I have a quick ques regarding what constitutes nurses "being on-duty" Recently, our hospital along with "our" union, agreed that nurses on their break are not allowed to rest in a supine position with eyes closed. Subject to termination.
We are really upset about this, since we sometimes work three 12 hr shifts in a row (all night) and are required to work 4 out of 7 once a month. It's a busy L& D unit so you can imagine how busy it can get. My ques is, our contract states "while on duty" we cannot do these things, but... when we are on break, aren't we technically off-duty?
Some of us walk to to get coffee or go meditate in a dark place. Please direct me to who we can get to assist since we are getting no support from our management.
Wow, an hour for lunch? And BREAKS? What are those!?!
I worked a busy L&D unit myself, up until last week. We were lucky if we got our half hour, and sometimes would 'break ourselves', ie, go to the break room to grab a bite to eat but watch the monitor.
If we were truly on our lunch break, unpaid, then what we did would be our own business. Without any right of anyone to tell us what that could be.
BUT. I have to say something. You say you take your hour lunch and two 20 minute breaks all at once and stay gone two hours. Er, that is not one hour and 2 breaks. That is 1 hour and THREE 20 minute breaks. So maybe the management is feeling taken advantage of? Not to mention that seems a bit hard on the person who is covering their own patients and yours for two whole hours.
I've worked five and six twelves in a row on the unit. I got darned tired. But we never had a CHANCE to lie supine during lunch. It was choke down what you could and get the heck back out there. An hour would have seemed like total heaven.
wow, an hour for lunch? and breaks? what are those!?!
i worked a busy l&d unit myself, up until last week. we were lucky if we got our half hour, and sometimes would 'break ourselves', ie, go to the break room to grab a bite to eat but watch the monitor. this is not a break , you are still fulfilling duties , so you should be paid for this time
if we were truly on our lunch break, unpaid, then what we did would be our own business. without any right of anyone to tell us what that could be.
but. i have to say something. you say you take your hour lunch and two 20 minute breaks all at once and stay gone two hours. er, that is not one hour and 2 breaks. that is 1 hour and three 20 minute breaks. so maybe the management is feeling taken advantage of? not to mention that seems a bit hard on the person who is covering their own patients and yours for two whole hours. the heading says you are from the west coast , if that is california , inaccordance to the staff ratio law , you cannot be relieved by somebody who has their own assignment as that puts them out of compliance with the ratio . you should be relieved by a nurse who has no assignment . kaiser hospitals have relief nurses to fulfill this role ( at least where my spouse works )
i've worked five and six twelves in a row on the unit. i got darned tired. but we never had a chance to lie supine during lunch. it was choke down what you could and get the heck back out there. an hour would have seemed like total heaven.
if nurses continue to allow management to not facilitate breaks , they increase there liability and sure as heck when a problem arises management will say staff should have said they needed a break , or the old fall back of questioning your poor time management .
Specializes in NPD; Administration; M/S; Critical Care.
What breaks?
Gotta agree here-what breaks??!! I once worked in a busy outpatient unit, and was told to 'keep granola bars in your pocket' if I needed to eat, per my manager!! Amazing!
Gimme a break. It's busy everywhere in the hospital. Who has a slow floor or unit every night? I've done 6 nights in a row before and never slept. It's no different than working several 12's in a row on days. If you do nights, get used to nights.
I've never worked anywhere that anyone had time to take a siesta. In regard to the actual question, I have no idea since I'm not a union member. Do you get paid for your breaks? Do you have to clock out for your breaks?
gimme a break. it's busy everywhere in the hospital. who has a slow floor or unit every night? i've done 6 nights in a row before and never slept. it's no different than working several 12's in a row on days. if you do nights, get used to nights.
agreed , to a point , ie.if you do nights , get used to nights .disagree that it is no different , than several days in a row . we are basically wired to be active during the day ,when you go against the natural rhythm ,swapping from sleeping during the night , to day and back to night , a lot of stress is placed upon you .
i've never worked anywhere that anyone had time to take a siesta. in regard to the actual question, i have no idea since i'm not a union member. do you get paid for your breaks? do you have to clock out for your breaks?
it's a matter of law (not whether you are in a union or not ) that working a 12 hour shift you should get a break of 15 minutes every 4 hours and one 30 minute break for a meal . so in a 12 hour shift you should receive 1 hour in breaks .
if you wish to check what law is applicable , this has been discussed in previous threads , do a search . i'm too tired , having worked last night ( and having stayed awake ),to dig up the details.
it's a matter of law (not whether you are in a union or not ) that working a 12 hour shift you should get a break of 15 minutes every 4 hours and one 30 minute break for a meal . so in a 12 hour shift you should receive 1 hour in breaks .
if you wish to check what law is applicable , this has been discussed in previous threads , do a search . i'm too tired , having worked last night ( and having stayed awake ),to dig up the details.
unless there is some state regulation that is separate from this....the us department of labor states that federal law doesn't require coffee or meal breaks. i don't know anything about ny law.
Specializes in Geriatric,Pediatric,Med Surge, Cardiac.
Thse hospital that I work at actually has the same thing going. One nurse fell asleep on her break, the charge nurse found her...wrote her up and actually almost got her fired. I do think that it is rediculous but While you our on the job your employer does have the right to tell you what is acceptable or not.
First have to admit to a senior moment ,my recolection of a previous thread was that ,federal law applied (FLSA),apparently that memory was in correct ,a quick Google search came up with this site that has a explanation of state law applicable to breaks : http://www.legalmatch.com/law-library/article/rest-and-meal-breaks.html
Specializes in Critical care, tele, Medical-Surgical.
First have to admit to a senior moment ,my recolection of a previous thread was that ,federal law applied (FLSA),apparently that memory was in correct ,a quick Google search came up with this site that has a explanation of state law applicable to breaks :-http://www.legalmatch.com/law-library/article/rest-and-meal-breaks.html
In my province, we don't get paid for labour law mandated breaks....doesn't matter if we take them or not. I would assume, that while you are on your break, you are free to spend it as you like....especially if your not being paid for them. You are not on duty if your not being paid. I would fight this
Where I work we are lucky to not literally engulf our lunch in 5 minutes!
Halinja, BSN, RN
453 Posts
Wow, an hour for lunch? And BREAKS? What are those!?!
I worked a busy L&D unit myself, up until last week. We were lucky if we got our half hour, and sometimes would 'break ourselves', ie, go to the break room to grab a bite to eat but watch the monitor.
If we were truly on our lunch break, unpaid, then what we did would be our own business. Without any right of anyone to tell us what that could be.
BUT. I have to say something. You say you take your hour lunch and two 20 minute breaks all at once and stay gone two hours. Er, that is not one hour and 2 breaks. That is 1 hour and THREE 20 minute breaks. So maybe the management is feeling taken advantage of? Not to mention that seems a bit hard on the person who is covering their own patients and yours for two whole hours.
I've worked five and six twelves in a row on the unit. I got darned tired. But we never had a CHANCE to lie supine during lunch. It was choke down what you could and get the heck back out there. An hour would have seemed like total heaven.