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.
only been a nurse for 2yrs now, and can count on 1 hand how many lunches/breaks i have taken. 2 weeks ago a very seasoned nurse pointed out to me...
"look around at the end of shift, see who is clocking out and gone..." i did... all the CNA's were out of there. so this week, i quit being the first one to answer the call lights and get the ice,juice,washclothes,assistance to BR...etc. it was very DIFFICULT, but, the result this week....i stayed late a max of 45mins each shift. the CNA's still got out ahead of me, but, they were in the report room charting at the end of shift just like me:yeah:. misery loves company ya know:lol2:
had to put up with "attitude" from CNA's, including comments like "i miss "so and so" (another nurse with "time management issues"). CNA's gave me dirty looks when I walked out of a room with the call light still on for someone who routinely wants tea at a certain time, or needs bowel setup etc...most have been working there longer then me and have just as good "anticipating a need" skills as me).
I know CNA's work VERY hard, but, everyday I have seen them standing around eating,socializing, texting on cell phones, etc...The truth is, I can do their job, BUT, they can't do mine.
So... look around and see who leaves on time. If their habits are good, try to adapt them into your time management.
I work with alot of LPN's and when we have a lot of IV pts on the floor, I ask them to do alot of my "tasks" so we can both leave on time. I have GREAT coworkers and we really support each other. Communication is key.
Good luck:clown: and...
I really wish the more seasoned nurses would be more specific in letting us know of their secrets of time management. Just hearing "it will get better/easier/whatever" is really not very supportive/helpful.
At the hospital I work at here in STL. the nurses typically do not "clock out" for breaks. They just grab some food when they get a minuite and eat while they chart. They do not really see the need to find someone to cover them. They do have the option of having a 30 min break, but I have never seen a nurse eating away from the nurse station.
I would bet this is a huge reason that 1 out of 3 new nurses quit the nursing field within a year of working. It is disgusting that facilities get away with this. It is unhealthy and dangerous, IMO.
Specializes in telemetry, med-surg, home health, psych.
as long as you keep missing lunch, it won't stop....management does not care and nobody will stand up for you if you don't stand up for yourself !!!
You are not paid for that lunch time so you need to take it !!!
I used to work thru lunches, breaks..(still don't take a break)....but decided that I would get lunch time (quiet time) to recharge my batteries no matter what....you can always find the right time or person to cover and get off the floor for a few minute.......you owe it to yourself and your pts.........
At the hospital I work at here in STL. the nurses typically do not "clock out" for breaks. They just grab some food when they get a minuite and eat while they chart. They do not really see the need to find someone to cover them. They do have the option of having a 30 min break, but I have never seen a nurse eating away from the nurse station.
Then in law you have never had a break and your employer is making beaucoup bucks from you by not covering breaks . Why is it nurses have to be great carers , but nobody gives a fig for the nurses .
If you clocked out for your lunch , your patient calls wanting to go to the bathroom you have to attend to them , they fall and injure themselves and you . You are not covered by the hospital Liability Insurance ( so hope you have your own ) , workmans comp. insurance and if things are particularly bad your employer could terminate you for falsify your time record .
Good Lord what kind of place are you working at that the charge nurses can't relieve you so you can go eat? Yes you have crazy days but it shouldn't be that way EVERY DAY. My advice do your time, get your experience and then find a better place to work.
The charge nurses also have a patient load and sometimes they have to take admits. I really feel sorry for them. It is so rediculous. The charge nurses should be there to be a resource for the floor nurses. I try not to have to ask her too many questions. I try to go to other floor nurses if I have questions/concerns.
