New Nurse - Meal Period Waiver

[misskait]

Hey all!

I'm a new grad RN starting in a CNA position (to be transferred into a New Grad RN position once it opens) at a Magnet hospital in my area. My questions is mainly regarding the minor politics of nursing and 12 hours shifts.

My new employer gives employees working over 10 hours the option to take two unpaid 30-minute meal periods, or to waive the second meal period (thus only taking one 30 minute break) between 1900 and 0730 for my night shift. *This does not include the required 15-minute paid breaks per CA law*

I obviously can take the two 30 minute breaks, but is that frowned upon? Would it be better to just take the one required 30 minute break to make a good impression, show teamwork, etc.? In general, and if any of you are supervisors/charge nurses/directors, do you suggest waiving the second meal period?

I want to be healthy and take my required lunch, but I also want to fit into the norm of what the other nurses on the units do.

[julz68]

I work 1900-0730 and we only get one unpaid 30 min lunch break and three paid 15 minute breaks. We are required to take our lunch break and punch out to show that we did. I never take my 15 min breaks tho, just don't have the time. As far as I can tell, nobody else on my unit takes their 15 min breaks either.

I've never heard of a place offering TWO lunch breaks. I guess if it was me, I would watch and see what the other nurses were doing as far as taking both 30 min breaks. It would be nice to be able to have two lunch breaks though! Heck, I'd use one to eat and the other to take a nap!

[Sushisaur]

I am a new nurse too, and by the sound of it EVERYBODY waives the second meal period in CA. It's very busy on the floor, and if you don't waive the second meal period, you by law have to clock out (and not get paid) for a break you may or may not be too busy to take.

[blondy2061h, MSN, RN]

Why on earth would anyone not want to get paid for a full hour they're at work? No one is nursing really truly is away from work for a 30 min unpaid lunch, especially on nights. If by chance you manage to get 30 uninterrupted minutes, you'll still be thinking about your patients and then playing catch up afterwards.