Weather Policy

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Does your hospital have a weather policy? If so, is it lenient? Do you ever feel like you have really sacrificed your safety to make it into work out of guilt?

Specializes in Anesthesia, ICU, PCU.

Yeah my area is expecting significant snowfall tomorrow and I'm schedule for night shift. Nobody has posted anything about inclement weather accommodations. Hate to put any blame on management, but if I was in charge I would post in advance the facility's policy on inclement weather and potential need for emergency transportation of "essential personnel." Instead we'll be expected to either brave the weather or cowardly state our fear of driving I suppose.

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Specializes in Med/Surg/ICU/Stepdown.
Yeah my area is expecting significant snowfall tomorrow and I'm schedule for night shift. Nobody has posted anything about inclement weather accommodations. Hate to put any blame on management but if I was in charge I would post in advance the facility's policy on inclement weather and potential need for emergency transportation of "essential personnel." Instead we'll be expected to either brave the weather or cowardly state our fear of driving I suppose.[/quote']

At my hospital, this only happens if a hospital elects to call a Code White, meaning no one is permitted to come or go. Unfortunately, the worst of the snowfall is slated for the last three hours of my shift and the worst of it during my commute. But alas, they wouldn't dream of trying to release me early so I could make it home safe. Nor do I expect a meal voucher and an open room at the end of the hallway for my trouble.

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Specializes in Emergency Room, Trauma ICU.

If you live in an area that gets snow it's your responsibility to be equipped to make it to work in said weather. Just because you don't have 4 wheel drive or snow tires doesn't mean you get to call in. It would be a little different if you lived in a place that never got snow and you were unprepared. But people who live in snow, hurricane or other places with know weather issues need to be prepared. Otherwise hospitals won't have any staff.

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Specializes in Med/Surg/ICU/Stepdown.
If you live in an area that gets snow it's your responsibility to be equipped to make it to work in said weather. Just because you don't have 4 wheel drive or snow tires doesn't mean you get to call in. It would be a little different if you lived in a place that never got snow and you were unprepared. But people who live in snow hurricane or other places with know weather issues need to be prepared. Otherwise hospitals won't have any staff. Sent from my iPhone using allnurses.com[/quote']

I'm all for being prepared. But in this situation, you're asking someone to be prepared in a way they cannot. It'd be like telling me I *have* to have a truck with 4 wheel drive so I can make it in because I work in an area known to get the occasional snow storm. That seems ... unrealistic.

Especially given over 2/3 the staff live within 10 mins away.

I get it. You don't agree. I'm just looking to see if anyone else really gets that end of the stick as well.

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Specializes in Pedi.
Does your hospital have a weather policy? If so, is it lenient? Do you ever feel like you have really sacrificed your safety to make it into work out of guilt?

Yes. Get to work.

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, PACU.

I have only called off twice for weather in almost 30 years. Once I slid off into the median and was stuck. The other was a level 3 snow emergency and if we got on the highway you were ticketed and told to get off. I couldn't have gotten out f my garage anyways as the drift in front of it was up to the gutter.

Our policy is if a certain number of people call out on that day then you aren't penalized. Otherwise you can be late and use your sick time to make up time lost. There have been times many of us stayed overnight because it was to dangerous to travel.

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Specializes in LTC, med/surg, hospice.

Yes it is crappy that we have to work when all over the news they are saying stay off the roads and such. At the same time I don't want to work 24hours because staff can't make it nor do they wish to do so for me. Driving in bad weather comes with the territory when you work in an area that is open 24/7

Our policy is they expect you to be here if that means leaving 1 day in advance before the bad weather, slip and sliding about etc. Patients come first according to management..nurses are replaceable.

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Specializes in Anesthesia, ICU, PCU.
At my hospital this only happens if a hospital elects to call a Code White, meaning no one is permitted to come or go. Unfortunately, the worst of the snowfall is slated for the last three hours of my shift and the worst of it during my commute. But alas, they wouldn't dream of trying to release me early so I could make it home safe. Nor do I expect a meal voucher and an open room at the end of the hallway for my trouble.[/quote']

There is technically a "state of emergency" already, but all I know about that is that you can't park on the main roads. Considering all offices and schools are already closed for tomorrow in my city, I think a certain level of preparedness and pre-emptive information is warranted on the part of the employers of "essential personnel." I wonder if there will be some special penalty for those who call in, considering the weather circumstances...

