So do you actually take your breaks?

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At my job, we work 8 1/2 hr shifts.. so were suppose to get 2 15 min and a 30 min lunch. The 2 15 min are paid, but the 30 minute isnt.. none of my other coworkers take breaks at all... And when i ask to take my 30 miunte unpaid lunch they make me feel guitly about it! Why would I work when Im not getting paid!!?? Is this unreasonable?? Im wondering how many other people take their breaks? Also, Im the only PCA on the floor, so while im on lunch noone else is there to 'cover' my break, so the PCA on the other floor would have to watch over it while still watching her floor...

Specializes in OB/GYN,PHN, Family Planning.

When I worked in L&D we were lucky to get 10 min to eat. We had no coverage for any kind of break or meal. You inhaled your food when you got a chance. If there was a rare chance to sit and eat- inevitably your pt would call and need help because she just threw up all over the bed. After 10 years of this I finally said enough and now work in a clinic setting where you get all your breaks, weekends and holidays off. Less money but greater quality of life.

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The only person who gets a break where I work is the PCA. She takes her breaks and pretty much ours too since she has to walk off campus to smoke. Each of her breaks is at least 25 minutes long and she takes at least 3 in an 8 hour shift, not including her lunch. Meanwhile, we have to cover her. Lunch is at our desks but unfortunately for me my desk is in a "no food" area. If I'm lucky I get 10 minutes for lunch. My first break this past tuesday occurred 2 1/2 hours after my shift was supposed to have ended and consisted of me walking in the door to my house and eating cold left-over pizza straight from the box I found on the stove... while standing there still in my coat...crying because I was so happy it was there.

So this person is getting paid for 8 hours and is only working 6?

Why are y'all letting her get away with this?

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Specializes in Med surg, LTC, Administration.

Take your break, and don't worry what anyone thinks. We as nurses tend to talk health, but not practice it. Peace!

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Specializes in LTC, med/surg, hospice.

I take my 30 min. lunch most of the time or I will stretch it to 45minutes if I'm not too busy since I don't take a 15min break.

I don't wait on anybody to take my lunch because you never know what may come up. I'm still available if needed for my patients.

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The only person who gets a break where I work is the PCA. She takes her breaks and pretty much ours too since she has to walk off campus to smoke. Each of her breaks is at least 25 minutes long and she takes at least 3 in an 8 hour shift, not including her lunch. Meanwhile, we have to cover her. Lunch is at our desks but unfortunately for me my desk is in a "no food" area. If I'm lucky I get 10 minutes for lunch. My first break this past tuesday occurred 2 1/2 hours after my shift was supposed to have ended and consisted of me walking in the door to my house and eating cold left-over pizza straight from the box I found on the stove... while standing there still in my coat...crying because I was so happy it was there.

This is a damn shame! :crying2:

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Specializes in Peds/Neo CCT,Flight, ER, Hem/Onc.
So this person is getting paid for 8 hours and is only working 6?

Why are y'all letting her get away with this?

Because she's a complete wackadoo that we are pretty sure would come in and mow us down with an AK47 if we complain about her. No really, I mean it. She's very,very scary! If a nurse expresses even the slightest disapproval with her work (actually it's more like her lack of work) she runs to HR and files a complaint against that nurse for creating a "hostile working environment" and "bullying" which then goes into our personnel file even if their investigation doesn't find anything.

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Specializes in Hospice, ONC, Tele, Med Surg, Endo/Output.

Now that i am in hospice i take my break when i want to take it--usually at McDonald's or Taco Bell for a bathroom break. :lol2:

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So i go into work today, and after 6 hrs of work, told the other pca im taking my lunch. She rolled her eyes and said ok. Freaking rediculous, I make sure ALL of my patients are toileted and even tell the frequet call bellers "hey do you need anything? because im taking my break" so the pca on the other floor hardly ever has to do anything, unless there was an emergency, like they fell or something...which never happened yet. So im in the breakroom and the pager goes off for MY FLOOR, keeps ringing, keeps ringing... so finally after 10 minutes i threw my lunch away and went back to work. UGHH.

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Because she's a complete wackadoo that we are pretty sure would come in and mow us down with an AK47 if we complain about her. No really, I mean it. She's very,very scary! If a nurse expresses even the slightest disapproval with her work (actually it's more like her lack of work) she runs to HR and files a complaint against that nurse for creating a "hostile working environment" and "bullying" which then goes into our personnel file even if their investigation doesn't find anything.

Boy I haven't run into to many of those types but I have run into a couple of those, really ashame. I wish the smoking in facilities would be stopped. So many people complain about this and I mean really complain, everywhere I have worked.

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I don't understand this, if the other staff are leaving for their break who is covering for their patients? If it is you then when they get back you need to say okay it is my turn and they can cover for you. You need your break and have every right to take it as your coworkers.

If there is work still that needs to be done it will be waiting for you when you get back, and if you can't get it done in your shift, leave it for the next shift, and ignore their complaining, nursing is a 24 hour job and maybe some of the baths and dressings need to be left to the next shift, or the next day. Don't feel guilty for not getting everything done, sometimes it is impossible and we should be working as a team with the goal to provide the best care for our patients. These should not be my patients and your patients they should be our patients and we can help each other - and insure we don't allow anyone to burnout.

If you don't take a break and just keep plowing through, you will burn out and management doesn't care if it is you or someone else doing the job. They will just assume that you are able to handle the workload now so they will give you more to do. Look after yourself first, so you can look after your patients with all the energy and compassion that they deserve and in the end you will be a better nurse for it.

I agree we should all work together but the sad thing is alot of people are not team players. You know it would be nice if someone where to say can I help you with anything I've done it. Not all people are like this. One of the facilities I worked at you where assigned a specific hall and you stayed there. I agree with you they are everyones patients. The comment I hate the most is that's not my patient let so and so know. Drives me crazy and one of the reasons I feel I have to personally worry about getting my own things done. Your thought are appreciated but somehow this doesn't always work. I think that is where the word burn out came from.

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Specializes in Peds/Neo CCT,Flight, ER, Hem/Onc.
Boy I haven't run into to many of those types but I have run into a couple of those, really ashame. I wish the smoking in facilities would be stopped. So many people complain about this and I mean really complain, everywhere I have worked.

That's the kicker. We ARE a "smoke-free" facility. That's why she has to walk off campus to do it. I could go on and on about the nonsense but don't want to hijack the thread

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Specializes in ER / ICU.

I try to take my breaks, but rarely do I have enough time to get done what needs to be done without breaks...so taking breaks makes it near impossible on most nights. It's frustrating, but I can't figure out a better way to make it work.

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