Snow- at what point do you call out?

[EMSnut45]

I am a new grad, and my first day off of orientation is tomorrow... and we are set to get 2+ feet of snow in an area that only sees that much snow once every 15 or so years. While I've been in the healthcare setting for quite some time, I've never experienced a snow quite like this during my career. I understand my responsibility to work, but I also want to keep in mind my safety out on the roads (I have a 35 mile drive to the hospital). At what point do you decide that you just can't make it into work? Do you always attempt to make it in, or do you look out the window and make that decision?

Disclaimer: I am a team player, and understand that if I call out, that means our unit runs short. I'm interested in hearing when to draw the line.

[TigerGalLE, BSN, RN]

I'm not saying I won't make plans to get to work if I'm scheduled to be there. But if I'm already there and all of a sudden something happens and they declare an internal disaster and my child for some reason will have to be left alone. I'm not going to stay. I guess I'd risk termination.

I would maybe risk my life, but not my child's.

[jtmonique]

NE ohio equals lots of lake effect snow ( a phenomenon that occurs on the great lakes!) and lots of ice and sub zero wind chills...The rule is get to work. If you cannot get their on your own security, the police, a cab, someone will come get you and take you to work! (Snow chains and tires are not used much we buy good all weather tires) make sure your car is winterized by october because it is not unusual for the snow to start flying around then. With winter weather lasting from october till april some years in this area you have to learn how to survive in the winter and driving through ice and snow is just another part of life here.

[caroladybelle, BSN, RN]

Problem is this is a "historic" - record breaking snow in places not set up to handle it well. When you consider that we are getting more snow in 24 hrs than is received all season normally, it is an issue.

I have cats, so it is slightly easier to contingency plan....make sure the litter box is clean and "well-stocked", and pour more food in the bowl. I try to make sure there is spare dry clothing in a plastic bag, all of my required meds and toiletries with me and that everything is stocked at home, so that I have as little to do as possible at home, so that I can destress. The tub faucet drips, and the cats prefer that to the bowl water, anyway.

I am hoping that I will feel better (afebrile/no longer hacking my head off) enough to go in tomorrow night and pick up the slack.

Nice to hear from you, MerryWidow46. Stay warm and dry tonight.

[ChristyRN2009]

I live in the mid-south and we just don't see a lot of snow. It flurries once or twice a year, might actually snow once a year but never lasts past noon, and every few years we get a few inches of snow that invariably turns to ice. This I won't drive on. Its not come up for me during my nursing career, but I can't risk leaving my kids with the babysitter for days on end or asking my elderly relatives (pretty much the ones I can rely on as a single mom) to get out in the weather and pick them up. So if it comes up that there is ice on the road and I can't reasonably get to work and get out 12 or so hours later, I'm calling in. There are lots of other nurses on my unit who live closer than me who have no kids. I'm not saying my time is more or less valuable than theirs, but I'm just stating that my personal priorities are different and I make my decisions accordingly. That's just how I feel. But then again, I don't work at a place that is so punitive to fire someone in an emergency situation. So maybe that's the difference.

[belgarion]

YOU make a contingecy plan if you live alone with children or pets. Other family members or neighbors take care of them for you. They CAN and WILL declare a disaster internally and you are not premitted to leave. If you do leave without permission you risk termination. In this economy that isn't something that you want to happen. My ID badge has the following statement on the back: "To all law enforcement agencies, this is an employee of XYZ Medical Institution, in a declared emergency/disaster all employees are required on the medical campus. Please allow safe passage." What would have happened in New Orleans if NO one came to work or EVERYONE left during Katriina? It is part of the responsibility that goes witb the choice to become a member of Health and Human Services professions/occupations. It is the unwritten expectation.

Another one size fits all, everyone lives in the same situation comment. You are of course making the assumption that everyone has family living within convenient distance or that they have neighbors close by who are willing to come get your kids. Not everyone is so lucky. Personally if it is a choice between my family's safety or risking my job I will go with my family every time.

[nursienursie]

emsnut45

i am glad that your supervisor has made arrangements for you to be picked up. you can add the experience to the tales you will tell to new grads years to come.

it is an individual choice. there is no right or wrong. safety imo is #1. i personally no longer brave major storms to make it in to work. last time i did, i crashed my car due to ice underneath the snow, going down hill in a 4wd. my reward... my life flashing before my eyes, my insurance rate increase, car rentals to get to work post crash, and having to make up that sat. for not making it in during a blizzard!

not all of us are that skilled driving in severe storms especially a blizzard.

when a storms hits and if i am scheduled to work and it has not hit yet i will leave early to get there. how ever if it's bad the day of and getting worse, i call out, so that i can live and make it in another day to serve my patients.

that experience also taught me that at that particular facility, i was just a body needed to fill a schedule. nothing more. and it is sad. that is not every where, but it stressed to me that you must take care of your safety needs 1st to then help others. i am not good to anyone injured or worse, dead.

be safe, be well.

