how many break(s) in your 12 hrs. shift?

Nurses General Nursing

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Hello

I plan to work 12 hours night shift when I graduate in 2007. Just curious how many break(s) will be given? Also, how long is your break?

Any input will be appricated!

Specializes in LTC, med-surg, critial care.

We get one 30 minute break and three 15 minute breaks and I take them all. My unit is pretty slow, think me reading a book at the nurses station (I work nights) between rounds. I'm trying to transfer out to a busier unit because I get so bored.

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We are supposed to get a 30 minute lunch and 2-3 15 minute breaks. Which means a 10 minute lunch and 4 or 5 5 minute smoke breaks. It's different on day shift--they are pretty muched forced to take thier breaks, but on nights, we don't have the float nurses to do that. Doesn't really bother me--I'd rather be on my floor in case I'm needed than have my aides tracking me down if something happens.

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We get a 30 minute lunch and three 15 minute breaks for 12 hour shifts (8 hour shifts get two 15 minute breaks instead of three). I usually work 8 hours and take two 30 minute breaks.

I agree with Fergus - one break in 12 hours is not enough.

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Specializes in pediatric ER.

40 min lunch break and 1 10min break. I pretty much always take the lunch break, but the other 10 min break rarely happens since I work in a busy ER and just can't get away... I would LOVE it if I got more breaks, but I'm lucky to get one most days.

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Specializes in Cardiac.

I think I peed twice today-does that count?

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Specializes in Med Surg, Telemetry, Orthopedics.
Breaks? :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: What are those?

I stopped smoking the second year in nursing school when it dawned on me that I'd get little opportunity to go outside.

I actually thought I should START smoking so I could get a break!!;) We are supposed to get one 30 min lunch & 2 15 min breaks "according to the labor laws" but peeing once or twice is a blessing.

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Specializes in Rehab, Med Surg, Home Care.

One 30" meal break and another 15 minute break but for the most part everyone actually takes the 45" together.

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I hope the people who are routinely working through their breaks are getting paid for doing so.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho.

I agree with fergus,, if they are unpaid breaks, make sure you take them at some point. I know sometimes its easier said than done, but a unit that routinely staffs short enough that you cant get your breaks is taking advantage of their staff bigtime.

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Specializes in SICU.

Officially we have a 30 minute luch break (automatically deducted from our pay) and 2 15 minute breaks.

Reality on night shift. We are a small unit and often run with 1 RN and 1 CNA. Therefor there is NO getting off the floor for any breaks. We have a small breakroom on the floor that was originally a cleaning room.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.

They are only legally required here in Florida to give us our 30 minutes that they don't pay us for. I always take that break because I refuse to work without eating. Usually I can get an afternoon break, but I rarely get a break in the morning. It all depends on the acuity of the patients.

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I think I peed twice today-does that count?

Cool!! You actually get to go to the BR?! :lol2:

I've had nites where sitting on the toilet was my only opportunity to sit down.:lol2:

I remember one of my supervisors telling about the time she sat on the toilet, leaned her face against the wall - and fell asleep. The pager woke her up, and when she went out - she had tile marks on her cheek!:rotfl:

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