misskait

Hey all! I'm a new grad RN starting in a CNA position (to be transferred into a New Grad RN position once it opens) at a Magnet hospital in my area. My questions is mainly regarding the minor politics of nursing and 12 hours shifts. My new employer gives employees working over 10 hours the option to take two unpaid 30-minute meal periods, or to waive the second meal period (thus only taking one 30 minute break) between 1900 and 0730 for my night shift. *This does not include the required 15-minute paid breaks per CA law* I obviously can take the two 30 minute breaks, but is that frowned upon? Would it be better to just take the one required 30 minute break to make a good impression, show teamwork, etc.? In general, and if any of you are supervisors/charge nurses/directors, do you suggest waiving the second meal period? I want to be healthy and take my required lunch, but I also want to fit into the norm of what the other nurses on the units do.

Thank you all for the encouragement! With the demands of full-time nursing as well as the demands of seminary, I wouldn't ever want to stretch myself too thin, but your comments and advice have been very helpful and encouraging! Seems like it may be time for me to take a step of faith

My question or topic in general is related to nursing and ministry. I recently graduated with my BS and got hired after 10 months (patience tester!) into a Magnet Hospital. I am so excited to start there, it's on one of their specialized ICUs, and I couldn't be happier. Another passion of mine though has been Christian ministry. I was involved in student leadership throughout high school, and even took this past year after graduation to invest in part-time ministry while searching for my first RN job. Have any of you pursued both nursing and ministry, and what did that look like? What about nursing and seminary? I in no way plan to give up nursing, but rather see both my passions as two that can grow simultaneously. I would love to continue getting RN experience full-time, while taking part-time seminary classes on the side. I know many people say I could just work as an RN and volunteer in my church, but I really see my heart aching to do both and be equally as flexible with both (i.e. be able to transition from full-time nursing to full-time ministry, or any full-time/part-time combination of both as God leads me). Any thoughts on this combination of work in general?

Jetblitz, I am not in Texas but came across your thread. I just got hired at a hospital in Orange County (where I live), and am considering also doing part-time studies at Talbot School of Theology. Did you end up joining seminary, and if so how has that worked for you doing both seminary and nursing? God bless! Kait