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

1stloveistobeanurse · Feb 23, 2009

I am a nursing student as well, and I am currently looking for Tech work, to gain experience and work my way through school. Nursing is a second career for me, but I will tell you what in my first career the same thing applied I would work 12 often times 16 hours a day with no lunch break or pay for that matter I was always salary and never received o/t.

I say this to point out this, nursing is a profession just like several others I do see what the other poster is saying to a point - we all have to be able to stand up for ourselves. I am currently looking at a hospital to work at and gain experience, but I believe this has so much to do with environment, I will not give up my career for the wrong environment, because the truth of the matter is if the employer cares about the employee they will allow you to take your break and it would not matter if you are nurse, a tech, a cleaner or what. We are in a recession for God sakes, I am sure these employers have 1000 of apps waiting for my job, but if I can't take care of my own health how can I take care of the patients, you end up being no good to no one. I have a hospital that is looking at me and I am looking at this hospital, but this time, I am giving myself the opportunity to move forth in a career not just a job.

I also work in a non union state, and this happens often (my spouse is a correction officer and he dosnt get a lunch break, has to work over 40 hours with no pay) so I do understand. But remember not all union states have union hospitals, it is just nice to be able to organize as oppose to having to deal with things in these type of cases. In the meanwhile, I am struggling but I am making it, and I will be taking my lunch and going to the bathroom when needed if they want to fire me then go ahead we all can be replaced, and that works both ways.

Do what you have to do, but maybe its time to look else where, dont let anyone take advantage of you.

In my nursing class while I was going for my state lisc. I came home and told my hubby, I could not believe how many young women was widows because there spouse worked themselves in the grave and left them with a family and kids to support all by themselves - and guess what the job is not there now.

makes needs known · Feb 23, 2009

In NY state laws entitle employees to a lunch break after working 6 hrs.

1stloveistobeanurse · Feb 23, 2009

In NY state laws entitle employees to a lunch break after working 6 hrs.

This is one of the reasons I am in no hurry, I am trying to move back to NY because the laws here are not very favorable, I dont want to work in nursing without any hope of protection.

Where are you in NY

nicurn001 · Feb 23, 2009

The crux of this problem is the balance of power between Management and Nurses . What has been described on this thread is that Management has enough power ( which it had even during the boom times ) , to impose poor working conditions upon nurses .

In most places described in this thread , management is acting like the overseers in Oliver Twists workhouse .They can act so short sightedly because the Nurses allow themselves to be abused , The only people that can change this situation are the nurses and managment , if one side doesn't want to change and the other side is not willing to do anything , to make change happen , nothing will happen and threads like this will continue to be spawned in perpetuity , whilst NOTHING changes .

Christie RN2006 · Feb 23, 2009

Didn't you hear about the nurse they found dead in the parking lot? How did they know it was a nurse... because her stomach was empty her bladder full and her butt chewed off.

Anyways, where I work we are allowed a 30 minute and a 15 minute break. We all team up and try as hard as we can to get everyone at least one break. I think that only once over my 2.5 years of working there that I have taken both breaks! Most nights it is way too busy or I will have a patient that is way too unstable to leave for that much time. Most of the time we all end up taking a 30 minute break but inevitably the days come when you don't have time for anything except running. I will clock "no lunch" if I didn't get my 30 minutes because I will not work for free.

Fiona59 · Feb 23, 2009

How about the nurse who died and went straight to hell?

Took him two weeks to notice he wasn't at work...

Scrubby · Feb 23, 2009

i agree skipping meals is common especially bedside nurses....its not mandated that you should skip meals whenever possible because the management does allow nurses to have a 30 mins quick break....and its up to you if you will use that time to have a break considering that you handled 15 paTients,you had every 6 hours feeding,on going peritoneal dialysis,what do you think? maybe you will be freaking out because you are very exhausted,and unable or forgot to eat.remember the words "patient centered" so we all up to taking responsibilty what might happen if we leave them for 30 mins...it will ruin the pattern of your routines daily activity,sometimes i ate after my duty so that it will not be a conflict with my work..that is why before going in for a duty i eat a heavy breakfast for me not to be starving during the entire 8 hours.

What you are doing is NOT patient centred at all. Your putting your patients at risk because your not eating properly and will be unable to perform your duties as effectively.

For goodness sake get another nurse to keep an eye on your patients, do the same for them so they can have a meal as well. It's a little thing called teamwork and supporting each other.

As for the pattern of your routine being ruined, obviously it isn't a good one if it doesn't involve a meal break. :)

jjensen · Feb 23, 2009

I usually eat on the run and am lucky to ever get a full 30 minute for lunch... Even then, I keep my phone and am answering calls all the time... I am lucky to pee most days too...

mc3, ASN, RN · Feb 24, 2009

It struck me as I read these posts. The response of "well, you must have problems with time management because you can't get all your work done in ____ time." Hmm, could it be that all nurses everywhere have a common problem with time management? It it like a personality trait or something? I don't think so!!! I'm tired of hearing that as an excuse, and I'm tired of working hard for 0 dollars because I have to clock out at a certain time, and we can't get the extra people we need to get our jobs done on time :angryfire

mc3

nicurn001 · Feb 24, 2009

The nurse supervisor invoke poor time management , as a convenient charge to make against the bedside nurse for missing breaks ,has already won half the battle , because it puts you on the defensive and attacks one of the bases of nurses psyche ie. they should be able to cope with all that comes at them .

An accusation of Poor time managment , also conveniently takes the focus off of the real problem , poor staffing . So it is almost a reflex action , if faced with staff who want to take a legally required break , nursing supervisors will say you are a poor time manager , rather than they are poor human resource managers !.

kishinne · Feb 24, 2009

What you are doing is NOT patient centred at all. Your putting your patients at risk because your not eating properly and will be unable to perform your duties as effectively.
For goodness sake get another nurse to keep an eye on your patients, do the same for them so they can have a meal as well. It's a little thing called teamwork and supporting each other.
As for the pattern of your routine being ruined, obviously it isn't a good one if it doesn't involve a meal break. :)

I don't have anything to do with your opinion i just based it in my experience,i know the word teamwork dont have to say it....all i want is to share is my experience...that is why if u dont want to get hungry quickly eat a heavy breakfast, i tel you, you will not be starving for 8 hours u would still be alert in providing care with your patients...it is so exagerrated if you get your patient at risk if u dont eat..maybe its because we have different setting in a hospital.u can drink,u can seat in the station if your already finished with your task.so probably you can still rest.this will not get too much for you to experience hypoglycemia... :idea:

mscsrjhm · Feb 24, 2009

Sometimes, taking a lunch would put a big bite into my work schedule. It may seem like only 30 minutes, but playing "catch up" can drown me, and since my work IS taking care of people, I choose not to do that to myself, and especially not to my patients.

That 30 minutes can multiply itself very quickly into 2 hours overtime.

This isn't a time management problem- it is a task overload problem.

I get into a work mode, my mind clicking, prioritizing tasks- and my brain cannot always take a 30 minute stoppage. Like having to re-start a car to get it warm again. (Older cars take longer!!)

Most times, by not stopping to take a lunch, I am actually putting my patients before myself. They don't suffer for it- and I can grab quick bites, so I don't actually don't suffer either.