What do you wish for in a break room?

[RNmom08]

My hospital is revamping a breakroom for nursing staff. Actually, they are finally making one. This is one that is a central breakroom in addition to small mini breakrooms (that are actually unused pt. rooms) on individual floors. The hospital is actually asking us for our input for what we want the breakroom to include. I'm interested in what others are thinking as well...

If you could, what would you want in your breakroom??? TIA~

[nrsang97, BSN, RN]

We had a Flexi-Seal Insertion poster in our break room untill I took it down! Really!

We had that awhile ago. I cannot stand all the crap from management on the board. The read and signs, new protocols and etc.

My breakroom wish list is as follows:

Lock on the door to prevent pt and famlies from entering.

Large fridge.

Microwave.

sink, with dish soap

Coffee maker (I am not a coffee drinker but my co workers are)

table and comfortable chairs.

Couch.

TV

soda fountain

water dispenser, with hot and cold water.

ice machine

I would love to see a shower, and private bathroom. Our bathroom is for staff only , but is in a very public area and easy for visitors to access. Maybe they could redo our locker room to make a enterance to the bathroom that way it would be family couldn't get in there.

[SteveNNP, MSN, NP]

coffee machine

Soda fountain machine

Ice/water dispenser

enough comfortable seating.

secured by code

frequent housekeeping attention

[Nursebarebari]

Our break room is small and our unit is very big; seven to nine nurses, a unit clerk and three PCT's at night shift. The break room can't take more than 3-4 at a time. Day shift staff is almost double with all the other diciplines. Our doctors break room is a suite ( hope that is the spelling) with two bunk beds, bathroom, and capuchino machine at the side. I guess nobody cares about us nurses.

[RNperdiem, RN]

I the breakroom is large enough, I like to see enough coat hooks so coats aren't doubled up and falling off.

[StNeotser, ASN, RN]

Our "breakroom" was an afterthought. It's actually part of a corridor. It's so difficult to get to that family members and patients would never figure out how to get to it. It also has a door to the outside dumpsters and the smoking area. The door is sometimes propped open so it always smells smoky. It has some old chairs, end tables but no coffee table (as that would obstruct the corridor) and a microwave.

[AZO49008]

I'd ask for the break room to be impervious to cell phone reception. I HATE going on a much-needed, long-overdue break hoping to relax a little, only to hear a coworker blabbering on and on and on and on about a million and one mundane things going on in his or her life.

I know this sounds sort of harsh, but I'm completely fed up with selfish idiots who wouldn't know cell phone ettiquette if it bit them in the butt.

[eccentricRN]

and don't forget helga, who's there to massage our feet.

leslie

well... I'd settle for one of those fandangled new massage chairs... that is if Helga is sick that day...or her sister Olga...

[casi, ASN, RN]

I want comfy chairs that will allow me to put up my feet

Sink/microwave/large fridge

storage area for coffee cups/condements

a place to hang coats/purses!!!!

secure door

trashy magazines and some educational ones

hot tub

Enough staff so I have time for a break

[BellaCerraRN]

A table to sit at to eat that isn't less than 12 inches from the bathroom!

[skislalom]

TIME to actually USE it!

[flashpoint]

I would just be happy with some place that no one but employees are allowed. Every place I work lets patients and their families in to use the soda machine or the microwave or whatever. I just want some place that I can truly get away.

[Shopgirl1]

Gosh! After reading this post, I really feel so lucky and guilty! We have a fairly large table, two computers, phone,it's seperate from the bathroom, you have to swipe your badge to get in the breakroom, heck even the doctors can't get in there! We have a micro, toaster oven, and regular toaster, full fridge, a whole wall of windows. I feel so bad that I have all of this and some people don't even have a place to sit down and rest their feet! :chair: