REST BREAKS for Nurses in The ER

[AngelGirl]

Life in our ER is, no doubt, as busy and demanding as it is in yours. We work 12 hour shifts. I love the work. I love the pace. I do not, however, love both for hours on end without breaks.

We usual can get one thirty minute break. In a recent Charge Nurses meeting, however, our Nurse Manager advised that breaks in the ER will be "allowed," if possible, but are not required.

HUH?!!

I voiced my opinion in no uncertain terms, and have since taken the HEAT for it. I called the Labor Board and our local Union to clarify the rules. I've continued to advocate for regular breaks in the ER, to my own hurt, I'm afraid.

Yesterday, I received word that, due to my "frustration" with the ER, I am 'encouraged' to transfer to another unit.

Any comments?:uhoh21:

[Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN]

breaks in the ER will be "allowed," if possible, but are not required.

That's just assanine for any dept.

Are they going to provide Foleys for you all on the really busy days?? Sheesh.

[BabyRN2Be]

Yes, it is a labor law (at least in NC). If you work more than an 8 hour shift, you are REQUIRED to take a 30 minute break.

I've had several nights where I haven't had the chance to take a break, but neither have my co-workers. It's marked in a book by our charge nurse, and we get that time credited back to us in our paychecks. The charge nurse will call the cafeteria, and get us sandwiches, cookies, soda, and chips. We still eat, but it might not be in our usual fashion.

I get more frustrated at the smokers. If you smoke, don't take too much offense, but I get frustrated at those who make it a priority to go outside to smoke, while others do not get such breaks (or are at least less likely to take them). Hence part of the reason our hospital is going smoke free next year (don't see it happening well, but it's supposed to). :uhoh21:

Wow, that's a really cool NM you got there! I've never heard of a hospital doing that.

And, I agree with you on the smoking issue. :angryfire

[KatieBell]

Don't know why, but at all the hosptals I've worked at (5 now) when it gets insane it seems the physicians pull out the wallet and provide Pizza.

I've been lucky to work with mostly cool physicians who appreciate the work that the nurses do....

On a side note, a 30 minute break is a big deal in a busy department. Where I am now, no one takes a dinner break, but it is a small, not very busy rural hospital (But don;t tell them I said it wasn't too busy....they will throw a fit!). So I usually actually have time to sit and read a book whilst waiting for a patient. But in MOST places I have been, I had to get a break. When I was team leader, I insisted people take a break, because I felt that it allowed the brain to rest, and thus decrease med errors- or other errors.

[Sarah, RNBScN]

2 15 min. breaks (paid)

2 30 min. breaks (one paid)

1 11.25 hr. shift

[RosesrReder, BSN, MSN, RN]

wow, that is very unfair. Kuddos for standing up for yourself and don't stop now. It's your break, you need to eat and you deserve it. Maybe they can have someone on call to cover breaks, that's their problem not yours. True, the patients need you but unless you stand firm on your ground it might never change. (They need to have someone there to cover your earned break so the patient doesn't need you for the 30 mins.) Good luck

[TinyNurse, RN]

Angelgirl, that sucks!

I'll have to say that I got a rude awakening when I got to TN, after working in CA............

In a big level I in socal, the ER had one nurse that all he/she did was give breaks and lunches. I've never really understood how good the CNA was until I had my cali experience.

Here in TN noone takes breaks, I've tried to encourage other nurses that we can cover for each other, but noone wants to even do that. Instead, ALL of the staff eats at the nurses station, right out in the open. IMHO this is gross and not to mention a JACHO violation. I can't wait to go back to california!!!

One hospital I worked at actually had a "take your break" initiative in place, and the units really made it possible to "take your break".

I believe that it is vital to my emotional and physical well being that I step out of the ED for at least 30 minutes a shift. It's also beneficial to my patients and co-workers. I guess I'll wait til I get back to california to take a lunch.

[TazziRN, RN]

We also do 12-hr shifts. By our contract and the labor laws we are also entitled to 3 15-min breaks in a shift. Most of us will pass on the 15-min breaks, but if we don't get a meal break we claim it as overtime and get paid for it. There are only 2 RN's per shift in my ER, so if it's busy we need to get the house supe to relieve for meals. There is one supe who always finds an excuse not to relieve us, we think she's afraid of the ER in addition to being lazy, but the others are good about helping out if we need it.

At the last place I worked there was a nurse who complained about not getting her 15-min break, so it became mandatory to allow them. We were not required to take it, but if we wanted it they had to grant it.

