Lunch Coverage

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Specializes in School Nursing.

School Nurses How Do You cover Your Lunch?

It's 1:45pm and I am eating my lunch amidst 3 fever filled students.  I don't have anyone to cover my lunch.  I get grumpy in these situations.  Anyone have any creative lunch coverage solutions?  If not, please just tell me I am not the only one and it is still a great job!

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The secertary and I cover each others lunches but then again we both don't always get a lunch and I eat at my desk a lont.

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You are not the only one and it's still a great job. The lack of lunch is a biggie.  For me, I've decided it's not worth it and I sneak some food throughout the day then have my 'break' when the students leave at 2:25.

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Specializes in kids.

I just eat at my desk, way less stressful that being paged on my radio in another area of the building...

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Specializes in Home Health,Dialysis, MDS, School Nurse.

I find a lunch time that works into my schedule and then let all staff know what time I will be on lunch.   I hang a sign on my door (with a picture for the littles), shut and lock it.  There is a back door that staff can access should they need to come in.   I eat in my office by choice because I usually watch netflix or something while I'm eating.   I still will answer my phone and respond to emergencies, but for the most part, staff are good about respecting my lunch.   They will quietly come in and say "I'm just going to grab an icepack.." or some such thing. The secretaries will help students call home if they need to.   I get enough uninterrupted lunches that I don't fret too much about the ones where I have to attend to a vomiting or bleeding student!  

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Specializes in School Nursing.

Lunch break?? What's that?? LOL, I rarely get to take lunch breaks because we are so busy. But, If I do have time for a break, I have an assistant to cover me, and I cover for her. When I can't get a break, I eat at my desk, or grab bites in between seeing kids..

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Specializes in pediatrics, school nursing.

Yeah, even though its in my contract that I should have 30min prep time and 30min for lunch, I have never been able to take a dedicated lunch period without being interrupted. Even when I've put out notices that the health office is closed, I still get called for menial things and in the time it takes to explain why I can't see the kid in that moment, I can usually take care of whatever ails them quicker. 

I am lucky though that my principal and Admin Assistant see how infrequently I get an honest to goodness break, and so when I have needed to leave a bit early here or there, or needed to be a smidge late, they let it slide...

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Specializes in Peds.

We receive no lunchtime here either.  My admin does not want me away from my clinic at all during the day.  I bring quick snacks like crackers or trail mix to help with the hunger but I have no slated lunch.  Even our custodian gets a lunch break!

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Specializes in school nursing, ortho, trauma.

I started prioritising my lunch time a few years ago.  I actually leave the building and go home to eat.  I only live 5 min away, so if there's a big emergency (and not a headache from yesterday, or a bruise from a week ago)  Make yourself a priority.  There is NO healthcare facility ANYWHERE that you can walk in an be seen immediately by a professional.  The kids can wait 15 min to have their tummy aches assessed.  

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Specializes in CNA instructor, School Nurse.

I just snack throughout the day. When I first started I was told by the health coordinator for our district "you can't leave the building for lunch as you still need to be available for emergencies, but try and get out of the clinic for it at least." 

haha! No way that is possible. At least I'm paid for it I suppose!

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