Want to be a nurse, but have to eat.

Nurses General Nursing

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I can forget about peeing and hold it pretty long, but I have to eat food. I cannot go more than 6-8 hours without eating, or I will pass out cold. I don't understand how nurses are supposed to skip all their breaks but still take good care of their patients, even though they are starving and lightheaded and have to pee, and I think it's ridiculous.

Specializes in ER, ICU, L&D, OR.

I keep cans of slim fast in my backpack, and cans of Tomato soup, protein fiber bars. Trouble is all that stuff gives me gas. So they make sure I get time to eat properly to avoid gas. And I always stand next to the charge nurse when it happens.

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There are countless mentions of nurses never ever taking breaks! There are even threads devoted soley to it. I would go all shift without eating if I could, but I can't function- I'm all shaky, I can't think straight, and if I go too long, I'll faint. And I can't do that while I'm working! So I'm just concerned about it because if I really couldn't take a break, I wouldn't be able to do my job.

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Specializes in Community, OB, Nursery.

Since I work nights, there are times that I don't eat at night bc it messes up my system too much, but I do at least take a break. If you have coworkers that will cover for you, then go. It won't always be at noon (or corresponding time for evenings/nights) but you do get a 30 min break. Whether you use that time to eat is up to you, but I'd recommend it.

If your coworkers won't listen out for your patients for 30 measly minutes, I'd find somewhere else to work.

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Specializes in ICU, nutrition.

I've been a nurse for 5 years, and I've never worked a shift without eating or going to the bathroom. I've occasionally only been to the bathroom once in 12 hours and I've often eaten while charting or watching my patients, but if that's the case, I clock "no lunch."

It's a priority. Most things can wait 5 minutes so you can go to the bathroom. A lot of things can wait 30 minutes so you can eat. You have to take care of yourself too.

Getting organized helps; make a task list and figure out when you'll plan to do each task. Sometimes unexpected things happen and throw a wrench in your plans, but you can at least try.

k

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Specializes in Community, OB, Nursery.

It's a priority. Most things can wait 5 minutes so you can go to the bathroom. A lot of things can wait 30 minutes so you can eat. You have to take care of yourself too.

k

That is exactly how I feel about. Of course I will not leave my pt while she is bleeding out or hurting. But her apple juice (unless her BG is 45) can wait a couple minutes while I pee.

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I have concerns about this as well. I have severe hypoglycemia (sp?). I can go as long as about 5 hours and that's it...it doesn't have to be a full meal but it does have to be a hearty snack, and sugary snacks don't count. I start to get very, very lightheaded, my speech gets very slurred, and I start losing my balance...in other words, I look like I have been drinking alcohol or under the influence. Not good in a hospital setting.

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I keep cans of slim fast in my backpack, and cans of Tomato soup, protein fiber bars. Trouble is all that stuff gives me gas. So they make sure I get time to eat properly to avoid gas. And I always stand next to the charge nurse when it happens.

:rotfl: LMAO at this one.

There should be time made for lunch, because we need the fuel.

I can see not getting time for lunch because too many things had to be done. People did skip lunch at the LTC I worked at as a CNA. I don't mind skipping to make sure a resident makes it to an activity they enjoy, but I really get my nose out of joint when I have to spend 30+ minutes trying to get someone to help me with a 2 person transfer, and I don't get time for lunch.

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There are countless mentions of nurses never ever taking breaks! There are even threads devoted soley to it. I would go all shift without eating if I could, but I can't function- I'm all shaky, I can't think straight, and if I go too long, I'll faint. And I can't do that while I'm working! So I'm just concerned about it because if I really couldn't take a break, I wouldn't be able to do my job.

You have to realize that some nurses choose not to take their breaks. Some nurses (no - not every nurse that misses a break, but let's face it - we've all encountered them) seem to think that the entire hospital would fall down around them if they took 30 minutes to eat. That is simply not the case. Your statement that you would go all shift without eating if you could plays into that mindset. It is completely unnecessary for you to do such a thing. I understand that you are concerned that if you couldn't take your breaks your work would be impaired - but I am telling you that anyone's would be. But no one is going to make sure that you get to eat. You are going to have to do that for yourself. Most times it is just a matter of saying - hey, listen out for my patients, I'm going to eat. In an especially hectic shift, you may have to make due with grabbing a power bar, trail mix, etc from your bag. I always make sure I have something with me that I can just grab in a hurry. I realize that crazy shifts and emergencies happen, so I plan ahead to take care of myself. That is the point I am trying to stress - no one else is going to take care of you. You have to be proactive in caring for yourself - you have to be at least as assertive in taking care of yourself as you are in taking care of patients. If you are willing to do this for yourself (and make contingency plans for unforseen circumstances), you should not have a problem.

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Specializes in cardiac med-surg.
I keep cans of slim fast in my backpack, and cans of Tomato soup, protein fiber bars. Trouble is all that stuff gives me gas. So they make sure I get time to eat properly to avoid gas. And I always stand next to the charge nurse when it happens.

oh tom, you simply are a GAS !

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Hey guys it seems lunch breaks a a huge deal to u when in doubt guys bring your own luch or order it from the cook i do

i get mine for free

FREE

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I can forget about peeing and hold it pretty long, but I have to eat food. I cannot go more than 6-8 hours without eating, or I will pass out cold.

Don't forget about peeing, and don't hold it too long! If you gotta go, you gotta go! Go! It only takes a couple of minutes.

There are countless mentions of nurses never ever taking breaks! There are even threads devoted soley to it. I would go all shift without eating if I could, but I can't function- I'm all shaky, I can't think straight, and if I go too long, I'll faint. And I can't do that while I'm working! So I'm just concerned about it because if I really couldn't take a break, I wouldn't be able to do my job.

Yes, you're right, everyone talks about it. But I can count on one hand the number of times that I didn't make time to eat. It's not always right on time, but I always do it! I hate to say it, but consistently skipping meal breaks is a choice - you don't have to do it. Like I said, if there is an emergency, it might happen from time to time. But if I did miss lunch one day, you'd better believe I'd be getting it the next day, even if I had to call charge RN, house sup, or response team to watch my pts for half an hour.

Also, pass out once, and I'm sure your coworkers would help you get to break from then on. It's more inconvienient for them to have you in ER with a head lac than to have you in the breakroom eating a sandwich!

I don't know why some nurses do this, but I'll bet there are people in other fields who do the same thing. It's thinking like this that perpetuates the nurse = martyr image!

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