Break Room Ideas

Our nursing break room on a busy floor in a hospital is less than inviting. It is over stimulating, overcrowded and never stays clean. No matter how many times the refrigerator and microwave is cleaned out, it does not stay clean. I have decided to transform this room in hopes staff will find it a place they enjoy being in and want to keep tidy. Obviously, management isn't going to give us much in terms of a budget, but any ideas out there for making this room into a place of some peace while off the floor to gobble down a meal?? Thanks!
Good luck with that!

Ha!! I will let you know what happens. Maybe even a before and after shots (no interior refrig shots tho or you will be sick)

Hmmm. . .I would start by taking a good look around and removing all unnecessary "stuff" in the room. Do the nurses have to keep their personal stuff in the break room, or do they have a locker room too?

Keeping the fridge and mircrowaves clean is an endless battle. We tried reusable plates and silverware but then no one wanted to do their dishes so the sink was full. You will always have lazy people or people that get interrupted eating and forget to come back. I do agree clearing out the clutter helps.

Yeah we ended up with a dead rat in our break room fridge and the whole thing had to be replaced. Ugh.

Quote from sistrmoonYeah we ended up with a dead rat in our break room fridge and the whole thing had to be replaced. Ugh.

Our facilities department was so fed up with a fridge full of crap that they seriously put their foot down. So every Sunday night, they throw EVERYTHING away in the fridge. They don't care what it is or who it belongs to. Tupperware is even tossed (yes, even the expensive stuff) They don't mess around. Haha It's amazing how much room we have now! It whipped everyone into shape for sure! No one leaves anything in the fridge or sink. No one leaves stuff in the fridge. We're all more conscious of our breakroom. I think the key though is that it's an outside party keeping us on our toes. If it was up to us....Haha...forget it!

Can you get your colleagues involved so that they have a sense of ownership of the room? Maybe solicit opinions how to solve the mess question and get feedback on decor/facilities/what is needed in a break room. People tend to be more house proud when they have a sense of ownership. Good luck and let us know how you get on.

I used to do this with my kids - give a deadline and if things were not done by then, toss it out. That means someone has to be responsible for the tossing. Maybe assign people a specific date on rotation basis? I agree that input from your co-workers is needed and maybe insight from the Infection Control nurse

Maybe a schedule would help-- Even numbered days, day shift does the tossing; odd numbered days, evenings/nights does it. Everyone is responsible for timing/dating his/her own fridge stuff; anything older than 24 hours gets pitched, period, the end.

Good luck with that! I swear people think we have a maid. We toss anything without a name and date on it. We have so much stuff in our little break room... Mailboxes 2 microwaves, 2 fridges and misc other stuff since we have no storerooms!