Nurses not taking breaks

What is it with nurses not taking their breaks? No matter where they work, whether it be hospital, community etc we seem to have a problem. I understand that they have a lot of work to do but surely its more important to take a break and recuperate which will lessen the chance of mistakes been made. I feel refreshed when I take forty five mins which I must emphasize is on my own outside of the building. I almost feel angry that this time is not catered for due to the culture we work in - like guilty sheep. When will there ever be a stop to this.

You get 45 minutes! WOW At my last job in LTC I averaged 30 to 40 patients. Yes I had helpers but if I were to take a 30 minute uninterrupted lunch break I would always come back to absolute chaos - somebody fell, two admits roll through the door, floor staff got hurt you name it. I just stayed on the floor but my shifts are 8 hours. The state I live in penalizes employer's if staff don't get breaks so I would get paid 1.5 hours for the missed 30 minute break - but still I would much rather have had the rest.

Hppy