Nurses eating and drinking at the nurses station

1 Hi fellow nurses, how do you feel about nurses drinking coffee or other beverage and eating food in the nurses station on a regular basis, especially in the presence of patients, visitors and doctors. What's your hospital policy regarding this. It is forbidden on my job, but staff continues to do it, even the Head Nurse when he is stressed out is seen sipping coffee on the unit. The problem with drinking coofee, tea etc. is that especially on nights somehow staff 'accidentally' spills liguids on the computer and on patients record. What is your experience?
I don't generally eat in front of patients or family, but when you're one nurse, you've gotta eat sometime. We have no choice, since there are many instances where you can't leave the floor.

Drinking at the nurses station doesn't bother me, and it is permitted as long as it is a covered container.

I work in a very busy ICU and food and drinks are prohibited in the nurse's station. However this would not bother me if management would allow us to have timely breaks.

we have drinks at the nursing station. covered ones. in fact they got us cool cups for nursing week!! i think eating there looks unprofessional tho. maybe if no one is around

I don't think the nursing station was meant to be a cafeteria or lounge!

I can understand the concern about spills on patients' records and spills on the computer.But as a patient, I couldn't care less if you all eat. Everytime I was in the hospital having babies the nurses were usually chowing down at the station. I even got offered some jalapeno cheese and crackers by the nurses while BEING INDUCED ( I thought that was weird).I realize nurses often don't get to take their breaks so as long as they are getting their work done I don't care if they have a barbecue!

I think it is sad. Sad that the nurses cannot get away for enough time to eat a meal in a much cleaner non patient care area. Sad that they do not have the time to walk away for a few minutes to take a few sips of a beverage. I have eaten at the nurses station and I hated it. I mean really you might as well eat in a patient room. The desk, computers, and chairs are probably riddled with all kinds of nasties. Not to mention the phone! yuck! We were not allowed to at my previous job but on nights we did because we never got breaks.

Well, it's not hygienic and it looks unprofessional. However, we've all done it and if there's no one around and your surface is wiped down, I don't see the problem. The habitual eaters that sit there, eat, and gossip for half an hour are the ones management is going after, and I can understand why.

If we had enough time to take breaks, then you wouldn't see this problem so much. I work in a very busy ER, if I even leave for ten minutes to eat, I will have a new EMS patient (just my luck). Can't just keep them waiting forever. They should hire a nurse to just go around and give people lunch breaks. Just make sure the patient stays alive while I'm gone. Problem solved!

If I don't drink when I chart then I hardly have time to drink all day. When I first started mgmt tried to stop this behavior but after yrs of no change in the staffs behaviors they relented and only enforce the rule when a surveyor is in house. For nursing week they got us mugs with lids so that atleast we have covered drinks. I do try not to eat at the nursing station because it grosses me out!

Quote from CalixanIf we had enough time to take breaks, then you wouldn't see this problem so much. I work in a very busy ER, if I even leave for ten minutes to eat, I will have a new EMS patient (just my luck). Can't just keep them waiting forever. They should hire a nurse to just go around and give people lunch breaks. Just make sure the patient stays alive while I'm gone. Problem solved!

As others have indicated, it depends on the details of the situation. I don't see anything wrong with a covered cup that can be used discretely to stay hydrated. Many nurses don't have the opportunity to leave the area frequently to get a needed drink. (And as a former NICU nurse, I have spent many shifts working under radiant warmers and bili-lights that are hot and dehydrating. My health is important, too.) It can be done reasonably and it isn't necessary unprofessional.However ... that is a far cry from munching chips etc. that get crumbs all over the place, eating full meals, having the work area cluttered with food, people talking to patients and collegues with their mouths full, etc. Employers should provide the appropriate time and the place for nurses to fulfill their nutritional needs during a shift in a reasonable way. Such unprofessional practices and appearance can be avoided with a little planning and appropriate staffing.As with most such issues -- a little professional judgment is all that is needed to meet the needs of all involved.