Nurses eating on shift...

[PatsyAndEddy]

Just back from hospital visiting a friend who had her tonsils out today. She had to fast from 10 pm last night and didn't get taken for her op until 2pm, that's a long time without food for anyone!

She missed dinner on the ward but they got her a sandwich but she's really sore and hungry!

On the ward her bed is right next to the nurses station. She said they were sitting munching on a large bag of kettle chips in front of her between the three of them. She commented on how she thought that was a but mean, they snapped back saying 'well we have to eat' at which point my friend reminded them that's what they're breaks were for.

I don't think she's flavour of the month in the ward! She can be a bit of a grump at the best of times but starving, sore and groggy I think she reached her limit!

We're the nurses being unreasonable, eating on shift?

OP - I'm not sure anyone is saying all nurses are overworked saints. There are some shit nurses the same as there are shit people doing lots of jobs.

However a few people seem to be saying that all nurses are lazy and shit and don't care. That is just as far removed from the truth. Going to stop reading this thread now as to be frank the ignorant twattish remarks are just making my blood pressure rise - and I wouldn't want to have to go into hospital and be looked after by these greedy grabbing lazy cunt nurses now would I, they might want to eat or something!

Would be - that is one of the most ignorant posts on this thread. Mid Staffs had atrociously poor staffing and skill mix levels which were repeatedly flagged in incident forms by nurses and repeatedly ignored by finance fixated management.

Nurses either left, because they couldn't take it anymore (and often weren't replaced) and I think those that stayed, or had been there too long thought that was just the way things were - bad organisational culture can be very insidious.

OP - you've actually had some interesting responses about the working conditions for nurses. Sniping about "overworked saints" makes you look silly.

slightly different way to look at it here, if the nurses were having a bit of down time what would you have liked them to be doing? They cant leave the ward as the staff numbers present must be of a certain level, should they sit in silence and not eat? If all nurses are running at full capacity work load all the time what happens when there is an emergency? they cant deal with it as they are already at capacity. On the ward I am on we often are around the nurses station during visiting time as I was told we shouldnt be interuppting patients time with family and friends, this means we often have a lot of catching up to do after the viitors have left. My shifts are 12.5 hours with a 30 min break, that is not enough time to go to a canteen, most people I know work 8 hours and get a lunch hour. My friend sumed it up nicely, she said she got up, looked at her watch and thought dita is at work already, then she had breakfast took her kids to school and went to work, thinking dita is at work, then she picked her kids up and gave them tea, thinking dita is at work, then she bathed her kids and put them to bed looked at her watch and thought dita is still at work. Now for 90% of that time nurses and support workers are stood up. Stand up for 12 hours tommorow and see how much your feet hurt and how bloated you are. We dont eat on our ward but we hve an offie and often have open snacks so we can just grab something in passing.

This thread is seriously making me think about not starting my nursing degree after all.

It is not the work, I have worked in care all my working life, that will not come as a shock. It is the absolute hatred some people obviously feel for nurses.

It is horrible!

Mamma, don't let ignorant twats who don't know what they are talking about put you off x

I cant wait to retire. I used to love nursing but now patients begruge you having one 10min break and some crisps in a 13 hour shift.

Bah. I had my tonsils out four weeks ago. It is shit, and you feel shit for ages. But I woulnd't begrudge the HCP's looking after me a snack, that's just stupid. Besides, once the tonsils are out, food is something to fear for the next two weeks, not envy.
Your friend is BU. The staff in hospitals work epic shifts caring for ungrateful, miserable twunts for next to nothing.
And tell her not to get too grumpy about food, I didn't eat anything except dry toast once a day for nearly a week because it hurts too much so she better get used to it!

I have nothing but respect for the nursing profession.

DH was seriously ill over Xmas and new year and they looked after him so well, they were so lovely and caring to him and to me.

I took biscuits and chocolates in for them all the time. I was happy to see them munching away and grab 5 mins when they could.

Mamma, don't let it put you off. If you're a good nurse then the people that you care for and their relatives will respect you.

I can't move in the supermarket/go into town without people coming up to me and thanking me for looking after them. Knowing that I'm a good and conscientious hcp is what makes my job worthwhile. Knowing that I've helped people, made a difference, etc.

at least those nurses had adult sized chairs and desks to eat their kettle crisps off
I work in a nursery, it is 1 room, we don't have a staff room, we don't even have any adult sized furniture for us to use
to take my lunch break I have to sit on a child's chair at a child's table with children who are eating thier packed lunches
I often have to answer the phone, or the door, or speak to parents,
sometimes I even have to wipe bottoms
most days I write in the children's diaries
all during my unpaid lunch break
one day the director visited over lunch- he saw me sat and I was talking to the manager who was sat with the children too- eating her lunch as she never gets a break - he said, very cheekily
"Having a quiet moment, chatting are we?"
I replied "Actually, I'm on my UNPAID lunch break"
he apologised profusely

This isn't a 'my lunch break is worse than your lunch break' post, I am simply pointing out that you only see a snapshot and have no idea of the circumstances
the parents who come into the nursery when I am on a break have no idea that I am on 'my time' and not officially working but I would hate to think they were bitching about me 'look at her stuffing her face when she is supposed to be looking after the children'

My Sister, SiL and BiL , all do long medical shifts, all eat, all are diabetic.

