I'm new to the forum and to nursing - in my first year of foundation course. I'm writing an assignment based on the importance of nurses/healthcare practioners taking breaks.
I've only been on one placement so far and the ward that I was assigned to did not encourage the staff to take breaks. I know there are staffing problems but personally,(maybe naive) I can't understand this approach. I can't think of any other job where people can't stop to have a quick drink and substinence. I used to be a primary teacher so I'm familiar with gulping down tea whilst setting up for the next lesson. Surely the reluctance is not due to 'workload issues' or being a 'martyr.' Is it ineffective management?
I'd be really interested in your thoughts as to why some people don't take breaks. Does your place of work allow you to take a well-earned break or is it frowned upon?
Can't find much research about this, which in itself if disappointing.
I work on a very busy medical assesment unit, but we ALWAYS take breaks! I work a back to back shift (14 hours) but during that time I have a breakfast, lunch and evening break, each 30 minutes long! Those doing 8 hour shifts have 2x 30 minute breaks. It is very rare for people to miss them and when they do its usually accompanied by a healty dose of martydom!
Nurses need their breaks! You can't be expected to work well without them, the job is too intense! If people aren't getting their breaks, then you need to start kicking up a fuss, otherwise it'll just become the norm. Nursing as a proffession has just laid back and allowed itself to be taken advantage of for way too long!
I work on a very busy medical assesment unit, but we ALWAYS take breaks! I work a back to back shift (14 hours) but during that time I have a breakfast, lunch and evening break, each 30 minutes long! Those doing 8 hour shifts have 2x 30 minute breaks. It is very rare for people to miss them and when they do its usually accompanied by a healty dose of martydom!
Nurses need their breaks! You can't be expected to work well without them, the job is too intense! If people aren't getting their breaks, then you need to start kicking up a fuss, otherwise it'll just become the norm. Nursing as a proffession has just laid back and allowed itself to be taken advantage of for way too long!
Good point... When i was in nursing school , I had an instructor who would remind us to go and eat - she would tell us that if we couldn't find 20 minutes to sit down, get some food in our stomachs and clear our heads, then we had some serious time management problems. I rarely cannot find the time to at least sit for 10 minutes while i eat something quick - i mean sure - we all have a shift from heck where you know you're not going anywhere for a while - but it shouldn't be a habitual thing...
I agree with everything you've said. A friend of mine was in Intensive Care for three months and lucky for the staff, the management made sure all took breaks, whether the nurse wanted to or not. In terms of bladder control, had the same thing when on duty at playtimes, we were not allowed to leave the darlings in the presence of an unqualified member of staff, so if you were on playtime duty, you held until lunch, that is from 08:45 till 12:15. As a result, took less fluids, had lots of headaches and felt rotton. At least in the teaching world, people did get a drink, even if rushed. Can't fathom out why so many nursing practioners don't appear to look after themselves, no wonder there's lots of burn-out, depressed individuals out there. Why on earth can't we have this basic, human right?
littlehobo
42 Posts
OMG!!
I work on a very busy medical assesment unit, but we ALWAYS take breaks! I work a back to back shift (14 hours) but during that time I have a breakfast, lunch and evening break, each 30 minutes long! Those doing 8 hour shifts have 2x 30 minute breaks. It is very rare for people to miss them and when they do its usually accompanied by a healty dose of martydom!
Nurses need their breaks! You can't be expected to work well without them, the job is too intense! If people aren't getting their breaks, then you need to start kicking up a fuss, otherwise it'll just become the norm. Nursing as a proffession has just laid back and allowed itself to be taken advantage of for way too long!