My family can't believe nurses don't get breaks

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Hi all, I'm currently in nursing school and had mentioned a few times that on my clinical rotations I noticed that it was true that most of the nurses I was working with were not able to take scheduled breaks or lunches, including myself. There just isn't time to plan time. I explained how difficult it is to leave the floor for breaks or lunches when things happen or change with patients, and you can not just walk away for a break or a lunch without making sure you have coverage and have reported off, or how this is a predominant complaint in the nursing profession. I know I have gone well over 5+ hours without a break or any lunch. They just kept saying "It's a federal law, you HAVE to be allowed breaks." How can I help them understand why it just doesn't work that way?

Specializes in Emergency.

At my hospital we all get breaks. On the very rare occasion we don't (once in two years for me) we can get double our salary for the break we missed. We're a union hospital. The hospital departments have to staff enough people to give breaks. So we get breaks and no one goes over their ratios.

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Specializes in Pediatrics.

Unfortunately it is misinformation that there is a federal law requiring breaks. It is done state by state. In PA employers aren't even required to provide a lunch at all. I rarely leave the floor on my 12 hour shift. I eat and chart. Check with your state on what is required or not required for breaks.

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

It's rare that I don't take the time to get lunch, no matter busy I get. I prioritize it along with patient care, and somethings got to give before I consistently give my up lunch. Sometimes it get interrupted and sometimes it's only 15 minutes, but I will eat. Once in a blue moon I have to work through lunch.

Other than that I don't take any other breaks, but I insist on eating lunch, and as a charge nurse I insist my staff make time to eat, and they usually can.

In Florida they don't have to give us breaks, but they have to pay us for the time we're working.

I work a busy med surg floor.

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I think the federal rule that you are supposed to get a half-hour lunch break, the two 15 minute breaks are optional. Of course that means if you take the half hour lunch break you will be an hour, (or more), late at the end of your shift.

I have had managers in my past that are of the opionion, if you can take a break for a minute or two through out the shift until they equal 30 minutes the mandated half hour requirement has been fulfilled, (just exaggerating, slightly).

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Where I work, I get lunch every day.

I do understand that having another nurse in a position to cover your patients could be a problem.

Most units require 2 nurses to be present at all times. If there are 3 nurses and one is on a road trip with a patient, the remaining nurses can't go anywhere until another nurse is brought over to cover lunches, or the other nurse returns.

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Specializes in ICU, PACU, Cath Lab.

We very very rarely do not get our breaks....I work overnight...we all take lunch at the same time...sure we eat on the floor...in sight of all our rooms and monitors...but hey we get to sit and have a conversation...which is great!!! On the rare occasion that we are so slammed we cannot get away...the house sup will bring up boxed lunches and we can sit at our stations and eat. I also take my breaks...we just trade off patients..works out nicely!

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Yeah, it is a law, but I recall ALWAYS eating at my desk and writing at the same time. I really don't mind because I can't just sit and eat anyways. I have to always be doing something else.

I do need potty breaks though!!! I care more about those. I can go 8 hours without eating if I have to.

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We usually have a float nurse that goes around relieving those that need a lunch break. On days when we dont have one, the charge nurse or the nurse with rooms adjacent to yours will relieve you for lunch. Theres no way I could get through a 12 hour shift without eating a meal. I dont see how anyone could.

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Specializes in ED/trauma.

There was ONE shift where I did not take a lunch, and I was miserable. The CNA I was working with that day, who I highly admire and respect, told me I can NOT do that! "How are you supposed to take care of your patients if you're not taking care of yourself?" I took that to heart, and I ALWAYS take my lunches now.

I make sure all my patients are covered on meds, procedures, etc. -- nothing critical stands out -- and report off to the nurse that has her 6 pts on the other side of the hall. Ideally, she won't have to worry about anything.

I always bring my food with me, so I make sure I eat nutritiously (which also helps me keep going) instead of eating the cafeteria food (which isn't bad actually!). I bring an apple, a Lean Cuisine frozen meal, yogurt, sometimes baby carrots, and a little snack desert bar (from Weight Watchers). I make sure to watch mind-numbing entertainment (i.e., SpongeBob) because it helps me take my mind off the real world for 20-40 mins.

I take shorter lunches (20 mins) when things are hectic. When I feel my pts are totally covered, I might hang in a little longer (40 mins). I always make sure to put my feet up to give them SOME relief!

On the subject of breaks, though, I almost never take them. On a rare occasion, my husband will stop by, and we'll hug and kiss a bit in a secluded hall. Definitely not a Dept of Labor 15, though! Also, if I'm lucky, I pee a few times during my 12 hours.

I really took what my CNA said to heart because I was bloody miserable that day. It's very true that we too often put EVERYONE else before ourselves. Not only is it not fair, but it's not healthy. You don't deserve it. And, if that's not enough to convince you, then think about it like this: You patients don't deserve an over-worked, malnourished, exhausted nurse! They will survive without you for 30 mins. If, God forbid, they don't survive without you, I imagine you did everything you should have before lunch and not being there for the 2 minutes that it will take them to get you from the break room isn't going to be life-threatening.

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Specializes in Trauma, Teaching.

Health care workers are specifically exempted from the labor laws about lunches and breaks, so hospitals etc. can't be taken to task under those laws.

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Specializes in mostly in the basement.

I'm not sure the above is accurate.

In any case, I know my former HCF just paid out a bucketload of $$$ for violating the labor laws re. breaks.

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Specializes in Adolescent Psych, PICU.

This is one of the reason I love where I work. The nurses ALWAYS get a one hour break...always. We all absolutely make sure the nurses get a break. Sometime we have to sit at the nurses station and eat, depending on the patient, but the nurses do get to eat. And if anyone has to run and go pee we just make sure everyone knows we will be gone for a couple mins.

The nurses on my unit are sooo supportive.

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