for those who work 12 hour shifts, how long is your lunch break?

RN9742 · Jan 19, 2015

30mins unpaid.

calivianya, BSN, RN · Jan 19, 2015

They take an hour out of my check. Funny stuff, that - I definitely never take an hour. Sometimes I only take 15 minutes or less to eat.

LongislandRN23 · Jan 19, 2015

1 hour -paid, if it's super busy and we are unable to take a break we fill out a variance for an extra hour and get paid for it

elkpark · Jan 19, 2015

In my experience, it's been a 30 minute meal break and two 15 min general breaks (not that you necessarily get to take them, haha), same as an 8-hour shift.

AnnieOaklyRN, BSN, RN, EMT-P · Jan 19, 2015

This is the problem with nursing, in no other profession would it be acceptable to not take a lunch or dinner break! Demand a break, yo you work hard and deserve it, not my problem if they understaff so much that someone has to take a high patent load.

HPRN

LoveMyBugs, BSN, CNA, RN · Jan 19, 2015

30 min unpaid.

Depends on shift, but during the day when there is a float nurse to relieve you and the unit isn't too slammed you can get away for 45min, because we are supposed to get 2 15min rest breaks, which never happen. Night shift we generally eat at the desk, there is no float to relieve us and it is usually less busy after 3am and by then we are all starving

Katniss88 · Jan 19, 2015

30 minutes unpaid. I stopped bringing an actual meal because when I do I never have time to eat it. Then have the problem of not getting to eat without interruptions. So I will usually bring crackers or something that isn't too messy that I'm able to eat while I'm charting.

Loo17 · Jan 19, 2015

30 minutes unpaid and we are not allowed to leave the hospital campus.

LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN · Jan 19, 2015

30 mins and two 15 minute breaks; 8 hour shifts one 15 min break and 30 min lunch.

And yes, I do take my breaks...I buddy up, as well as there is a charge nurse that covers, in my experiences. :yes:

gcupid · Jan 19, 2015

You have to steal a lunch break...and its about 15min

Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN · Jan 19, 2015

I don't work 12-hour shifts now, but most of the RNs on my unit do; and I have worked them before. Unpaid lunch break is 30 minutes, plus a 15-minute break per four hours. We don't typically take our 15-minute breaks unless we're breastfeeding and need to pump, or if it's slow. Smokers will usually take at least one, also.

I wouldn't hold it against anyone for taking their 15-min breaks, but I'd prefer not to get behind and have to stay over to chart if I don't have to. As long as I get to eat I'm good. We have some ice machines oupn our unit, so whenever I start to feel thirsty I'll stop and drink a cup of water. And then when I was breastfeeding I did prioritize break time for pumping because my babies ARE my #1 priority.

If I don't take my full 30 minute lunch break as defined by the Dept of Labor though, I ALWAYS put myself down for 30 minutes OT (my facility pays OT for > 8 hrs or > 12 hrs, whichever the shift was supposed to be.) And I ALWAYS go to the bathroom as soon as I need to.