What about breaks?

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Hi everyone,

I have orientation on monday, i am just starting a new job at a long term care facility. I was just wondering how many breaks do you get during a 8 to 12 hour shift? Is lunch usually a half hour or hour? I know it varies per state and/or facility but what is your facilities policy on this.

Thank you, :)

dee

Ummm... my job is union. I can count on one hand the times I have taken a "lunch" away from the floor. And I can count on no hands the amount of time I have taken a full half hour.

A half hour is deducted from pay though.

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I work 12 hour shifts in L&D, we are automatically deducted 30 minutes for lunch each day. The thing that irritates me most about this job is that we NEVER EVER get our breaks. I have not once in the 4 months I have worked this job seen anyone take a lunch break other than eating bites at the desk in between patient care. I was actually reprimanded for taking a 5 minute smoke break when I first started working there. (yes, yes, nurses shouldn't smoke, whatever!) But its the point of the matter. Needless to say I don't smoke at work anymore, but it just burns my britches every time I get paid and I'm deducted all this time for breaks that I not only don't get a chance to take, but am actually reprimanded if I do!

You should report that to the labor board. If you're being docked, you are supposed to get the break. Are you clocked out on those breaks?

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Specializes in Critical Care/ICU.

12 hour shifts: 3 - 15 minute breaks and a 30 minute unpaid lunch/dinner break.

(night shift usually combines one of the 15 minute breaks for a 45 minute lunch break)

8 hr shifts: 2 - 15 minute breaks and a 30 minute unpaid lunch break.

This is the law in California.

The thing I love about my unit is that we're literally forced to take our breaks. In four years, there's never been a time when I didn't get one of my breaks.

Lucky, lucky, lucky.

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You should report that to the labor board. If you're being docked, you are supposed to get the break. Are you clocked out on those breaks?

It will depend on what state the poster resides in. Some states actually stipulate in their laws that nurses are exempt from the requirements other employees benefit from. :nono:

Thankfully I do not live in one of them.

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I'm a relatively new CNO who is beginning to hear rumblings of no lunch breaks on one of the nursing floors. This isn't an every day thing - it's just during extremely busy times, and we're getting busier.

I'm frustrated with the manager for not taking action, and I'm contemplating having meal break assignments made before the shift starts - early lunch at 11:30 and late lunch at 12:00. Do any of you work at facilities or on units that assign lunches and if so, does it work? (I have and I liked it - I always knew when I'd be "strapping on the feedbag" and getting away from the floor for a few minutes, PLUS I knew in advance who was covering for my patients AND whose patients I'd have to cover for 30 minutes or so during her lunch...) If not what are the problems? Do you have any ideas for resolution of the problem that have worked at your hospitals? I've tried to approach several of the nurses on this particular unit, but I'm new to the facility and I'm administration, and I know they don't feel comfortable opening up to me just yet...

I'd like to go ahead and take care of this problem before it escalates to the critical point that some of you have described here - any suggestions?

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Specializes in ER, Medicine.

Just wanted to say.... what a GREAT user name...so creative. :specs:

I'm a relatively new CNO who is beginning to hear rumblings of no lunch breaks on one of the nursing floors. This isn't an every day thing - it's just during extremely busy times, and we're getting busier.
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Nurse 2007-

I love your sig line.

What a great quote.

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This must be a union job! Is it?

Yes it is a union job

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I'm a relatively new CNO who is beginning to hear rumblings of no lunch breaks on one of the nursing floors. This isn't an every day thing - it's just during extremely busy times, and we're getting busier.

I'd like to go ahead and take care of this problem before it escalates to the critical point that some of you have described here - any suggestions?

I don't know what CNO is or what kind of unit you're talking about but, I have worked at many different hospitals as a traveling er nurse. I have found that assigned breaks are a good idea, in general. However, if there is not adequate coverage for them, most responsible nurse will not take them (or at least part of them).

It is entirely possible that there is inefficeint management on the unit to blame. I have definately seen that happen. However, if these are busy times only getting busier, then maybe you need to look at getting an extra nurse from 1100 to 1900. (this would cover breaks on the day and evening shift) If the census is truly up, you should be able to justify the cost. Plus, it is a lot cheaper to keep your nurses happy (and well fed) than it is to replace them. (either with new staff or travelers)

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Where I work, we get a 30 min break in the morning and 1 hour lunch break (unpaid of course) for 12hr shift. Being a new grad nurse, I hardly get to go on my 30 min break, and I've even missed couple of my lunch breaks. It feels like it always gets busy just when I'm about to get some sustenance :mad:

Hopefully, I'll get the hang of it all real soon.

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