I have the time (to pee)

Nurses Relations

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I'm a little perturbed that some of my colleagues claim they haven't the time to pee. Let me just say, no matter how busy a shift, I ALWAYS have time to pee. If you can't take 3 minutes out of your shift to pee, YOU need reexamine your priorities.

I would almost call it the "defiant pee". I decided the job taps you out in so many ways I'll be blank-blanked if I'm going to let it extend to my basic health needs.

Love, love, LOVE this !! The defiant pee! I know exactly what you mean ! :yes:

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Specializes in school nursing, home health,rehab, long-.

I loved the defiant pee too:D!!! I can't think when I have to pee. That isn't exactly true. All I can think is, "I'm about to wet my pants. Find the bathroom. Find the bathroom. Find the BATHROOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

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Specializes in ICU.

A question for the original poster:

Are you working in a Unionized facility?

Most Seattle facilities are union.

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Specializes in ER.
A question for the original poster:

Are you working in a Unionized facility?

Most Seattle facilities are union.

Where did I say I live in Seattle? I do not. I do, however, live in Seahawks country, which encompasses a far greater territory than Seattle...

Yes, my hospital is unionized. They don't seem to do much in ensuring breaks however. Nevertheless, bathroom breaks are something we have to ensure for ourselves. They take less than 5 minutes.

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I am a home health nurse,, I pee whenever I can find a reasonably clean public bathroom, I even pee if I don't have to pee if I know I am going into a rural area with no bathroom available.

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I am a home health nurse,, I pee whenever I can find a reasonably clean public bathroom, I even pee if I don't have to pee if I know I am going into a rural area with no bathroom available.

I'm home health too, never miss an opportunity to pee LOL.

Years ago and pregnant, fun times!

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1987, my first year in nursing back when acuity was MUCH lower, I go in to see one of the older gyn's (he was ancient to my 22 yrs at the time) who had all of his patients on my floor. I still remember his comment (said kindly), "Nurses never take time to empty their bladders, make sure you do.." Or something like that..point is that this is nothing new.

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Specializes in SICU, trauma, neuro.
Clearly the OP and quite a few of the previous posters have not worked on Med Surg with 8-10 acutely ill patients and a CNA with 20 pts.

There are no breaks of any kind with this staffing pattern which is the norm in hospitals South of the Mason Dixon Line and East of the Mississippi, especially in the for profit hospitals.

I'm way north of the Mason Dixon Line...closer to the US-Canada line. But I have worked floor, I've worked LTACH with all five of my pts on ventilators (not chronic like in LTCs or private duty--they were transferred from the ICU and working on weaning), I've worked in high-level ICUs.

Bathroom breaks happen when you put one foot in front of the other in that direction until you get there, go in, and assume the position. As I said back when I originally replied to this post, there is no armed guard barring you from the BR. You don't try unsuccessfully by asking permission to go to the BR and are denied; you just go.

And I hope that if you skip your 30-minute unpaid lunch break, that you put in for it so you can get paid. Otherwise you're working for free. The hospital is not entitled to 30 minutes of free work from you--either for one shift or for every shift.

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Specializes in Education.

My bathroom breaks are my 15-minute/lunch breaks...but then again, I'm working in a unit that tends towards lower patient volumes. However, even when every single bed is full and everybody needs something, I'll still make the time if I have to go. I just delegate stuff to the UAP if I can (and a good 90% of the time I can) and dash off for the two minutes it takes.

I also combine that time with tossing something to eat in the microwave. Can't function with low blood sugar!

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I have always had time to pee, and wondered what I was NOT doing that I had time to pee when so many complained of NEVER having time to pee.

I got my charting done before the end of the shift and wondered what I was NOT doing that I was done but several never were.

I honestly worried about this, as it was my first acute care hospital job, and these were good nurses complaining about never being able to pee. Over time, I watched closely, suspecting it was more of a way to vent about busyiness as I saw nurses who NEVER got their breaks (if you ask) but had time to run to the gift shop for everyone's candy order. Obviously there are times it is true, you HAFTA GO and you just called RRT cuz your patient's BP tanked symptomatically! Or you sit down TO pee and that's when the doctor decides to finally return your call -- and you need the chart to even speak to the doctor sensibly.

Yeah, we are that busy -- but not every day. We just need to vent.

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