NO LUNCH??? NO BREAKS??? Is that common in nursing?????

Nurses General Nursing

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Hi everyone!

This topic has been bothering me a lot lately. I would love to know your thoughts and experiences! I am a new RN working on a cardiac unit. Since I have been on this floor, I have observed and experienced first hand how many of the nurses do NOT get a break during their 8 and 12 hour shifts. If we do take a break, we have to find someone on the floor who can cover our typically 4-5 patients. Our charge nurses do NOT cover lunches and our parent shifters are not used for this, either. There have been many days when I went home after working 13 plus hours and not sitting down once or being able to use the bathroom.

Is this COMMON in the nursing profession? According to wage and hour federal laws, we are entitled to a break.

This frustrates me as I think we are all entitled to some time away and I do not feel it is our responsibility to find our own coverage.

What are you guys finding out in the nursing community? Do you swipe a "no lunch?" Is this even SAFE? Technically, this employer is violating wage and hour laws by not freeing the nurses up for a break.

Please share your thoughts and experiences with me. I think this practice is wrong and I would like to implement change...I just do not know how.

Thanks for your thoughts.

When you have nine tele patients of your own, it's not very feasible to take a true lunch break. That would mean the nurse down the other hall is now looking after 18 tele patients. It's impossible to adequately monitor. I can't even monitor them as much as I need to when I am NOT on break.

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Specializes in Emergency.

Meal breaks are a very high priority in my unit. We cover each other and if needed, the charge nurse will cover. Occasionally someone doesn't get to eat but that is a rarity.

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Specializes in Interventional Cardiology, MICU.

I work 7p-7a in an ICU, no breaks. We eat at our station monitoring our pt's. Sometimes we don't get a chance to have lunch...depends on our pt's acuity, families, et.

lunch

alluncha

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Specializes in SRNA.

I can think of maybe 1 shift that I wasn't able to take a lunch because I was simply too busy with a critically ill patient. The norm is that we get our 30 minute lunches and even our two 15minute breaks at the two facilities I've worked at. Our assignment is looked over by either charge or a coworker.

I agree that not being able to take breaks is a sign of poor management. If not actual hospital management, poor time management on behalf of the RN. I think sometimes nurses forget that it's just as important to take care of oneself as it is to take care of one's patients.

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Specializes in Telemetry & Obs.

I've GOTTA take pee breaks....housekeeping gets tired of mopping up my messes :D j/k!!

Seriously, I think LOL bladder should be classified a handicap!!

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Specializes in NICU, Infection Control.
When you have nine tele patients of your own, it's not very feasible to take a true lunch break. That would mean the nurse down the other hall is now looking after 18 tele patients. It's impossible to adequately monitor. I can't even monitor them as much as I need to when I am NOT on break.

That is NOT a time management issue, that is a staffing issue!!! And, if, as someone else stated, if no one on the shift is able to leave the unit, get lunch and eat it, and that is a daily occurence, that is also NOT a time management issue.

IMHO, check the OSHA regulations in your state and nationally, and the State licensing agency as well as JACHO w/regard to meal and work breaks. If necessary, find an employment lawyer--might be easier than reading all that stuff yourself--and consider either dropping a dime on the hospital and/or suing. You are entitled to go to lunch. And, you are most certainly allowed time to relieve yourself.

We are not slaves!!! We need to care for ourselves and our co-workers as well as those folks in the beds!

Ok, I'll just go relax for a little while now.....

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Apparently members of the public don't think we need to eat or pee either.

I was in the charge office eating a ten minute lunch with the door closed and heard this conversation outside;

Patients Daughter: Where is my mothers nurse?

CNA: She's at lunch right now, she'll only be ten minutes.

Patients Daughter: At LUNCH??? And what if my mother dies while this nurse is at LUNCH??

CNA: Is there something wrong with your mother? Can I help? I can find the charge nurse.

Patients Daughter: No, I just need to know if they approved the home help when my mother discharges tomorrow.

:icon_roll

This was ten minutes out of a 16 hour shift where I actually shut myself away from the public - most of the time when I eat I eat at the desk.

I have also had a secretary knock on the bathroom door when I was peeing. Yes, a critical lab had come in but I wasn't about to stop midstream to attend to it. I told her if she ever did it again I'd bang on the door everytime she goes to the bathroom to tell her the phone is ringing.

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These are not uncommon occurances. Take heed, people! Where I work/live/have to exist, most family members get extremely ****** if you are not in their view every second of your entire shift.

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Specializes in telemetry, med-surg, home health, psych.
NO , MY DEAR THAT IS YOUR REALITY ....

Me I get 1 X 30 minute lunch and 2 X 15 minute breaks , totally relieved of patient care . This is good for me , my patients and the hospital . I come back refreshed , relaxed and ready to meet patients needs .This came about because we took the action necessary to make it happen . I'm sorry but there simply is no way to get around this ,If bedside nurses allow management ,to not do , what is necessary to relieve you , then you perpetuate this problem .

No, I am not perpetuating any problems....I am not Norma Rae and that is what it would take...nobody at work wants to rock the boat...everyone is just wanting to keep their job and pay their mortgage...All of us are in the same boat....and nobody wants to rock it....

We have already had 5 lay-offs....the last 5 hired...so we are all on edge...

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It just isn't that big a deal to me. But it is important to some co-workers, and so I work with them to make sure they can get away for 30 minutes to eat.

And in return, they respect what is important to me.

Once a co-worker states a need for food due to: diabetes, post-illness, medications, or feeling weak- we make sure they get their lunch break.

Personally, I live for snacking, and those big gulps of Mountain Dew when I am close to the break room.

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Specializes in telemetry, med-surg, home health, psych.
It just isn't that big a deal to me. But it is important to some co-workers, and so I work with them to make sure they can get away for 30 minutes to eat.

And in return, they respect what is important to me.

Once a co-worker states a need for food due to: diabetes, post-illness, medications, or feeling weak- we make sure they get their lunch break.

Personally, I live for snacking, and those big gulps of Mountain Dew when I am close to the break room.

Agreed......I am known for carrying snacks in my pocket and eating on the run....I had a chicken sandwich in my pocket one day !!! I did manage to finish it throughout the day !!! (in a baggie, of course)

I have no need to go sit for 30 min. in a room, either....I would rather get my work finished and not have to stay over.....anyday......I keep a drink under my desk in a lunchbox....we can't have anything at the desk..but nothing has been said about "under" the desk....yet !!

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I take those "Uncrustables" (Frozen peanut butter and jelly sandwich) and eat it at my med cart.

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