Work rules

[Dragonstrike]

Hello everyone.

i am posting because i need your advice and suggestions about my current job situation. i just started a new job in a pediatric office. I noticed when i went in for the interview that there were not chairs at the nurse station. i found out on my first day that there are not chairs because if nurses are sitting down it is perceived as that we are not working. The shift is 8 hrs, but my feet are so swell and sore for being up all day. we have to chart, place labs orders, enter vitals in a stand up position. i am not allowed to sit down to rest my legs. The office is not very busy and i tried to do different things, organized items, cleaning but I wish i could have a least 1 min to rest my legs and back.

what can i do? please help me.

[JustKeepSmiling, ADN, BSN, RN]

Bathroom break?

Sit indian style?

Chart in an empty room?

[klone, MSN, RN]

Find a different job?

[SleeepyRN]

I'm sorry I have no advice but understand your feelings about this. It is very different than working the floor in which you are constantly moving which makes it easier actually. But to be standing with very minimal walking...I've been there, and that is harder on my body because I can't move enough to stretch or keep my mind off the discomfort. How are the others in the office coping?

My husband's work took away their chairs, but that didn't last long. This is just ridiculous. I'm sorry :-/

[Pangea Reunited, ASN, RN]

That's just weird. I would sit on the counter.

[Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN]

Oh. Heck. No.

I'm sorry...that's probably not helpful, but if one's place of work is more concerned about some bovine-feces outward perception than about the health of its employees... I'd be sorely tempted to bust into "Take this job and shove it..."

Do the providers get to sit? If the answer is yes, I would bust into "Take This Job and Shove It."

[anon456, BSN, RN]

Go to a doctor and get a note that says you must be provided a chair to sit on because of the swelling in your feet.

[emmy27]

If you have to stay in this job, try flat shoes (even a small heel as in most running shoes and clogs places a lot of stress on your legs and back- it's like standing downhill all day), compression stockings, frequent shifting of your weight (a box or book under the desk to rest the opposite foot on is ideal) and as many short walking and squatting breaks in your workflow as you can fit in. If your floors are concrete, a gel pad for your work area is not an unreasonable request, either. It is possible to adjust to standing for a long time, and you may find as your legs and feet strengthen that it isn't as bad as it is now.

But the fact that they're so concerned about patient perception that they'd take away the basic comfort of chairs for people who are already on their feet much of the day makes this sound like a terrible employer, and I'd be looking to get out of there if I were you. It's likely that this isn't the last or craziest example of mistreatment you'll encounter if you stay.

[elkpark]

I would consider checking with your state occupational health and safety office about whether the employer is violating some state employment regulation. "Not allowed to sit down for the entire shift" sounds like some third-world sweatshop. What about your meals and other breaks? Is there not some area provided for that with seating?

[Dragonstrike]

Thank you everyone for all the suggestions. I just want to clarify that we take an hr lunch. But before and after lunch we can't seat down. For some i might be making a big deal out of nothing but i think there are some ridiculous rules where i work.