Not taking a break

[Yellow90]

Nurses take your breaks! I know some of you are thinking "easier said than done". I am well aware of that. I work on a very busy PCU / Tele floor where 1 patient is going to CT, one has to go surgery, and one of the doctors wants to round with you all at the same time. When I first started I always missed my breakfast break. Now I make it a priority.I have had those days when I have taken my breakfast break at 11:30am and lunch at 4:00pm, that is super late. I very rarely miss my breakfast break, but I will always take my lunch. Once taken, I am a happier me!

If someone has not ate, you have a short-temper and low tolerance for problems. Even if not, your tummy is not happy and neither are you. This makes our job ten times harder, but this is a situation we have some control over. Once you take your break, take your full break. We will always have something to do and never have enough time to do everything. Prioritize patient care and yourself in the mix. Not taking a break will put you at higher risk for burnout syndrome.

TIPS:

Charting--> Don't wait till the end of the day to do all your charting. Chart as you go and as it happens.

Find your break buddy at the start of shift. Yes I live in California, but my facility does not have a special break nurse.

getting water for your patient ---> drink a glass of water also (that's something I have to remember also) :)

Before you think you might take your break --> check all your patient's and give all the PRN if needed --> that way you have a some piece of mind, then run and take your break

It is your responsibility to take your breaks and to take care of yourself. We give all day, so give back to yourself. You are also a priority.

Everyone please provide your tips!!!!

Rest Breaks Matter for Patient Safety

The Long- Term Effects of Nurses Not taking their breaks

[blondy2061h, MSN, RN]

I don't always get a 30 minute uninterrupted lunch break, but I always eat and stay hydrated and use the facilities when needed.

[EllaBella1, BSN]

Easier said than done.

[Yellow90]

I don't always get a 30 minute uninterrupted lunch break, but I always eat and stay hydrated and use the facilities when needed.

Same here. An "uninterrupted" lunch break would be glorious.

[loriangel14, RN]

I work 12s. On days we get 15 minutes x 2 for coffee and 45 minutes for lunch. They are scheduled and enforced.It doesn't matter what you are doing. You go to break. On nights we take 2 hours all at once.

[SmilingBluEyes]

I am a "older" nurse with a "few" years under my belt and have worked quite a few places. I choose to work now, where lunch is not only a "good" thing but mandatory. And I get my lunch 99 percent of the time. It's a good thing going.

[Sour Lemon]

I always get a lunch break in California where we have a ratio of five to one in med/surg. When I worked in another state and had eight patients along with another eight (assigned to an LVN) to cover, it rarely happened. And my "break buddy" would not have had time to watch my eight, their eight and cover 16 while I was gone.

[Yellow90]

I always get a lunch break in California where we have a ratio of five to one in med/surg. When I worked in another state and had eight patients along with another eight (assigned to an LVN) to cover, it rarely happened. And my "break buddy" would not have had time to watch my eight, their eight and cover 16 while I was gone.

I have never worked outside of California I can only imagine the stress you must have felt. Even though I work in California, I have come across a few nurses who do not take their breaks. I try to insist for them to go, but they don't. I'm glad to see in the poll so far majority do not miss their lunch. I hope other states see the benefit in having a ratio.

[LongislandRN23]

I make it a priority to take my lunch break- which is 1 hour and unpaid. I usually figure out what time another nurse can cover my patients and then prioritize from there, I will try and do as much of my documentation, clarification, ect prior to going on my break.

Also when I do go on break o give report to whoever is covering me and I always physically leave the building to eat so no one can come barging into the break room and annoy me.

In addition on the very rare days that I am unable to take a break I will fill out a variance for 1 hour of OT for no break, I will also fill out a variance for staying past the end of my shift if it was busy, or just got an admission at change of shift ect.

[martymoose, BSN, RN]

must be nice. I end up signing my people off- and I always come back to hell breaking loose. Bleeding, falling, not toileted. I dont trust anyone to watch my people. they just dont do it.And Im still liable for those pt's outcomes. Its too stressfull.Plus even if I found someone I could trust, they are now watching 12 people on an intermediate stepdown floor. Not good.

[Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN]

I usually make my 30 min. lunch break a priority. If I can't, or if it's interrupred, I always document it so I get paid for it. (DOL says that the unpaid break must be uninterrupted to count.) I don't typically take the 15 min breaks, although working in an ICU there is often some downtime unless the patient/s are very unstable. So after asking if my colleagues need help, if they're doing okay I might go make a cup of coffee or call home, or lots of times we socialize on the clock, so I don't feel like I'm suffering or feel like the hospital is getting free work from me.

I always drink water and pee when I need to, though. I get anxious and nauseated when dehydrated, almost to the point where it feels like working sick. So if nothing else, if pt is very unstable I'll ask the charge nurse to watch my patient for 5 minutes while I have some water.

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

"It is your responsibility to take your breaks and to take care of yourself. "

A fellow nurse giving me another responsibility! I already have responsibilities coming out of my ying -yang.

The ability to get a break.. depends entirely on the individual unit. I have worked on units where I got 3 breaks in 8 hours. I also worked in a float pool, and I was pulled every 4 hours to a different unit.. a break was NOT going to happen.

Please enter the real world.