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

[CleveRN2008]

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.

[xtxrn, ASN, RN]

Personal phone calls aren't usually allowed unless an emergency, or a clocked out break.

When I worked the floor, I rarely got to eat in a fixed period of time- a bite here, a bite there

They didn't declare any moratorium on peeing- so that was still at the discretion of the pee-er.

A break has to be available- but most nurses will tell you that they rarely get the whole thing.

This isn't news.... since day 1, this was just how it was- and when someone 'covers' during a break, half the time they need to ask questions that are easier to deal with by just going and doing them.

[86toronado, BSN, RN]

"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."

Since I have been a nurse (a little over two years) I have taken a break (fully relieved of duty, off the floor, no one calling me or asking me for anything) a total of maybe four times. I often get 10 or 15 minutes to sit and eat while I chart, but if someone asks me to say; give a med, or take a phone call I am expected to get up and do it. And I work in a union facility.

[CrazierThanYou]

Correction, You are describing "employee at will." Right to work means that if you are hired into a union covered position you have a right to not to join the union if so desired, and still receive all perks and benefits.

Most hospitals don't prohibit breaks, they just leave it up to the nurse to schedule it to her convenience. Of course, the nurse usually doesn't find the time to ever take the break. Only real solution is that breaks are pre-scheduled & that the nurse then hands off the patients while off the unit, and covers for them when they get their break.

http://www.dol.gov/dol/topic/workhours/breaks.htm Breaks & Meal Periods

Laws and Regulations on This Topic

Federal law does not require lunch or coffee breaks. However, when employers do offer short breaks (usually lasting about 5 to 20 minutes), federal law considers the breaks as compensable work hours that would be included in the sum of hours worked during the work week and considered in determining if overtime was worked. Unauthorized extensions of authorized work breaks need not be counted as hours worked when the employer has expressly and unambiguously communicated to the employee that the authorized break may only last for a specific length of time, that any extension of the break is contrary to the employer's rules, and any extension of the break will be punished.

Bona fide meal periods (typically lasting at least 30 minutes), serve a different purpose than coffee or snack breaks and, thus, are not work time and are not compensable.

Your state law determines length & frequency of all breaks

.....

[MKS8806]

We have no missed punch forms that we can fill out if we forget to clock in, out, or don't get a meal break. It happens occassionally on our unit. We really try to make sure and cover for each other so that we all get a break, but when we are in our peak months, there are days that no one gets a break. Usually our manager knows when we are that busy and they'll order a pizza or something in for us. I always try to pack finger foods in my lunches, granola bars, etc, so that I can grabs something and run. Fortunately, this doesn't happen all the time. Also, our docs are very understanding as well. I remember having a labor patient on a busy day. I was quickely trying to swallow a sandwich (possibly in 3-4 bites, lol) when my doctor came in the break room. He chuckled and said, "please, chew your food! Its ok to eat!"

[concientiousdee]

Can anyone share what their unit does to encourage meal breaks. It is about time that we implement this and maintain this culture on our unit so that they nurse can be happier. Thanks.

[nicurn001]

We all started to use our employers system for reporting missed breaks , after a short period of paying us the penalty ( in CA 1 hour of pay / shift for missed breaks ) they decided it was easier / cheaper to give us our breaks .

[aloevera]

I guess you've all heard the joke about the gal that shows up in the ER....after careful exam.....empty stomach, full bladder, axx chewed out.....WOW She must be a nurse !!!

But in all honesty, I HAVE to eat and pee, so regardless of when or how, I manage to do both........maybe no 30 min break (never!!) but I do get some down time to make up for days with no break..........that is the nature of the business

we aren't filiing papers, you know, we are taking care of people !!!! we aren't on a schedule...........

[MN-Nurse, ASN, RN]

Just today.

Had (another) patient with all day intractable nausea and vomiting whose colonoscopy and EGD showed zero problems (who also claimed to be allergic to every med that might help with nausea - except ativan and dilaudid), another patient (and her daughter) who apparently think that a stay on a med surg floor is equivalent to staying at a Disneyland full-service hotel, a third total care pt with UTI on top of dementia, and an admit during the shift with sores, two neph tubes, a foley, colostomy, open incision, old fistula, a screaming rash and the prerequisite abd pain that responds to nothing.

I clocked out "no lunch".

[PediNurse3]

I have worked in a level I trauma center, the PICU, and now I'm in a clinic- and I can count the number of times that I've gone without lunch on one hand. I'm no good to anyone if I'm miserable so I have always made it a point to take care of myself- drinking, eating lunch, etc.

[CFitzRN, ADN]

This was but one of the many reasons I found hospital nursing incredibly undesirable. I started off working L&D and having few breaks, including no bathroom breaks at times. Someone in this thread said some hospital nurses are replaceable. They are not valued. That is exactly how it was in the hospital where I started my career. After only 3 months, I had enough and left. After working PRN for some doctors and a free-standing endo clinic, I lucked into the job I have now - a field nurse supervisor for a home health agency.

Now instead of feeling like an indentured servant, trapped inside the faceless, soulless beast that is a hospital, I have total flexibility. I am in the field 1-2 days per week, driving to client's homes, enjoying the weather and scenery, catching up with these patients who I have come to love (most of them... not all), meeting my husband for lunch when we want, meeting friends for lunch, stopping by the store if I need something (my boss gave me her blessing to do this - she trusts that I will never abuse it), no nights, no weekends, no holidays. There IS hope for nurses - you just have to find the right place.

Edited to add that the other 3 days per week I am in the office.

[nicurn001]

I guess you've all heard the joke about the gal that shows up in the ER....after careful exam.....empty stomach, full bladder, axx chewed out.....WOW She must be a nurse !!!

But in all honesty, I HAVE to eat and pee, so regardless of when or how, I manage to do both........maybe no 30 min break (never!!) but I do get some down time to make up for days with no break..........that is the nature of the business

we aren't filiing papers, you know, we are taking care of people !!!! we aren't on a schedule...........

NO ,NO ,NO it is not the nature of the business , it is your nature to let your employer take advantage of you .Put simply they are stealing from you , all those missed breaks add up to extra revenue and ensures the CEO gets adequately reimbursed , while you "manage" to get a potty break . If you choose to allow your employer to make a martyr of you carry on , on our floor the nurses acted together and now we have break nurses to cover us when we are at break , not a nurse who already has a patient assignment . This can be done but whilst you martyr mary's would rather 'manage" to get to the bathroom , than address the problem your employer will continue to laugh at you all the way to the bank .

[LvANrse80, ASN, BSN, CNA, LPN, RN]

Absolutely Common!!!!!! Happens all the time!!!! Join the club!!!!