Get a grip, and take food with you if you want to eat in hospital, or get people to bring it in.

I've had eight ops in the last 18 months, of course you are going to miss the meal rounds, the food inedible anyway, you just pack a bag that contains suitable food.

Married: I have completely lost all respect for you.
Hopefully you can stick to private medicine and you and your family will never have major injuries and need the wonderful skills of the National Health A&E.

I think working 12 hour shifts without proper breaks and food is a major risk to staff and patients.

I work at a desk all day. I have funny blood sugars so eat small amounts every 3 hours, I drink fluids all day, I even take time to go to the loo frequently, but if I work more than 11 hours I do make mistakes.

I cannot imagine how hard working 12 hours nursing shifts can be.
I have the greatest respect for nurses.

MammaTJ don't let the ignoramuses put you off.
If you're anything in real life how you come across on here (lovely), nursing needs you!

MammaTJ, hopefully the nurse bashers ALL go private.
Please don't be put off.
99.99999% of us think nurses do a fantastic job.

Thanks AF and Viva. I know I will be a good nurse. At the moment I work in a care home for the elderly with mental health problems.

Because my DP drives me to work, then has to go home and put the DC to bed, he takes me in an hour and a half early. I get on with the housework I have to do during my shift. I also pitch in and help the day staff if they need me to.

This means that when my shift actually starts at 9pm I have done nearly all my cleaning. I just have the floors to do once all are in bed.

I sit in the lounge with the residents who stay up. We chose something to watch on TV, or we play a board game, if the mood takes them. Most recently, I have benefitted from local history lessons. We have been watching the programme about the workhouses. There is a very local resident who has been telling us all about the local workhouses and hospitals and where they were. She has also told me that the Adult Education Centre that I have done my access course at was a boys school when she was a girl. I make them and 'extra' cuppa most nights, not one on the planned programme and make them an 'extra' snack. We have a nice time together, although I am not exactly on a break, not that I need one at that time particularly.

I have had the odd snippy comment about me being sat down though.

a proper meal break is something you can only dream of as a nurse/midwife/hcp I would be hard pushed to remember ever having one where I didnt have to answer the phone, answer a buzzer or deal with visitors. I often used to sit at the desk answering phones, doing paperwork while eating

Thanks Time, hopefully they will!

Thanks Alex. I am me on here, the same as in RL! Glad I come across as lovely!

if you are put off a health career by petty derision maybe youre not up to it
frankly you need to be composed,robust and able to deal with diffcult communication
which will exceed the stuff you read on mn.its not right,its not fair.but if mn makes you crumple,do have long hard think about chosen career

Your friend is being V unreasonable.

On nightshift (am assuming from time of your post) we ran our ward with 2 nurses and 1 auxiliary for 24 patients (inc tracheostomies and chemotherapy infusions). The nurses couldn't leave the ward for a break. We grabbed a drink/snack between buzzers. Yes it might seem unprofessional but tell this to the fat cat mangers working 9-5 with a lunch hour! They make the rules re staffing.

YABU nurses quite often dont get breaks.

MamaTJ - what you are doing is EXACTLY what those old people need.

You deserve to be paid for the extra hours though (pigs might fly).

It is awful that you get comments about "sitting down".

Many care homes are full of old people sitting staring at the walls because nobody has the time or interest to interact with them.

Scottish mummy - what is your healthcare career? You drop lots of hints about having one, but I've yet to see you say what you actually do.

MammaTJ I've been a nurse for 10 years, I found being qualified far more enjoyable then my training. I've had several different jobs and have enjoyed all of them. Good luck!

Burn the bitches. Next thing they'll be expecting to go to the toilet during a shift.

Overworked yes.
Saints no.. I doubt Saints think the things I'm thinking about your attitude right now OP.

Nightshift on antenatal ward, 15 beds, all full, one midwife, one hca, no staff toilet and no staffroom. No one to relieve for a break. That is the accepted norm. It's shit and I've often leaked through a tampon or whatever on shift because requested relief hasn't come for hours. So do I eat at the desk? Yeah. Am I unreasonable? Nope. Yet someone seeing me doing so would probably think 'lazy bitch, everyone is asleep and she's stuffing her face instead of going on her proper meal break'.

i dont think its the role of the worker to constantly disavow anyone of prejudice or derision
certain jobs always take a pasting,doctor,social worker,Hv.based on stereotype or poor experience one has had
not all managers are well paid fat cats,and despite some nurses protestations hosp couldnt run without manager