I know sometimes you need to just to get work done but is this time paid? Aren't you required to take it by law? I am sure that this is a bit immature and definitely sounding like someone who hasn't been working a fast paced hospital with a ton of responsibilities but I just want to know. Are you expected to skip lunch?
How often does it happen?
How many breaks/lunch do you normally get in a 12 hr shift?
Most hospitals I've worked at you have to take breaks.
I've worked with nurses who I have told they MUST go on a break, even when we are slammed cos they need it. The patients just have to wait a bit longer for what they want, and I always say to them the other nurse is on her break. Most patients understand and don't mind too much.
There have been many times I've not had a break due to it being too busy, or carers/ENs come and interrupt you when something goes wrong - it's just part of a RNs job I'm afraid.
If you're not taking breaks, demand from your manager that they must formulate a 'breaks roster' - and that you all have to comply. Then it's fair for everyone.
Its much harder to take your full breaks when there is no one covering, though. I am one nurse in LTC. We all do take a break, but no one takes their full break allotted. Because if you do, you won't leave on time. There are various administrative duties we have, on top of the regular charting. So, its next to impossible. I will always stop to pee and get drinks of water regardless.
I'm in long term care on the 3-11 shift. I never take breaks and I get to eat about half the time (scarf down some food in about 10 minutes). I suppose I could take a break but the only ones who suffer are my residents
On the other hand...I love how fast my shift goes by and it is extremely satisfying.
LOL!! Sounds exactly like what I do! I'd rather get out on time than stay 1/2 hour late because I took a break. Plus, I can never stay the whole 1/2 hour because all the things I have left to do are preying on my mind. However, we got the "Must take breaks, it's the law" posters by the time clock, so I punch out for my 10-15 minutes just to show I was sitting down once!
at my place, everyone is suppose to get 2 - 15 min breaks and 30 min lunch... however, most people only take a 15 min break to get something quick to eat if at all. The facility still deducts the 1/2 hour lunch whether you take it or not.
I don't know how it is on days. I work nights. I always get a lunch break, but it's at the nurses' station. Some people take their breaks off the floor, but most just eat at the station. Not because we are too busy, but rather because there isn't really any other comfortable place to go. The cafeteria is closed. Our break room is way at the end of the hall, isolated and furnished with uncomfortable chairs. We don't have enough staff to have people take breaks off the floor together, so if you want to socialize with your coworkers while you eat your sandwich, you do it at the nurses' area. We do have a small room off the nurses' station for physician dictation; since there aren't any physicians around at night, we often choose to eat in there, particularly if family is around. We can keep an eye on the desk, phones, call lights, etc but be a little separated at the same time.
Oh yes, and NOBODY would stop me drinking my water/iced coffee whatever at the nurses' station, or going to the toilet to pee!! Wild horses wouldn't stop me going to the loo!
At my facitlity, they take 30 mins of pay from us, so I ALWAYS take a lunch. I don't ever take the other breaks.......I really don't mind, though. If I get a few mins, then I will down a cup of coffee.
We also can have our supervisor sign a paper if we didn't get a lunch break so we get paid for it.
Thanks for the replies everyone. I am sure you can come back at least slightly refreshed rather then working through it but I can understand why you'd want to work through it as well. It's hard when you know someone just can't cover you. On the other hand, it's being deducted from your pay so try your best to take it. You definitely deserve it.
In my 2 years as an RN I have taken a break off of the floor maybe 3 or 4 times... but I usually do get a chance to sit down for 5 or 10 minutes and eat while charting. I consider that my break. Oh, where I work they don't deduct 30 minutes from night shift, so I'm not losing anything by not taking my full half hour.
I know sometimes you need to just to get work done but is this time paid? Aren't you required to take it by law? I am sure that this is a bit immature and definitely sounding like someone who hasn't been working a fast paced hospital with a ton of responsibilities but I just want to know. Are you expected to skip lunch?
How often does it happen?
How many breaks/lunch do you normally get in a 12 hr shift?
Who is there in your place if you do take lunch?
Thanks to those answering!
I work night shift, 7pm to 7:30am, 3 days a week. In theory I am required by law to take a 30 minute lunch break, and my employer also allows for as many as two 15-minute breaks.
The reality is that I have never taken a 30 minute lunch break, much less a 15 minute "breather". We don't have any staff to watch my patients so I can leave the floor. Management knows this, and doesn't care. But, I still have to write that I took a break on my time card, and I"m not paid for that time.
I know sometimes you need to just to get work done but is this time paid? Aren't you required to take it by law? I am sure that this is a bit immature and definitely sounding like someone who hasn't been working a fast paced hospital with a ton of responsibilities but I just want to know. Are you expected to skip lunch?
How often does it happen?
How many breaks/lunch do you normally get in a 12 hr shift?
Who is there in your place if you do take lunch?
Thanks to those answering!
Well I work in a rehab/subacute and do 8 hr shifts. I never take a lunch or a break (as in off the floor totally away from work). Of course I have time where I'm sitting at the desk off my feet charting or something like that. I could probably eek a break/short lunch in there somewhere but honestly, I'd rather not get further behind and I have an hour commute and a kid to pick up so I hate leaving any later than I have to.
We have an option on our time clock that now asks if you had an uninterrupted 20min for lunch. When I work nights I usually eat while charting as we can have food out. Even though I'm working, I feel it's my choice at a slower time period (usually) so I state I did get an uninteruppted break even if I have to leave to help someone to the bathroom etc...
When I work days, I wolf down whatever in about 10/15 min b/c at that time the post ops are coming up there's really no choice so then I'm usually stating I didn't get my break and we get paid for that 1/2 hour. (why it asks 20min I have no idea) It's rare I get a full lunch on days. Breaks? no, but I usually can fit a quick bathroom run in I try to drink water for the dry air. Sometimes I'll realize I peed at start of shift then at the end, no doubt that can happen. As far as taking care of me, I do that on my days off.
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carolmaccas66, BSN, RN
2,212 Posts
Most hospitals I've worked at you have to take breaks.
I've worked with nurses who I have told they MUST go on a break, even when we are slammed cos they need it. The patients just have to wait a bit longer for what they want, and I always say to them the other nurse is on her break. Most patients understand and don't mind too much.
There have been many times I've not had a break due to it being too busy, or carers/ENs come and interrupt you when something goes wrong - it's just part of a RNs job I'm afraid.
If you're not taking breaks, demand from your manager that they must formulate a 'breaks roster' - and that you all have to comply. Then it's fair for everyone.