Specializes in acute rehab, med surg, LTC, peds, home c.
purple hockeymom, You are so right. It took me a while to figure this out too but delegation is key to getting out on time. The techs may hate me but if I know that I am busier than them I delegate anything I can to them. They see me sitting there and charting and letting them answer the light. I dont care what they think anymore because charting is part of my job that they can't do and just because I do it while sitting at a desk does not make it "nothing" or being lazy. I have certain things I have to do before I leave and I make sure I do them. PS I still get out 30-60 minutes late but I usually take a lunch and this is a big improvement. If I make a few enemies in the process then so be it.
purple hockeymom, You are so right. It took me a while to figure this out too but delegation is key to getting out on time. The techs may hate me but if I know that I am busier than them I delegate anything I can to them. They see me sitting there and charting and letting them answer the light. I dont care what they think anymore because charting is part of my job that they can't do and just because I do it while sitting at a desk does not make it "nothing" or being lazy. I have certain things I have to do before I leave and I make sure I do them. PS I still get out 30-60 minutes late but I usually take a lunch and this is a big improvement. If I make a few enemies in the process then so be it.
You can only delegate the tasks the techs can perform , surely they should be performing these tasks in any case , so you are only ensuring they carry their load rather than adding to yours , then how they react is their problem .
Specializes in acute rehab, med surg, LTC, peds, home c.
You can only delegate the tasks the techs can perform , surely they should be performing these tasks in any case , so you are only ensuring they carry their load rather than adding to yours , then how they react is their problem .
That is true but their attitudes sometimes do not reflect that reality. It is not unusual to overhear techs talking about how lazy the nurses are, how they can't be bothered answering a light or changing a patient. I recently heard a tech tell a patient, "The nurse just gives you your meds, I am the one who really takes care of you".
The problem is that even the people we work closely with do not understand our role.
Good Lord what kind of place are you working at that the charge nurses can't relieve you so you can go eat? Yes you have crazy days but it shouldn't be that way EVERY DAY. My advice do your time, get your experience and then find a better place to work.
I am the charge nurse where I work, and have a group of patients that is equal to or more than the other patient loads! I have 7 years experience, but with the economy, the facility has cut staffing, thus increasing patient workloads. And as many of us have noticed, the acuity of the patients has increased greatly. No easy answers. I used to get my lunch, get my charting done, and out on time. Not now. Supervisors complaining about OT and having to pay for missed lunches, to which I tell them that they are welcome to come to the floor and help. Of course, they have all of those meetings to go to that will help us with our time management and patient loads
Amazing that this post is still coming up over a year later. I did reply before. What I did in my unit when I was charge is that I assigned lunches. People initally acted as if I had two heads. Now it has become very uncommon for people not to go to lunch. Even the initial nay sayers are looking for their lunch break and TAKING it. There are still the occassional couple that cannot organize themselves and we end up changing the break times. I even go for walks in the nice weather during my 30 minutes (in my twelve hour shift). What a difference it makes to take care of myself and de-stress during my shift. I usually will have something to eat while I am charting.
summerrose_10
54 Posts
only been a nurse for 2yrs now, and can count on 1 hand how many lunches/breaks i have taken. 2 weeks ago a very seasoned nurse pointed out to me...
"look around at the end of shift, see who is clocking out and gone..." i did... all the CNA's were out of there. so this week, i quit being the first one to answer the call lights and get the ice,juice,washclothes,assistance to BR...etc. it was very DIFFICULT, but, the result this week....i stayed late a max of 45mins each shift. the CNA's still got out ahead of me, but, they were in the report room charting at the end of shift just like me:yeah:. misery loves company ya know:lol2:
had to put up with "attitude" from CNA's, including comments like "i miss "so and so" (another nurse with "time management issues"). CNA's gave me dirty looks when I walked out of a room with the call light still on for someone who routinely wants tea at a certain time, or needs bowel setup etc...most have been working there longer then me and have just as good "anticipating a need" skills as me).
I know CNA's work VERY hard, but, everyday I have seen them standing around eating,socializing, texting on cell phones, etc...The truth is, I can do their job, BUT, they can't do mine.
So... look around and see who leaves on time. If their habits are good, try to adapt them into your time management.
I work with alot of LPN's and when we have a lot of IV pts on the floor, I ask them to do alot of my "tasks" so we can both leave on time. I have GREAT coworkers and we really support each other. Communication is key.
Good luck:clown: and...
I really wish the more seasoned nurses would be more specific in letting us know of their secrets of time management. Just hearing "it will get better/easier/whatever" is really not very supportive/helpful.
Can you all be more specific?
????