Nurses takes on their breaks
By Michelle Gray-Bernhardt
Do nurses take their breaks? We asked them in the survey titled: “Nurses – Give Me A Break.” Results to date are mixed. A handful of nurses and nursing leaders feel break policies are working well. Others note that break policies are not working at all. The majority feel that while allocated break times are fair, nurses may not take breaks. That’s because of patient load and other variables, including the daily staff mix and the desire to shorten a shift by skipping an unpaid 30-minute lunch break.
The benefits of breaks are well documented in current literature. A nursing administrator echoes this in the survey results: “They [RNs] come back more prepared emotionally to handle their patients’ needs when they totally get away from the unit and take a real break.” One nurse who noted that there is a policy in place for breaks at her facility said: “You [RNs] make the time to get a break – it isn’t guaranteed. We signed up to be tough.”
Is this just the way it has to be? Or are there some solutions for making break time more accessible and more appealing to nurses? Survey responses ranged from the theoretical (create a culture where nurses want to take breaks) to the logistical (offer a call ahead or pick-up service at the cafeteria). Broad categories included:
- Culture change – Create a culture where nurses WANT to take breaks off the unit.
- Add structure to break times – Schedule break times, take away pagers, require nurses to sign off the unit, etc.
- Add staff – Use SWAT nurses, PRN staff, or some type of additional staffing.
- Improve access – To cafeteria and food (especially for night shift); improve access to staff lounges, staff bathrooms, etc.
- Offer paid lunch breaks – Or other financial incentives for nurses to take lunch breaks.
Given budget constraints and government regulations, adding staff or paying for lunch breaks may not be an option. Adding structure to break times may feel draconian to some RNs. Creating a culture where nurses want to take their breaks is a tall order. Has your facility done anything to encourage nurses to use break time? Provided any incentives for nurses to use their breaks?
We welcome your comments.
Michelle Gray-Bernhardt is an HMC knowledge manager
