Looking down on those who take lunch breaks???

Nurses General Nursing

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I just wanted to see if any of you other Nurses look down on those who take lunch breaks. I am working at a new facility and when I go to take my lunch break I notice I get smart little looks and comments. Now I make sure that all my patients are comfortable and not in need of anything before I go so that no one has to do my work. Now you guys know that as nurses sometimes you just need to take a moment to yourself especially when you are stressed and I feel that I should not have to explain, feel guilty or be belittled because im taking my lunch break which # 1 I am not payed for & # 2 is required by law. I just want to know how you others feel about this subject and has anyone of you encountered this same situation.

sorry to vent you guys but I also notice that when theres a change of shift & the new nurse comes on thats the first thing they mention " I didn't even get a dinner break" wah wah wah but they fail to mention I smoked 4x every hour, called my husband & kids talked to them about a half an hour and told my story of how my week was for about 45 minutes. i even had one nurse tell me well take your break but enjoy it while you can cause it wont be that way for long, *** is that??

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ok so what do you do when you are short staffed and you're not allowed to eat at the nurses station & your nurse is feeling faint or lightheaded? do you let him/her take a moment to eat or take the risk of her going home sick and you being there by yourself? This is the type of situation I encountered sunday. I felt like i was gonna drop at any second and finally at 10pm (I work 2nd ) I said you know what im taking a break and after i put something in my stomach I felt better mentally & physically

There is a difference between taking a moment to eat and leaving me alone for half an hour. And at our place we do often eat at the desk, even though we're not supposed to. Most of the time when we claim no break we are claiming the time, but we are able to eat something quickly. I have eaten so many cold burgers I barely remember what a hot one tastes like anymore.

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Very good point! On our ward here we ensure that we give a brief report to whoever will be your patients. We try our best to ensure that breaks don't coinside with patient returning from theatre etc...

I really do have a problem with people who 'nip out' for cigarette breaks 20 times a day. Its unfair to those who don't smoke and its really not pleasant for patients to be cared for by somebody who pongs of cigarettes!

Fortunately in this job there isn't anybody on my ward who smokes, but it was a real problem in my last job. Of course here in Ireland there is the smoking ban in all public buildings so there isn't even a designated smoking area! Either don't smoke or stand in the rain!!

thats how it is here there is a smoking ban in public places but the residents do have a smoking room, also there is an outdoor patio connected to the unit where it states no one is supposed to be smoking but some seem to think they are above the law and go out there anyway. so how does that look to a resident or their family member to see a bunch of staff members puffing on cigs in an area thats desingnated for their loved ones and 8 call lights going off when they come to visit.

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There is a difference between taking a moment to eat and leaving me alone for half an hour. And at our place we do often eat at the desk, even though we're not supposed to. Most of the time when we claim no break we are claiming the time, but we are able to eat something quickly. I have eaten so many cold burgers I barely remember what a hot one tastes like anymore.

see if we are caught with anything at the desk it's an automatic write up because the idiots in administration see that there is no reason what so ever that you shouldnt get a lunch break, they wont even pay us if we claim that we didn't have one so it's a catch 22 & im not trying to be argumentive or catty but how can you dispute something that is required by law that you do? Most of the time when I do take a break it's not even a half hour cause I take a few bites of something & im full thanks to GBS :) but I still get the remarks and looks.

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Lunch break! What is that. Heard once that food was involved!!:lol2: :lol2:

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Oh, they have to pay us for missed lunch breaks since that is unpaid time. If your employer is refusing to pay you, you can probably make legal waves with that.

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Specializes in tele, stepdown/PCU, med/surg.

I never look down on nurses who take lunch breaks. I sometimes feel irritated (VERY SELDOM) when techs ALWAYS get a lunch break + 15 min break each side of the shift. They're entitled but when do nurses 15 min breaks each part of their shift? Nurses should take lunch and I do most of the time, but it's a half hour NO MORE. Techs will do more than that. I know a lot of people will say, well nurses are licensed and techs aren't. True, but that's not a good reason in my book.

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Oh, they have to pay us for missed lunch breaks since that is unpaid time. If your employer is refusing to pay you, you can probably make legal waves with that.

hmm I will have to look into to that, I am not in the union so I cant go there but maybe I can call the labor board and see what they say but it's not affecting me right now because I make sure to take my break. Im just sick of the BS that comes with it. I am very outspoken and when something is not right I definately speak up on it. It's just killing me that I have to bite my tongue. Im telling you theres gonna be a night when I leave work and have to go to the ER to get an emergency blood transfusion due to a major tongue hemorrhage

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I never look down on nurses who take lunch breaks. I sometimes feel irritated (VERY SELDOM) when techs ALWAYS get a lunch break + 15 min break each side of the shift. They're entitled but when do nurses 15 min breaks each part of their shift? Nurses should take lunch and I do most of the time, but it's a half hour NO MORE. Techs will do more than that. I know a lot of people will say, well nurses are licensed and techs aren't. True, but that's not a good reason in my book.

you're licensed thats all the more reason you should have a break. Im not diabetic but I know when my BS gets low I dont feel right physically or mentally and I start to shake, so I know I need to get something in my system, now can you imagine if I worked 8+ hours like that. Nothing would be right then who's license would be on the line???

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I take my lunch break every single day. I may take it late, but I will never go for 12 hours without it. Those who are looking down on me (and there are some who do so) can kiss my behind.

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I take my lunch break every single day. I may take it late, but I will never go for 12 hours without it. Those who are looking down on me (and there are some who do so) can kiss my behind.

I agree whole heartedly with you, I just wish I could say that lol I'll just have to wait 60 days :)

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Do those in other professions, particularly male-dominated ones, and those with more prestige than nursing, "look down on those who take lunch breaks?" Do you hear electricians, plumbers, physicians, asking this question? I don't think so. The attitude of looking down on those who do take breaks and eat during a shift are the same ones who buy into the view that a "good nurse" self-sacrifices for the good of the patient and the hospital, that the primary rewards are emotional, not economic, and is not in it for the money. This attitude really raises my hackles. Taking a meal break and regular bathroom breaks during shift work is a fundamental human right as far as I'm concerned and should never be questioned.

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