Sitter breaks

[permanentnights]

Who does the 1:1 sitter breaks on your unit? I know we are bound by state law and union contracts, but we are often left sitting for an hour. They take their two 15 minute breaks and 30 minute lunch break all at once. That of course, leaves our patients unattended, except for emergencies and pretty well assures we will have no break. Do other hospitals send around someone to relieve the sitters or does nursing do it?

[j0yegan]

The PCA's are supposed to relieve the sitters. Since we are always short of PCA's, the nurses end up doing it, which I find dangerous because we can't care for our own patients. They take a 30 minute lunch break. I honestly don't see why the sitters just can't eat their lunch in the patient's room.

[permanentnights]

I guess what I really hate is they lump up all their breaks together and expect me to sit for a whole hour. It's too long away from my patients. I also think they should be "breaking" up the breaks, not clumping them together.

[msygrnbw]

As a PCT who was pulled to sit quite a few times, it varied between the RN and PCT that was assigned to the room. Most times it was PCT unless they were incredibly busy. However, we only took a 30 minute break and bathroom breaks if/as staffing with the RN/PCT allowed.

[ChristineN, BSN, RN]

The PCA's are supposed to relieve the sitters. Since we are always short of PCA's the nurses end up doing it, which I find dangerous because we can't care for our own patients. They take a 30 minute lunch break. I honestly don't see why the sitters just can't eat their lunch in the patient's room.[/quote']

Because eating your lunch while working goes against the very definition of a lunch break, which every employee is intitled to.

[KeepItRealRN, BSN, RN]

They should not allowed to lump their lunch break and two 15 minute breaks. That ties up one person far too long. They are entitled to their 30 minute lunch and two 15 minute breaks and it is much safer for everyone if they take them that way. If the sitters are having a problem with this then the charge nurse or manager needs to step up.

[KeepItRealRN, BSN, RN]

Because eating your lunch while working goes against the very definition of a lunch break, which every employee is intitled to.

Not only that it is a JACHO violation

[VANurse2010]

Agreed with above, lumping the fifteen minute breaks and 30 minute lunch should absolutely not be allowed. It's called two fifteen minute breaks and 30 minute lunch - not an hour break - for a reason. PCTs should be relieving this person for lunch.

[Gabby-RN]

The pct's cover the breaks. If its really busy the charge nurse will have 2 people split covering the break. Maybe you could suggest that where you work.

[NOADLS]

In private settings, I've found some 1:1 sitters remain in the room with their patient on break so that no one realizes what an easy job they have and they can come back just to sit there day after day even if they aren't actually needed.

[USMCRN2015]

From a student standpoint, as well as a CNA, 1:1s are not always an easy job. Especially when hospitals loop them into a 1:1 or a 3 person as 2 are just "benefitting" which usually means they are worse than the actual patient requiring the 1:1. We are often "forgotten about" and not relieved for any type of break, nor when the shift is over. There are times the patient sleeps the whole time, and others where they should be restrained but they aren't as the hospital is pushing for a discharge, so they just tell us to handle it. I've been kicked, spat on, feces thrown at me, so that half hour break is a welcome.

[BSNbeauty, BSN, RN]

The PCA's are supposed to relieve the sitters. Since we are always short of PCA's, the nurses end up doing it, which I find dangerous because we can't care for our own patients. They take a 30 minute lunch break. I honestly don't see why the sitters just can't eat their lunch in the patient's room.

Who would want to eat lunch in a patients' room? Even though sitters are "just" sitting, they still need an uninterrupted break.