NO Lunch-- Ever?!!

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Hey all. I need some advise about a situation that continues to occur at work. I am a nurse in a physicians office (the only nurse by the way). I love my job, however, it seems that over the last several months, the front office keeps scheduling patients in a way that we don't finish seeing morning patients until the afternoon patients begin arriving. In other words we never get to take a break to eat lunch. Don't get me wrong, I know things happen sometimes where you just can't get away, but I don't think this should happen every day. Even the doctor ends up working through lunch just so we can see all the patients scheduled. I have brought this up to the office manager several times (she does most of the scheduling) with some tips for the types of patients to schedule and not to schedule close to lunch time. Her response is always, "Oh well, you knew when you went into healthcare that this is the way it is." No, I didn't know that, even when I worked Med/ Surg I didn't miss meal time every shift. I automatically have one hour deducted for lunch daily ( I am salaried) yet I am lucky to get 5 minutes between patients to choke something down. The office manager is very passive/aggressive and acts as though she can't understand the problem. I have no other nurse to rotate with, if there are patients then I have to be there to assist the doctor. By the way, the office manger goes to lunch at noon every day no matter what and stays out for 1-2 hours for lunch :angryfire . The doctor is frustrated as well, however, he doesn't say anything to her, just complains to me in hopes that I will take care of it. I don't think the office manger is doingthis out of spite, I really think she is totally clueless about how to schedule patients effectively. What should I do? I have tried to talk to her already, she acts as if she understands then she continues to do the same thing. The doc is no help, he doesn't like confrontation at all and would rather I fix the situation. Any advise is appreciated. Thanks

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Specializes in Public Health, DEI.

Limik, I don't know that you're going to have much luck with the office manager. The physician should be handling this. I would schedule a meeting, explain that you've spoken to her several times and was given the "you knew this was the way it was" line (which, obviously, you didn't know that was the way it was, since when you were hired you were told you got an hour for lunch!) Too bad if he doesn't like confrontation! He is responsible for the morale and well being of his staff, and he is worrying more about his comfort level in not wanting to get tough with this woman, than he is about your rights as an employee. Time to draw your line in the sand, I think!

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If I don't get a lunch break, which is rare, I put it on my time sheet to be compensated. Don't be a doormat.

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Specializes in MICU.

I currently work as a receptionist for a large family practice. The doctors that own the practice dictate how long an appointment to allow for different complaints. They frequently have problems with how long they are allowed for certain types of visits.They meet once a month and every month it seems they change the length of at least one appointment type. Ultimatly the doctor is responsible for laying the groundwork for appointment types and lengths. A serious discussion with the doctor is overdue if you never get lunch. I can't imagine any of our doctors constantly giving up their lunch. The office manager would have been gone long ago.

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Yep, it is the doc's responsibility. And I would not give them my lunch break for free.

steph

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Specializes in Public Health, DEI.

http://www.ihi.org/IHI/Programs/ConferencesAndTraining/ReducingWaitingTimesandImprovingOfficeEfficiencyWebinar.htm?TabId=10

I just opened my email up and got a message about this teleconference that sounds like just the thing for your office manager "friend". I have nothing to do with this organization, except that I did once attend another teleconference so now I get messages about all their upcoming events.

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I'm sorry that you are having to deal w/ this type of an issue.

If the doc wants you to handle it......what I would do is this................

go to the date/appointment book and block off from 1130 - 1 every day. Do it in such a way (i.e. yellow marker) so you could still...if you absolutely HAD TO, on an emergency basis only, see a pt. Then, to go with that...post a large note in several key areas (i.e. on the appt book itself, in a prominant spot in their work area - maybe right by the primary phone, and in the breakroom) that says absolutely no appts are to be scheduled in the yellow area without direct permission from either you or the doc. Show the doc your memo/note and have him sign it and you sign it before you actually yellow out the time blocks. If the doc won't sign it, tell him that you will be forced to look for other employment. You are doing yourself no justice by allowing them to take away your sanity/lunch break.

All of this is just my opinion and may not be very feasible. Good luck.

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I'm sorry that you are having to deal w/ this type of an issue.

If the doc wants you to handle it......what I would do is this................

go to the date/appointment book and block off from 1130 - 1 every day. Do it in such a way (i.e. yellow marker) so you could still...if you absolutely HAD TO, on an emergency basis only, see a pt. Then, to go with that...post a large note in several key areas (i.e. on the appt book itself, in a prominant spot in their work area - maybe right by the primary phone, and in the breakroom) that says absolutely no appts are to be scheduled in the yellow area without direct permission from either you or the doc. Show the doc your memo/note and have him sign it and you sign it before you actually yellow out the time blocks. If the doc won't sign it, tell him that you will be forced to look for other employment. You are doing yourself no justice by allowing them to take away your sanity/lunch break.

All of this is just my opinion and may not be very feasible. Good luck.

Just my opinion, but the doctor is responsible for how his day is booked. He must want it.

This isn't any way to keep staff though. Our local doc's office does block out an hour for lunch and they all eat lunch together in a staff room - everyone brings something to share. It is actually quite nice.

But the doc/docs set the tone. They are the bosses.

steph

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho.

Good suggestion stidget99.

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Specializes in PeriOp, ICU, PICU, NICU.

Hello,

Aside from nursing.......I believe that with ANY job it is unjust and wrong for you not to be given a lunch. You did the right thing by taking the first step and speak out your concern. However, it seems that it did not go as you wish it had, and the lack of respect towards you is still there :stone

It is NOT righ, and like a previous poster said "stop being a doormat". You need to draw that line and take the bull by the horns.....unless you are willing to keep the mistreat continuing :rolleyes: . Make an appointment and sit down and put it out there. You need your lunch like every other human being regardless of the profession you chose. An NO....it does not matter whether you knew/assumed it that was what you were getting into when you chose your career in healthcare.. That is a poor and lame answer. All the advice given points you to standing up for yourself, do not allow it to continue, and if you need to look for a job elsewhere or make it CLEAR that you are not going to tolerate that behaviour......then so be it. Otherwise, it is your call and choice as to what you need to do. I know it is easier said than done, but I think it is safe to agree that you should not have to go without your lunches and getting deducted from your pay.

Also, think of this as the beginning. If they see they can get away with it.....this may be nothing. Sooner or later the abuse may escalate :uhoh21:

I wish you the best of luck, and hope the abuse stops soon :)

Jessica

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Thank you all for your very sound advice. I do need to sit down and make my complaints very clear and I plan to do that very soon. Wish me luck and again thanks for the great advice.

Limik

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This doctor should tell her not to book patients from x time to x time and mean it. I would speak to him about this, it is unfair, and I would charge for the unpaid lunch. It is against the law to do this in any state.

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