Lunch Everyone? Am I paranoid or what?

Town & Country · Oct 18, 2004

Pretty much everyday all the nurses and CNA's go to lunch together.

That is unheard-of, ridiculous, and UNSAFE!

How in the world did this start?

Do not allow this to continue. I would inform the charge nurse or whoever that I will NOT be left alone on the floor again while they have their gab sessions.

If they don't like it that's too ###### bad! If they ignore you, when they start assembling to go to lunch, get right in there with them and inform them that you will not be alone on the floor.

Why are you missing your lunch break?

When they are all back, why can't you go eat?

They are walking all over you, and compromising patient safety. Don't allow it to continue. NO, you are not "paranoid." They're letting you babysit the floor while they have their get-togethers. Put a stop to it.

Kaelie · Oct 18, 2004

The people I work with all like to have lunch together and frankly it scares me to death. Pretty much everyday all the nurses and CNA's go to lunch together. If someone doesn't show up they call each other on the phone. Now granted they all eat in a breakroom on the floor and have their cell phones with them, but often I am the only one on the floor. I'm often criticized for being a worry wart. I have on two occasions had the staff paged overhead to rooms where a pt. has fallen. These occured within a week of each other. Both times I and a housekeeper were the only ones there. On both occasions at least one of the nurses responding has said I'm glad you heard them. So i used their comment to get my point across, "what if I had been in a room?" No response and right back in to the same routine the next day. I usually don't go to lunch until after all are back and often miss my chance to go, but cannot in good conscience leave a floor unattended. Have discussed with charge nurses, the director etc, but to no avail. I know that it is hard to get to lunch and we need to take advantage when the opportunity arises, but come on we need to use a little common sense. I see this as a major safety issue. Am I being paranoid or what?

They all go to lunch at the same time?? We'd all be fired if that was the case at our hospital. Small groups, yes, but not everyone.

You wait until they get back, because you are dedicated. Kudos to you. Your Charge nurses or DON should do something about this. Ridulous.

DutchgirlRN, ASN, RN · Oct 18, 2004

They all go to lunch at the same time?? We'd all be fired if that was the case at our hospital. Small groups, yes, but not everyone.
You wait until they get back, because you are dedicated. Kudos to you. Your Charge nurses or DON should do something about this. Ridulous.

Totally unacceptable !!! as well as very Dangerous!!! I would absolutely refuse to be left on the floor alone. If the nurse manager doesn't agree, sounds like they don't care? I'd get the heck out of there. Your license is on the line, Run girl run.......!

not now, RN · Oct 18, 2004

I saw that happen my first semester of nursing school. Our instructor even warned us "After report they will all leave the floor to get breakfast. Usually one person stays behind if one doesn't because they expect us to cover I will pull all of you off the floor until they come back." Usually what happened was all the RN's/LVN's would leave, when they returned with their food the CNA's and the unit clerk would leave.

RN92 · Oct 18, 2004

Anywhere I have worked, the person going to lunch would have to give a mini-report to the person covering for them. They cannot all leave for lunch and expect you to cover their pts without giving report. Then, you could refuse to take report on more than 1-2 pts. Next time, when they are all getting ready to go eat, just say "Im taking lunch now, too". If they complain, tell them you're all caught up and need to take lunch while you can. Maybe you should start writing incident reports(?)...just to make a paper trail and prove that you brought this to management attention.

Shame on those nurses - they know what they're doing is wrong.!

Loribabble · Oct 18, 2004

That is just plain SCARY!!!! I can't believe they would do that! As for all the RN/LVN's going then the CNA's - I always thought there HAD to be an RN on the floor (not hiding out in the break room) at all times.

jemb · Oct 18, 2004

I would suggest writing an incident report every time this happens. If the charge nurses and the DON won't do anything, risk management needs to hear about it. Can you put the incident report in an interoffice envelope directed to risk management, since the charge or DON might intercept it? I would also put names and dates to indicate that I have informed charge and director of the problem.

This is downright stupid behavior on you coworkers part!

SmilingBluEyes · Oct 18, 2004

Wow really? That is a bad deal. Who is taking care of the patients then???

Agnus · Oct 18, 2004

I don not know what type or size of facility you work in. I do not know if the entire facility does this or just one floor on a large hospital. IT DOES NOT MATTER. What does matter is that it is happening. I agree keep a paper trail that you have repeatedly addressed this with the charge nurse, supervisor and even the DON. Document thier response.

Then put them on notice. DO THEY UNDERSTAND THE WORDS, "PATIENT ABADONMENT," under the nurse practice act? Tell the DON that you will not stand for your license being put in jepordy one more day. That if he/she has so little reguared for you that they would allow you to be put at risk this way, not to mention the patients, then you will be reporting the DON to the BON as well as ever nurse who does this. Remind her you are obligated to report neglect and abandoment, weather it is done personally by the RN or sanctioned by an RN.

Document her response to this.

Then do what you have to do.

BeenThereDoneThat74, MSN, RN · Oct 18, 2004

on one of our units, we give report in the lounge (takes a good half-hour). the other morning, the receptionists intercoms to us "a pt just fell". now this is peds., where there is usually a parent there (not in this case). the receptionist will call in to us if someone rings the bell. but still, after this, it doesn't seem like the best plan.

on another unit, there's usually 2 nurses and an aide. god forbid they are both off the floor (or there's only 2 of us, and one is on break), i will hold my bladder!

i'm in shock at the fact that the whole staff actually takes lunch

nuttyRN · Oct 18, 2004

The people I work with all like to have lunch together and frankly it scares me to death. Pretty much everyday all the nurses and CNA's go to lunch together. If someone doesn't show up they call each other on the phone. Now granted they all eat in a breakroom on the floor and have their cell phones with them, but often I am the only one on the floor. I'm often criticized for being a worry wart. I have on two occasions had the staff paged overhead to rooms where a pt. has fallen. These occured within a week of each other. Both times I and a housekeeper were the only ones there. On both occasions at least one of the nurses responding has said I'm glad you heard them. So i used their comment to get my point across, "what if I had been in a room?" No response and right back in to the same routine the next day. I usually don't go to lunch until after all are back and often miss my chance to go, but cannot in good conscience leave a floor unattended. Have discussed with charge nurses, the director etc, but to no avail. I know that it is hard to get to lunch and we need to take advantage when the opportunity arises, but come on we need to use a little common sense. I see this as a major safety issue. Am I being paranoid or what?

This is absolutely NOT OK! On our floor ( I do work nights) there MUST be 2 RNs and 1 CNA at ALL times - no matter. NO, this is not a staffing requirement, just an unwritten agreement between all who work here. Yes, sometimes we do take "working lunches" at the nurses station, but it is better that we know that our pts are OK and safe at all times!