing this way too much - nurses who are not able to even take a bathroom break, let alone a meal break.

How often does this happen to you where you can't get to the bathroom when you need to?

What about meal breaks?

Do you put in for OT if you miss your meal break or do you just donate your half hour?

What are your options? Do you have a supervisor or manager who will relieve you if requested to do so? Do you and another nurse spell each other? Or is it every man for himself?

We get sufficient breaks where I work and I kind of have no choice but to take a potty break when needed, due to a GI condition. But I work with a nurse who has very heavy periods and sometimes she can't in to change her sanitary items soon enough and has accidents. This is really embarrassing for her and it makes me just plain mad. I always urge her to just go but she waits til there is a problem, says she's too nervous to leave the floor for a few minutes, even though I tell her I'll cover for her while she tends to her menstrual equipment needs.

[TexasPediRN]

I dont think I've ever not peed when I had to, or not taken a lunch break b/c it was too busy.

That being said- there are times that I will eat at the desk. If Im hungry, and I've got no relief b/c the charge nurse is in a code, or there is just too much going on, you bet I'm going to heat up my food and eat it in the pod. (We have a pod system and each pod has a small kitchen for patients with fridge and microwave - so I don't even have to leave to heat up food).

And when I do get a break and finish eating in 15 or 20 minutes, and I know its busy - I'll come back from lunch early..I guess thats just me. As long as I eat, im happy.

As for peeing, if someone told me I couldn't go for 12 hours - I'd flip. If I have to go, I go. There is a bathroom close by (either in the pod, or behind it), so there is no excuse not to go.

Its just craziness to not have a chance to go..

[Lindz]

Breaks are our responsibility. Management is in their office mostly oblivious to what's going on on the floor. When it starts getting close to 1200, I'll ask my co-workers what time they like to go to lunch so we can try and plan. Yes, sometimes things happen, but I work with great people who will pitch in, most of the time without being asked. I try to pay attention to the other nurses (especially the new ones) and I'll ask them what can I do to help them take a break or get out of here on time. I'd like to think this is why people help me out when I need it.

[loriangel14, RN]

I cannot believe that anyone would put up with no breaking for food or BR breaks.I work mostly days (7:30 - 15:30).We have set breaks.First coffee is 9:30 to 10:00 and the second is 10:00 to 10:30.Half of the staff takes first while the rest cover and then when they get back the other half goes.Same with lunch, first lunch is 11:45 to 12:30. You do not get disturbed when you are on break or lunch.We all break together without leaving the floor at 14:30 to 15:00.We all work together as a team to make sure we are all done at 15:30.

As a new employee (new grad)this was hard to get used to at first.I would get crap if I DIDN'T take my break.

[mcknis]

I always break for lunch. Not always get a chance to do my other 2 breaks of the day, but if there is a slow time, i will usually take them both. Since the med-surg units are usually really busy with LOL and LOM, we spend our time with bed changes and bathrooming (not a real word) them before they make a mess in their beds.

My big pet peeve is not being able to keep drinks in the nurses station during the shift. If we want to drink anything we have to march all the way down to the other end of the hallway just to get a sip! Other day, I had a near-syncopal episode and was sent to the ER. Doc told me...you went down because you didn't drink enough fluids! Argh. How can I when I am on my feet and don't have time for these breaks.

Such is life.

[swee2000]

Well I hope things get better for you soon. That is no way to work.

Thank you. I am happy to report that I was able to take/enjoy a mostly uninterrupted, 30-minute lunch break both yesterday & today. And the bonus: I also got to use the bathroom yesterday during my shift!! :-) However, this stroke of luck was probably r/t the fact that 2 of my 4 patients were off the floor yesterday for procedures and at the same time. And for the other 2 patients still on the floor, one had just completed dialysis and was pretty tired out, while the other was getting dialysis from 1030-1400. I will admit it was a nice, "easy-er" day.

[swee2000]

My big pet peeve is not being able to keep drinks in the nurses station during the shift. If we want to drink anything we have to march all the way down to the other end of the hallway just to get a sip! Other day, I had a near-syncopal episode and was sent to the ER. Doc told me...you went down because you didn't drink enough fluids! Argh. How can I when I am on my feet and don't have time for these breaks. Such is life.

Same thing at my hospital. Staff is not allowed to have drinks at the nurses stations/pods or near the computers(which are in the pods). And it doesn't matter if the drink is in a styrofoam cup with a lid or a bottled beverage. No drinks are allowed outside of the staff breakroom!! And guess where the staff breakroom is? At the very end of the hall.

[mcknis]

Ridiculous, huh? Still trying to find more info about this, but unable to so far.

[swee2000]

Yes it is, especially when the air is so dry that you've got cotton-mouth and can't talk correctly/clearly to your patients.

Also, just like some others on here mentioned, the staff on my unit was told by management that it was a JCAHO thing to not allow drinks in the nursing stations, near the computers, etc. But after reading some of these posts, one wonders if JCAHO is being used as the scapegoat to try & enforce the hospital's policy.