Yesterday, in the middle of a rather hectic shift, someone I have been working with and, helping whenever possible, let me know I was rather odd and stupid because I took the time, after completing a mid-morning med pass, to explain some new meds to a patient. Nothing too serious, just some new antibiotics and a new BP med. Guess I just should have run off some general info sheets and handed it to the patient. I don't have time to waste, according to this nurse, She needed me to help finish her meds so she could go on break. BREAK! Someone please explain what the word means. LOL!
Your not odd or stupid your explaining to the pacient what new meds they will be takeing. So good for you for taking time out and doing pacient eduication. It seems like that persion you where working with needs to learn that pacient eduication ins't odd or dumb.
I'd make sure i wasnt available to give her ANY help from now on. Let her sink or swim. Eventually the NM will see she isnt keeping up and i dont know that its your responsiblity anyway, where is the rest of HER help.
I agree get your breaks, but running someone down because they had the AUDACITY to make them miss theirs when they werent holding up to their own work? Gimme a break, she needs a reality check.
Begalli, you must be the only one ive ever heard of getting paid double time for missing a break. How is that, did you have to punch out for your breaks?
i agree - id tell her very kindly you will not help her to the detriment to your work and patient teaching is a part of our role. sounds like she was whining about her "break " s in short ones and by law they are not required - if she is whining about her lunch which is "required" - well - i cant tell y how often i dont get a whole lunch or my lunch is not at the time it s supposed to be, or i am late getting out cause i took my lunch but have to get the work done i wasn't able to do while i ate my supper, but when ever i can get to it - i do try to get my lunch - and i NEVER take the first "break " we are allowed by our employer and rarely do i even take the later one either - it is just not feasible time wise and they are not required to give that time - that is a benefit from them for you to use when and if you can get your work done.
Committment is 12 hours, anything over 12 is doubletime.
Shift is 6:45 to 7:15 = 12.5 hours (.5 for lunch/dinner/whatever). If that .5 is missed, it is doubletime because it puts you over your 12 hours.
We also get 3 15 minute breaks during this 12 hour period. The nurses and the hospital take these 15 minute paid breaks very seriously. Nurses WILL report to the union and the union will report to the state when breaks are not consistently taken. You are almost forced out on your break.
And I like that.
ahhh - good ole union - i do suppose if it is a part of your contract then it is legally something you would be required to take - i have never worked anyplace where the breaks ( other than lunch) were required - every place i have worked it has been they allow it if your work is being done if not to bad its not something they are required to give you - then Ive never worked for a union in the health care field either.
It's all cool if someone chooses not to take a break but don't begrudge those who do.
At any rate breaks should be afforded to ALL nurses. Thery're not and that's a problem.
i dont think the OP meant that she did not deserve or begrudged her her break - the issue is the woman expected her to sacrifice the care of those the OP was in charge of to do the other persons work so she could get on break - i am all for working together and if i have time i will and always do help the others but i will not sacrifice the care of my residents to do the care of someone else's residents just so they can get a break when in all likely hood i am already not getting my own break.
firstaiddave907
366 Posts
Your not odd or stupid your explaining to the pacient what new meds they will be takeing. So good for you for taking time out and doing pacient eduication. It seems like that persion you where working with needs to learn that pacient eduication ins't odd or dumb.