If you can stand the heat, I'd say stick to your guns and stay there. I understand why admin is upset, but how do your coworkers feel about it? Do they support you?

[AngelGirl]

Thank you all for so many GOOD responses to this concern of mine. I've recently waged a gentle war with my supervisor re: breaks. The odds of winning not being in my favor, I chose to back off. Having stirred the pot by contacting the union representative, my nurse manager was anxious to place me elsewhere. He cited my "frustrations" with the ER as reason for me to take a position in another unit, which I have now done.

The doors to the ER are not closed to me, I am told. I can pick up extra shifts whenever I choose. And recently did work 28 out of 36 hours--

a 16 hour shift, followed closely by a 12 hour shift.

(I was 'allowed' one 30 minute break in each of those shifts).

For the ability to return to the ER, I am grateful. For the lack of attention paid to potential nursing burnout (DUH!), I have continued concerns.

Our typical shift is 12 hours of RUNNING. Work at this demanding pace without breaks is a breeding ground for poor judgment and unsafe practices. I believe that one day a grievous error will be committed and you-know-what will hit the fan.

The times that I approached my supervisor re: breaks were for me times of exhaustion after running for 5 or 6 hours. I'm sure that my delivery was not eloquent. I reminded him of the need for breaks, as well as the law regarding them. These 'arguments' were met with resistance, perceived as a challenge to his authority, and/or simply 'complaints' from an 'easily frustrated' nurse.

I suppose that I could have challenged his attitudes and decisions, but he could just as easily have cited examples of my 'poor responses to stress." It seemed that any further pushing on my part could easily find me pushed out of the ER altogether!

I overheard one of the male charge nurses say, "When I was in the Army, we NEVER took breaks!" I thought to myself, 'Well, guess what. You're not in the Army now and neither are we!'

BTW, our hospital's cafeteria opens at 6 a.m. and closes shortly after noon. It is closed every holiday and every weekend. If we want food while we run without breaks, we occasionally order pizza or Chinese, which we pay for ourselves. Our managers really couldn't care less.

Abuse of nurses leads to Nursing Burnout. And our hospitals wonder why there is a Nursing shortage.

Thanks again for your support.

AngelGirl

[nursemary9, BSN, RN]

Hi

It's labor law that you must be given a lunch break.

I worked for a hospital once and someone reported them for this--no lunch breaks; staying over and not getting paid; We were told it's our problem--we are not organized enough.

Well, time went on & one day I received this HUGE check in the mail.

Unknown to most of us, someone took this hospital on & reported them to the labor relations board. the hospital had to pay all employees there at that time a specified amout; plus the hospital was fined for breaking the law. They were also warned that should this happen again, a larger fine would be imposed.

In my current job, if we can't take a lunch break, we punch in a code--"no

lunch"-- and we are then paid tghe time.

Good Luck

Mary Ann

[JessicRN]

Hi

It's labor law that you must be given a lunch break.

I worked for a hospital once and someone reported them for this--no lunch breaks; staying over and not getting paid; We were told it's our problem--we are not organized enough.

Well, time went on & one day I received this HUGE check in the mail.

Unknown to most of us, someone took this hospital on & reported them to the labor relations board. the hospital had to pay all employees there at that time a specified amout; plus the hospital was fined for breaking the law. They were also warned that should this happen again, a larger fine would be imposed.

In my current job, if we can't take a lunch break, we punch in a code--"no

lunch"-- and we are then paid tghe time.

Good Luck

Mary Ann

Night staff working 12 hrs do not get any scheduled breaks in the ED what they get is paid for there lunch instead. In other words while the other staff starts at 0700 they finish at 1930 and do not get a paid lunch we start at 1915 and finsh at 1915. This is legal per the labor board in MA

[ratchetrn]

I ran into that same dilema, in the most recent staff meeting at my PRN job the director announced that meal breaks were a privledge not a requirement and he didn't want to see "no meal" written in the exception book any more! I realize there are times when we don't get breaks and we all sneak in the break room for a quick 5 here and there when we can but they take the 1/2 hour out whether we take a break or not, God forbid we clock in one minute early and they have to pay us for an extra 15 minutes!!...

[RN130]

Has any one participated in a meals and breaks greivance? lawsuit? campaign to change it? I am collecting info while filing a greivance. Nurses are their own worst enemies in this on many occasions. Still i suspect that if you work in a place that prioritizes breaks it will aslo be a place where nursing practice is valued.