I went to a workshop yesterday and the head of "Team Resources" or whatever we are calling personnel dept. these days said that in Florida there are no laws requiring mandatory breaktime, only you must be paid for time spent working. So we can work 12 hours without a break and not blame our employer, but they are required to pay us if we miss a break.
Any other states not have mandated breaks? Seems to me North Carolina had some labor laws requiring employers to give breaks.
Of course, out of the goodness of their hearts our hospital allows for breaks, but it doesn't HAVE to by law. Interesting.
I take breaks, believe in breaks, and demand "my" coworkers take a break when I'm in charge.
Does anybody know any profession anywhere that a bathroom break...at least..... is even an issue? Nursing sucks!!
Yesssss! Motherhood! :rotfl:
When my kids were small, it took a major miracle to occur for me to get a potty break without an audience! :chuckle
Kids have absolutely NO respect for their mothers need to void, eat, or sleep. THEN...we go to work as nurses and find out that nothing's changed away from home only it isn't our kids causing the problem, but our growup patients, visitors, doctors, other staff calling on us no matter what situation we're in, the beeper's going off, the phone is ringing incessantly, and all we want time to do is take a "PEEEEEEEEEEEE break!"
"I wonder how many Admins and Managers got their breaks yesterday at my hospital? USA wide? How many times did they get to go potty? Read their email on the job? Call home and check on the kids...the pets...the hubby or wife?"
You got it, cheerful. And they laugh at people who don't take them, wondering why they/we are such suckers.
Is a "no breaks" policy alive and well in ANY union environment, however weak and feeble the union might otherwise be?
I'll have to give you that one!!!! You're right!!! Try having an adult "child" with Bipolar Disorder who is allergic to Lithium and has tried so many other prescribed unsuccessful drugs that she turned to illegal street drugs!! I long for the days when she stood outside the bathroom wanting her mama ...as a toddler...at least I could control that situation! That's why I work agency....it's the only control I have!!!
Break???? what is that anyway. any time I try to take one, I am called back on the unit, for something that could have waited 15 min more.
I had a family member yell at me because I was in the bathroom and wasn't readily availble to them to answer thier most unimportant question. but I spoke right back to them that I had every right to use the bathroom.
Or if something happens to one of the residents it's always "where was the nurse"
well I was off the unit getting a soda from the vending machine, oh the scandle
Now I just go into the back room and shut the door, mostly to block out the noise from my "screamers" and sure enough before I can even get comfortalbe in the chair
Boy am I glad I work in Washington state. They must give you 30 mins if you work more than five hours, and that break must be given in between 2-5hr into your work day. They must also give you a ten min break for each 4 hrs that you work. You can give up your right to a meal break, but not your rest breaks. Also if you work 3hrs beyond your shift, they must give you another 30min break!
I'm a manager and I encourage all of my staff to take a break sometime during their shift, whether they smoke or not. If a patient/doctor/family asks to speak to that nurse, I encourage staff to say "they had to go off the floor" rather than "they're at break". Seems to be less aggravating to the person wanting to speak to the nurse. I know, I know, the public should realize that everyone has the right to get a break but using the right phrase sometimes diffuses the situation. Using wireless phones has helped, and the nurses seem to feel better about leaving the unit, knowing someone can get ahold of them if needed. I spend a ridiculous amount of time addressing excessive breaks with the abusers.
I live in MA and our staff meeting last week turned into a hullaballu about breaks. Who takes them, who doesn't, who smokes, who doesn't. NM came down with the decree that everyone should take a lunch, we pass off info about our patients to our assigned "partner" for the break. She also decided that one "smoke break" wether we smoke or not is enough. HR got wind of it and took care of her... MA labor law states two 15 minute breaks (paid) and one 1/2 hour lunch. So we are back to the irresponsible who take a 1/2 hour breakfast and a 45 minute lunch on day shift (been there and seen it) and the irresponsible who take a 45 minute dinner on evenings (been there seen it).
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
Originally posted by Brownms46
Boy am I glad I work in Washington state. They must give you 30 mins if you work more than five hours, and that break must be given in between 2-5hr into your work day. They must also give you a ten min break for each 4 hrs that you work. You can give up your right to a meal break, but not your rest breaks. Also if you work 3hrs beyond your shift, they must give you another 30min break!
Anyone ready to move here:D!
I'm in Washington State -- and although these may be the rules, it doesn't always happen that way. I've been a nurse for 25 years, and have ALMOST always gotten my meal breaks, but I work with a lot of folks who claim they're "too busy." Believe me, in 25 years I've learned that there isn't much that can't wait 15 minutes for you to take a well-earned break. CPR can't wait, active and copius bleeding maybe. But your charting, routine meds, and changing your IV tubing can generally wait. People need to make the effort to PLAN for a break -- and then they'll be far more likely to actually get to take them.
This is pathetic, people. How are people going to respect us if we don't respect ourselves and each other.? To not refresh our minds by taking breaks occasionally, and refresh our bodies by taking nourishment,-and fighting for the right to do so-we are abusing ourselves. Why is everything and everybody so all- important that we neglect ourselves and each other? Why are we continually fighting within our ranks?I hope that before I pass on, I wil live to see the nursing profession become a TRUE profession-not some pseudo profession that is so altruistic and denial oriented that it's members are continuallly abused and overworked by OTHER PROFESSIONS who make all it's decisions for us, while we just take it and "not make waves?" Heaven help us-yes even you nurses who feel that you are a super nurse and that patient care is ALL THAT MATTERS while your health, mental status and family head downward. That's what "real nursing" is? NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!
agencynurse
4 Posts
Does anybody know any profession anywhere that a bathroom break...at least..... is even an issue? Nursing sucks!!