Published
The 12 hour midnight shift at my pesent (19 months) assignment gets to go home at 7AM instead of 7:30 AM, so we are not allowed a break(days gets 1 half hour lunch and three 15 minute breaks, and somehow this is supposed to add up here.....) there are usually only 2 RN's on my floor, so leaving the floor is never an option anyway!
Now, on other assignemtns I have gone to the empty canteen to read......at one HUGE hospital they had a "sleep room" set up!(Never used it....afraid I might talk in my sleep or something!)
Originally posted by TIREDmidnightRNThe 12 hour midnight shift at my pesent (19 months) assignment gets to go home at 7AM instead of 7:30 AM, so we are not allowed a break(days gets 1 half hour lunch and three 15 minute breaks, and somehow this is supposed to add up here.....) there are usually only 2 RN's on my floor, so leaving the floor is never an option anyway!
Now, on other assignemtns I have gone to the empty canteen to read......at one HUGE hospital they had a "sleep room" set up!(Never used it....afraid I might talk in my sleep or something!)
Ummm...not to argue but, there are laws that require employees get a break... no matter the shift or hours worked. I can't quote it because... well... I don't KNOW it. But breaks ARE required.
Can't leave the floor? You can still break. Just find a place semi-away from the main hub-bub of the work and take a few minutes to let your mind rest. Then, offer the same break for the other RN you work with.
I'm among the many who cheat myself out of my well-deserved break, but, I do try to take a few moments as I described up above. Gotta give the ole brain time to rest and recharge, yanno?
A break - nurses get breaks???
If it is quiet - doubtful - I read trashy 'Bridget-Jones' type novels. If it is slow - doesn't happen - and there is an empty room, 'Law & Order' at 0300 - when are they going to get new episodes. If all h*** has broken loose and the order finally restored!!!!! I run up and down the stairs to de-stress (I am waiting for security to have me committed). Since I am usually in Charge, I can rarily go very far.
fedupnurse
790 Posts
I work nights. SOme of our staff nap, some eat, some play on the computer. Last fall we have the Leonid Meteor showers and a colleague and I went to the beach on our break to watch it. It was the coolest thing I have ever seen in my life! Do any of you do interesting or unusual stuff during your break at work????