[wonderbee, BSN, RN]

So my question is.... How can they make you stay at the hospital if you have children or pets at home? How can they hold you "hostage."

I know if my dog was at home and had no one to care for him... I'm sure as heck not staying at the hospital for 2-3 days.

Somewhere hidden in those big policy and procedures manuals is the emergency response plan. Each of us are required to familiarize ourselves with the plan and to make arrangements should it need be implemented. THAT is how they hold you hostage.hes

I've never worked snow events but have worked through a couple of hurricanes. These were three day sleepover events. We were the only ones with hot water and electricity. And we got paid for our time... all of it.

Those with small children who had no one else to count on brought them with them. There was no arrangement for pets. I boarded my cats. I slept on a sleeping bag and showered when I could.

[MERRYWIDOW46]

Another one size fits all, everyone lives in the same situation comment. You are of course making the assumption that everyone has family living within convenient distance or that they have neighbors close by who are willing to come get your kids. Not everyone is so lucky. Personally if it is a choice between my family's safety or risking my job I will go with my family every time.

I am NOT making any comment about anyone. I am simply stating what employers where I live tell employees. Simple truth, as the OP lives and works in my area and is not familiar with employer practices here. Employers here do not consider their actions punitive. We live and work in a "right to work state", therefore, NO reason necessary for separation on either side's part. However, the employee needs to give proper notice unlike the employer. AGAIN, I am not saying this is right or wrong, just stating the facts.

[martymoose, BSN, RN]

Ok, while I am not a single parent, but I am in a very rural area with no neighbors within miles- what is a single parent supposed to do if that situation comes up- no babysitters I know take your kid for three days on no notice, and imagine the bill- at 15 bucks an hour x 60 + hours- IF you could even find that kind of babysitter- well, I guess I d be the one risking being canned too. I cant imagine being single in that situation. calculated the bill- 900 dollars!riiiight.

[sharpeimom]

i live in a snowbelt area plus i also live in the valley between two mountains. lots and lots and lots of ice and snow. i have always driven a jeep since my first two cars. i never missed a day due to weather. when i had my fiberglass body sports car, i left for work in a raging snowstorm. heading down the interstate at a speedy 15 mph, i slid right into the back of a loaded down gas tanker. the front end just crumbled. after he got our versions of what had happened, the state trooper said the only possible way i could be found to be at fault was not having had the good sense to stay home in the first place, and since i had been on my way to work, that was not an issue.

kathy

shar pei mom:paw::paw:

[nuangel1, BSN, RN]

i always try to get to work .i live in northeast.but i have had to call out 3 times in 23 years.first time i left early packed a bag everyone i was working icu however i got in a mva shortly after i left the house.my car landed in a ditch .there was a foot 1/2 of snow i had to walk home leave the car .by the time i got home i had fallen twice and was having asthma attack.i called out at that point.second time i lived about 1/2 hr from work ,icu,another foot plus storm and they had declared state emergency and closed the highway i could not get in to hospital.last time was 3yr ago had a blizzard large driveway snow blower broke called 2o plus plows no one available .i tried to get my driveway and car done for hours before my shift- the snow was the wet heavy kind had multiple episode asthma attacks last i almost had to call rescue to get myself treated.again i ended calling out .i worked and extra shift that week to replace a nurse that had stayed during the storm .it all worked out.i now live 36 miles from my job in another state its snowing and again supposed to get more then a foot .i will go in if i safely can .

[Pat_Pat RN]

Pat,

That's my mentality. I have been in EMS for 8 years now, and am having a difficult time adjusting to the "nursing" way of thinking-- patient is #1 and nurse is #2.

EMSnut

I'm on our haz-mat team here at the hospital. It was amazing taking the training. We were given scenarios of patients coming in from a wreck with a tanker of ????? substance. "What do you do, this patient is bleeding?" The instructor asked. The ER nurses said, "Apply pressure to the bleeding." Wrong answer. We don't know WHAT they are covered in. "They might fall over dead in a minute from poisoning, and you would be close behind."

We learned how to setup and run a decon shower (2 actually) and apply level 1 hazmat suits.

If a patient can "self decontaminate", we have them do that. "Sir, take your clothes off right there. I know you are outside. Now take that water hose and soap and scrub yourself down from head to toe." Then they are allowed to enter the facility.

The traditional "nursing" way of thinking is WRONG. You still aren't any good dead, no matter what letters are behind your name.

You are still #1.

If you have a wreck and are brought in to your ER you are an additional drain on the resources, and if you get admitted, you are not only "not there" working, you have added to the patient load!

These are my thoughts.

Pat