Alright, I am not sure if this is in the right area, I'm really not sure where I should have started this thread. Admins, please feel free to move it wherever you feel it belongs!
So, Winter is here, like it or not. Last night at work, I was informed, through the grapevine of course because I work NOC's and it is a pretty damn rare sight to see administration, that it is the night staff's duty (RN's, LPN's, CNA's, we're at a LTC/Rehab facility) to clear away snow that falls/blows in the night. Um, seriously?! What is the role of maintanence? Apparently their day ends at 5pm along with all other administrators?
I don't do snow, not at home and certainly not at work in my Dansko's and thin scrub pants! (I don't own snow gear and you can bet your sweet bippy I have no intention of investing in any!) Is this a demand they can make of nursing staff? I'm truly interested in knowing the law in regards to fair labor. Any insight or links anyone?
Jeez. The thing is, there is a difference between asking nicely for a favor and demanding someone do a task. If someone had asked me nicely to please start their car due to their RA I probably would have done it, and I probably would have cleared it off too. If they asked me like that? No freaking way! How do people not understand you catch more flies with honey than vinegar? (actually, that's not true vinegar works great for flies....haha but still) I will never understand and I will never speak to someone like that no matter what my position is.
Talked with the RN who went out to shovel. She did indeed do it. Apparently CNA's are expected to do it (still not right, IMO) and rather than listen to them complain about it, she just went out and did it. The other RN flat out refused to entertain the idea.
No joke...we have several residents that smoke and after the last snowfall one of the smokers sons went out an shovelled a path to the smoking area for the residents, our maintenance staff were clearing the front and back parking lots and hadn't gotten anywhere near the smoking area yet.
Not sure, but I don't think snow shoveling is in a RN's scope of practice. I am willing to bet that having nursing staff going outside to shovel snow, without providing proper equipment is an OSHA violation. Is the facility providing proper footwear? I believe that there are regulations in place that dictate what kind of footwear and outer wear needs to be worn when working outside doing manual labor. Also, I'm pretty sure the health department would have a fit if they knew patient care staff was being sent outside to shovel snow and not taking care of patients.
CrunchRN, ADN, RN
4,556 Posts
What a charge *&(^% nurse