When circumstances make it impossible to take adequate breaks, nursing staff have the right to take time off in lieu, known as compensatory rest

Failure to have adequate rest can affect nurses’ work-life balance, health and well-being, and lead to mistakes, putting patients at risk. When circumstances make it difficult or impossible to take rest breaks at work, staff have the right to take time off in lieu – known as compensatory rest. Yet when RCNi asked followers on X whether they receive compensatory rest, 82 of the 105 respondents said they had never heard of it.