Short Rant Alert!

[AcuteHD]

Nurses are highly trained professionals that make positive impacts in peoples lives every day. So are plumbers, electricians, mechanics, and any other worth while profession. I am soooo over nurses whining about not being appreciated and the over glorification of nursing and nurses. I am NOT that needy and don't think it's a good look for us.

[Horseshoe, BSN, RN]

I am one of the worst regarding taking bathroom breaks and lunch breaks.

But honestly, we can't blame the job for lack of bathroom breaks (30 minute lunches can be more problematic). It literally takes a couple of minutes to go to the bathroom, and unless you are in the midst of a code or rapidly deteriorating patient, we can only blame ourselves for our own refusal to take the time to use the restroom. And every time I've let 12 hours go by without visiting the restroom, it's because I made that choice. It's a matter of prioritizing, and it's the rare patient who cannot survive for 120 seconds while their nurse makes a quick trip to the bathroom.

We need to stop saying "I don't get a bathroom break" and be more honest in saying "I didn't take time to stop and use the restroom today." Yes, we're very busy, but we won't get significantly busy if we empty our bladders twice in a shift. We really won't.

[Horseshoe, BSN, RN]

I am one of the worst regarding taking bathroom breaks and lunch breaks.

But honestly, we can't blame the job for lack of bathroom breaks (30 minute lunches can be more problematic). It literally takes a couple of minutes to go to the bathroom, and unless you are in the midst of a code or rapidly deteriorating patient, we can only blame ourselves for our own refusal to take the time to use the restroom. And every time I've let 12 hours go by without visiting the restroom, it's because I made that choice. It's a matter of prioritizing, and it's the rare patient who cannot survive for 120 seconds while their nurse makes a quick trip to the bathroom.

We need to stop saying "I don't get a bathroom break" and be more honest in saying "I didn't take time to stop and use the restroom today." Yes, we're very busy, but we won't get significantly more busy if we empty our bladders twice in a shift. We really won't.

[Mavrick, BSN, RN]

I survived 60 posts (and a repeater), took a 90 second bathroom break and made it back to glorify myself for having survived 62 posts.....

[Farawyn]

I survived 60 posts (and a repeater), took a 90 second bathroom break and made it back to glorify myself for having survived 62 posts.....

You time your bathroom breaks?

[Mavrick, BSN, RN]

You time your bathroom breaks?

Not always. After reading some posts about nurses not taking pee breaks I wondered, "Well, how long does it take to go flippin' pee anyway?" So I began to take an informal timing of myself and noticed I can leave my station, take the break and be back at my station in about 90 seconds. And that includes washing my hands but finishing the drying by waving my arms while walking.

I totally agree with Horseshoe; We need to stop saying "I don't get a bathroom break" and be more honest in saying "I didn't take time to stop and use the restroom today." Yes, we're very busy, but we won't get significantly more busy if we empty our bladders twice in a shift. We really won't.

It's a choice and poor prioritizing from the bladder's point of view.

[SleeepyRN]

I agree that every profession/vocation/career/job has incredible value.

My concern is for patient safety. So being understaffed AND getting the blame(cursing, yelling, endless complaining) for not being on top of everyone's needs at the very moment they are needed, well, yeah...I take great issue with that.

Other careers are understaffed as well. The lowly employee is blamed as well. And that REALLY sucks for them. But if a man is out sick, well, waiting another day is not going to injure anyone.

I however HAVE to get my meds passed, assessments done, treatments and documentation done REGARDLESS of how short staffed we are.

[anh06005, MSN, APRN, NP]

Every nurse gets 1 hr each 8 hr shift. No exceptions. If you try to skip your lunch you will get everything short of physically forced off the floor.

Where do you work??? Any job openings?

When I was on the floor (12 hour shifts) I had 30 minutes for lunch but rarely got the entire 30 minutes. Supposed to get 15 minute breaks before and after lunch too but since I didn't smoke I rarely thought to use them.