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

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN · Jan 20, 2015

30 unpaid minutes.. IF you get one.

Oh, I definitely get one...because if I don't get to take a full 30 minutes for lunch, the hospital has to pay me an hour's salary. So they are very good at maksing sure nurses take all of our breaks.

No Stars In My Eyes · Jan 20, 2015

Doing a 12 hour private duty in the home, you don't get breaks; no one to relieve you. I bring my meals and eat with my patient. You can get a little 'quiet time' if they nap, but it's not a break per se because you can't leave and not be available for however few minutes....But we get paid for the straight 12.

JoyceHarrellRN · Jan 20, 2015

Officially, 30 minutes. Unpaid. Who EVER really takes it?

NightBloomCereus · Jan 21, 2015

Have you ever tried grazing???
I snack between my lunch break...I don't just eat for lunch and that's it.

Yes it seems like that's the way to go. I'm still trying to figure out what I can bring and eat quick that's not full of sugar. I may start baking mini muffins or bars to take.

ArrowRN, BSN, RN · Jan 21, 2015

I'm a new nurse and ours is 30 mins and yes I ALWAYS take mine and never plan to do otherwise. Some people don't but you are no good to the patient or anyone if you are hungry, unfocused, or pass out from not eating for 12 hours. Not to mention nurses who do not even pee for 12 hours...see you in a few years with dead kidneys.

Nurses who do not take their required breaks are setting a bad example for your floor, for us new grads and are risking patient safety not helping, not to mention breaking the law because its unpaid. There's noone who can dispute me on this. That's my view on this.

RNLeadSS · Jan 21, 2015

I have worked in a lot of different hospitals ( I am a Travel Nurse). I have throughly decided that it just up to your hospital. California always get their lunch because of their laws that are present there. My hometown hospital we get one 30 minute paid break (usually unless its crazy) and then two unpaid 15 minute breaks.

Nurse_Lily, RN · Jan 21, 2015

1 hour, 30 mins of it unpaid. I usually only take a 45. I always take my break! Even if I don't, I get paid for the extra 30 minutes I worked.

Guest805836 · Jan 21, 2015

I work 10 hours shifts and we don't get an official break. Which is to say, we are paid for the whole duration of our shift and we have a break room in the unit, with the scope screens on the wall. So when it is calm, we take a break and eat (I work night shifts, and typically we try to all take a break at around 1 am and try to eat together), and when it isn't, we don't eat. Day shifts are 8 hrs and there isn't a paid break either.

I used to work in a private clinic with 12 hr shifts and during the daytime, we got an hour unpaid. If I'm not paid for it, I leave the unit - if you stay, your meal gets constantly interuppted by call bells and the like...

Vacationtime247 · Jan 21, 2015

What is this 'lunch break' you speak of?

VT247

cpl_dvldog · Jan 21, 2015

My 12 hour shift begins at 0630 and ends at 1900. I have been able to leave my area to eat less times than I have had to eat at the desk or not eat at all. If I do not get to leave for lunch I get to clock out with no lunch, which pays me an extra 1/2 hour. I would much rather eat than get the money. I rarely eat breakfast so often I eat dinner the night before and am not able to eat again for 24 hours. This seems to be a problem with many nurses.

Pjking227 · Jan 21, 2015

30 minutes unpaid, if I am lucky! Never get a 15 minute break because that will cause my pod partner extra work and put me behind.

EmergencyNurse2012 · Jan 21, 2015

45 minutes. Unpaid. We can leave the facility but must clock out first.