What do you do on your break?

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I will come back and post what I do during my break.

Please share what you do during yours. If you are not taking one, please explain why not.

Thanks :smokin:

Specializes in family medicine.

Sleep!

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How long are you supposed to get for a lunch/breaks? In a hospital 8 hours.

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Specializes in LTC.

Sometimes, I go outside to talk on my cell phone. Other times I eat in the breakroom.

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How long are you supposed to get for a lunch/breaks? In a hospital 8 hours.

Varies by state law I believe. In KS, its a 30 minute unpaid lunch if you have a scheduled shift of 6 hours or more. Not sure if the 15 minute paid breaks are by law or not but they say we get 2.

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Specializes in Med-Surg/urology.
A lot of the time, it's a matter of just taking your break. You're entitled to your breaks, and the work can wait for a few minutes for you to get a breather. I miss my breaks sometimes too, but skipping your breaks all of the time is one of the big things that causes aides to get burnt out.

If a person has to wait 10-15 minutes to get their shower once in a while, they'll survive. Take your breaks!

And for heavens sake, don't clock out for your break and then continue to work. That can cause a ton of problems - legal ones. Like if state were to discover you did this, your facility would be in huge trouble, and I'm willing to bet you would, too!

I agree. Sometimes we're soooo short staffed that I don't get a break. In the past(at a former job), I've worked while I was "clocked out". I really didn't have a choice- either clock out or don't get paid.

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Specializes in geriatrics, dementia, ortho.

I sometimes take my two 12-minute breaks, depending on which hall I have and what my residents are doing that day. I always take my 30-minute lunch, since I'm not paid for it anyway, and I'm always STARVING by the time it rolls around. I usually pack a lunch and eat in the breakroom (no TV in there, so it's fairly quiet). Depending on who else is in there, I might chat with them, or I might put on my headphones and block out the world. If it's been a really stressful night I will go out to my car just for the quiet.

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Won't do much good but make my coworkers resent me, and that when they start setting you up.

Yeh, I know what you mean. At job I complained about not getting linens and now the housekeeping dogs me. For example I am the only one they get on to when I bring the hamper in the hallway at the end of shift. So much favouritism. I am constantly reminded that I am just a poop scooper.

I chose this profession for I hate offices and I like helping people. It was a joy on the rehab section.

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inhale liquidz. inhale foodz. if having bad day, speed dial family member and shamelessly cryz. laugh at motivational quote posted next to "DO NOT TAKE FODD NOT YOUS" and "attention employees, your monthly salary qualifies you for federal aid." blank out momentarily before being silently dragged back to work. tmi but does anyone else discover a nasty film on their lips upon going on break? every time. without fail for me :(

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Does anyone else discover a nasty film on their lips upon going on break?

What is it exactly?

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I agree. Sometimes we're soooo short staffed that I don't get a break. In the past(at a former job), I've worked while I was "clocked out". I really didn't have a choice- either clock out or don't get paid.

I've been in similar situations, but I will no longer do it. I would flat out refuse - I will not work on an unpaid lunch break, and I will not work off the clock. And if a facility tried to force me to, I would consider legal action, to be honest. I'm a good worker, I take excellent care of my residents, and I am not opposed to working hard - but I'm not going to kill myself for them for free.

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But yeah, when we are so short that I don't get my lunch break, I do make sure I get paid for it. I fill out a timecard adjustment form and I make sure the pay is there when I get my paycheck!

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LOL.... The concept of a 'break' is foreign to me. Being that I dont smoke I dont get that excuse. So i end up running call lights while all the others are on break.

That reminds me of 1 time I was left on the hall by myself. I stayed in a room and kept busy. The call lights went on. Next I heard a nurse page the other CNAs.

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