I have been trying for the past 5 years to get 15 minute breaks to be able to check my blood sugar and eat, if needed. Our department at my employer is the ONLY department that is not offered breaks...I keep getting told, "because of electronic scheduling, we don't have the staff to cover breaks." I've attempted telling them it's a lot quicker for me to take a quick 15 minute break, vs having to come off the work floor if I pass out." I guess I should say, only smokers are given breaks. I have my employer's required Medical Forms filled out, their Reasonable Accommodation forms filled out by my Dr, and still, I have to fight to get these breaks...when I am rarely given breaks, my supervisors make me feel guilty for getting them, because they're "inconvenienced" by me taking them.

Last Friday (8 days ago) I requested a break as my blood sugar was crashing (I suffer from hypoglycemic unawareness, and rarely feel my low blood sugars coming on before I pass out. I wear a continuous glucose monitor and an insulin pump, which were both alerting me I needed to eat something QUICK!). I don't remember who specifically turned my break down, but the paramedics told me that they were told a "male supervisor turned down my break request because I had only been on the floor 3.25 hrs past my lunch". That's right...because I had been denied a break when I desperately needed it, my blood sugar fell to 20 and EMS was required, as well as an ER visit, which I cannot afford...I was forced to work past the end of my shift by 15 minutes, and now, I am being told because the paramedics took me to the wrong hospital, I am stuck with the ER / ambulance bill, as it cannot be turned over to Work Comp...uh, I was unconscious, and when I was coming around, the EMS asked, "who is your Dr?" I told them, and that's why I was taken to the hospital my Dr works for...the Manager that was at work when I was hauled out didn't know I had to be taken to a certain hospital for work comp claims. I wouldn't have needed ANY emergent services had I been given a BREAK when I tried requesting it...my blood sugar was 78 when the EMS checked it upon arriving (not making any sense, spit out the glucose tab a fellow diabetic tried giving me, as well as a Twix bar, as I was beyond being able to take anything orally..usually someone with a blood sugar of 78 doesn't act this way, but if they drop from a higher level QUICKLY, they will become quickly unresponsive), and crashing fast at my register, and 5-7 mins later when in the ambulance, I was 20!

I cannot sue as I have no other job and had to FIGHT for this job 7.5 years ago (I typically work 2 jobs, just to have one to fall back on if I get laid off, as yes, RN's do get laid off in the midwest!)...I am an RN that has been unable to find full-time work as I have no experience working in a hospital...everywhere else, post President O stating benefits had to be offered to Full-Time employees, doesn't offer benefits, without extraordinarily ridiculous requirements to obtain AND keep them. I have worked in home health, but keeping 36 hrs weekly for 6 mos straight is almost impossible with patients being hospitalized for weeks on end and no other patients being cared for by the agencies, who need nurses. I apply, and get instantly turned down because I must not list key words that are on their job listings...many don't have what they're looking for even listed, to pull any key words out of it and into my cover letter and resume'. I cannot move as I own 95% of my house and cannot get the size of my house anywhere else for what I can get out of it, and driving 2+ hrs after / before working a 12 hr shift, just isn't possible. I have been told by former employees of my employer, if I sue, I will be forced to quit my job...I cannot do that without another job to work. I get so tired of people telling me, "oh you're a nurse, you should be able to find work ANYWHERE quickly..." I tell them, "Uh...can they find me one, as I haven't been able to find one that doesn't perform Medicaid / Medicare fraudulent activities, and I'm not about to put my license in jeopardy just to get a paycheck...I am a POLICY FOLLOWER...they are written for a reason, so why don't employers make sure they're following them???"

2 nights ago, my direct Manager was extremely rude to me, yelling at me in front of customers because we had been busy and I had not stepped away from my department's register for a break...we're not allowed to "step away" without other cashier coverage, and I told him, "I hadn't been able to take one yet, because we've been busy"...8 people were in my line, and more were forming in the Bistro's line. He yelled, "it's not just our requirement to get you a break, you also have to think about #1, shut your line down, take a break, and XX will cover the register while you're on break!!" (XX's department was being slammed just before my register). I wanted to tell him "please don't talk to me that way," but didn't want to be treated like the "bad person" and didn't want to be written up for insubordination...cause it's happened in the past.

I pray that no one EVER has to endure what this employer, and many of my former employers has done to Type 1 diabetics. Type 2's have it a little easier, as they're not always on insulin...I cannot live without insulin as my body no longer and hasn't make any in 35 years.