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If you live in an area that gets snow it's your responsibility to be equipped to make it to work in said weather. Just because you don't have 4 wheel drive or snow tires doesn't mean you get to call in. It would be a little different if you lived in a place that never got snow and you were unprepared. But people who live in snow, hurricane or other places with know weather issues need to be prepared. Otherwise hospitals won't have any staff.

Sent from my iPhone using allnurses.com

Last year in February in NY we got over 2 feet of snow. And many of the local towns werent prepared and some of the roads werent plowed at all for DAYS. The major highways on long island were completely shut down .

Unless you own a tank, helicopter, or snowplow I dont think its "reasonable" that you should be capable of traveling in such conditions.

I believe hospitals rather should have reasonable policies in place for such events.

For instance if theres supposed to be a massive blizzard on thursday , and im set to work thursday night. The hospital should offer the opportunity to alter the schedule so I can come in thursday BEFORE the storm, spend the night, and allow me to work the following day (if I wasnt scheduled already)

While hiring people to take care of the parking lot so that my car wont be buried when I attempt to leave.

I realize people dont like being mandated to stay at work during storms, but as long as the hospital makes reasonable accommodations and pays you accordingly for mandated it really works out for the best for both the employee and hospital.

I for one would rather get paid to come in early / stay / work an extra shift then risk my life to come to work.

A cooworker of mine that just recently got hired had to come in during the recent storm and ended up getting around 3000$ in damage to her to car to work a shift where she made 300 and change.

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Specializes in Emergency Room, Trauma ICU.
Last year in February in NY we got over 2 feet of snow. And many of the local towns werent prepared and some of the roads werent plowed at all for DAYS. The major highways on long island were completely shut down . Unless you own a tank helicopter, or snowplow I dont think its "reasonable" that you should be capable of traveling in such conditions. I believe hospitals rather should have reasonable policies in place for such events. For instance if theres supposed to be a massive blizzard on thursday , and im set to work thursday night. The hospital should offer the opportunity to alter the schedule so I can come in thursday BEFORE the storm, spend the night, and allow me to work the following day (if I wasnt scheduled already) While hiring people to take care of the parking lot so that my car wont be buried when I attempt to leave. I realize people dont like being mandated to stay at work during storms, but as long as the hospital makes reasonable accommodations and pays you accordingly for mandated it really works out for the best for both the employee and hospital. I for one would rather get paid to come in early / stay / work an extra shift then risk my life to come to work. A cooworker of mine that just recently got hired had to come in during the recent storm and ended up getting around 3000$ in damage to her to car to work a shift where she made 300 and change.[/quote']

There's a difference in the highway being **** down and not being able to make it in and just not coming in because of the snow. And what should management do? Keep the people already at work on the clock because the next shift called in snow? This is the job we took.

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Specializes in Emergency Room, Trauma ICU.
I'm all for being prepared. But in this situation you're asking someone to be prepared in a way they cannot. It'd be like telling me I *have* to have a truck with 4 wheel drive so I can make it in because I work in an area known to get the occasional snow storm. That seems ... unrealistic. Especially given over 2/3 the staff live within 10 mins away. I get it. You don't agree. I'm just looking to see if anyone else really gets that end of the stick as well.[/quote']

So you only want responses that agree with you? Got it. Good luck with that.

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There's a difference in the highway being **** down and not being able to make it in and just not coming in because of the snow. And what should management do? Keep the people already at work on the clock because the next shift called in snow? This is the job we took.

Sent from my iPhone using allnurses.com

I dont where youre from, but some areas are extremely difficult/impossible to travel without access to major roads. Add in 2 feet of snow, and zero visibility and its a major issue.

Hospitals should make plans and procedures to make the experience safe and optimal for their employees.

Bad weather complications cant be completely be avoided, but some hospitals do an incredibly half assed job making things far worse than they need to be

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