Are you going to work tommorow in the big storm?

Saysfaa · Feb 3, 2011

You could not arrange for your husband to meet you at a hotel? With all of the schools closed, there is not a single high schooler (or school teacher maybe) around that could babysit until your husband got home? Couldn't you do what you would do if you were the one working when the storm hit and it wasn't safe to drive home?

Blizzard in the north or a few icy inches in the south.... it isn't a matter of what kind of weather makes the roads unsafe for any particular person. It is that, at some point, other arrangement should be made in the days leading up to the storm.

llerkl, ADN · Feb 3, 2011

PROUDLY made it to work Tuesday night. I left my home a bit after 9pm, to make sure I was there to begin at 12 am. The weather/driving was ok when I left, but if I would have left at my usual time it may have been quite dangerous. I have a very strong personal commitment to being at my job whenI am scheduled to be there. It is all about planning and being proactive. Sure, I could have waited and left after 11 pm, been unable to get there and called in. That is NOT how I roll. Personal accountability is part of who I am. I am SO SICK of the "Chicken Little" weather mentality here. I mean, seriously, it is February, this is Michigan, DEAL with it or move away!One of my colleagues (who lives about 15 miles away from the hospital) stayed overnight at the hospital on the night of the " FLIZZARD (fake blizzard) to make sure she was able to report to work the next day. One of my other colleagues (day person who relieved me) was up at 0330, blowing out his driveway to make sure he got in here on time......and he did!!! I APPRECIATE these efforts to do the right thing! I am not saying folks should be out driving in treacherous conditions, but if you can make it in, it is your duty. Remember, you are the one who CHOSE to work at a 24/7 operation )

End of rant ;?:) Thanks for listening

Saysfaa · Feb 3, 2011

Lol, frizzard! I had to share that with my sil who also lives in MI and has been exchanging terms on facebook. Her current personal favorite is snowtorious B.I.G.

Also, I wanted to add that I don't think it is a lack of personal integrity (well, at least lots of times) as much as it is a paradigm thing. :twocents:

Super_RN, BSN, RN · Feb 3, 2011

You could not arrange for your husband to meet you at a hotel? With all of the schools closed, there is not a single high schooler (or school teacher maybe) around that could babysit until your husband got home? Couldn't you do what you would do if you were the one working when the storm hit and it wasn't safe to drive home?
Blizzard in the north or a few icy inches in the south.... it isn't a matter of what kind of weather makes the roads unsafe for any particular person. It is that, at some point, other arrangement should be made in the days leading up to the storm.

Not everyone has the means to stay in a hotel. And to answer your other question--we did not have anyone available. Were there school closings? That's a given. We do NOT know anyone to watch our daughter, she has never been to a babysitter except for family, which was inacessible due to where we live and the distance apart in which they live. The only way to get my sister (a "high schooler" who babysits for us!) was to drive and get her, which I could not do with our little car.

As to meeting my husband at the hotel--we only have ONE decent vehicle, which he was driving, not TWO. So again, NO, I could not have met him.

Normally under these circumstances they will send out deputies to pick you up--however, I live in a different county than I work and they don't send anyone. I was willing to go in if that was provided, but it wasn't.

mama_d, BSN, RN · Feb 3, 2011

I live in Missouri and had to take the portionof Hwy 70 that was not closed to work on Tuesday nite. Managed to get there and back home safely, only to get my car stuck trying to pull into the (unshovelled) driveway and had to have two neighbors and my hubby push the car over the drift I was stuck on so I wasn't blocking the street. I felt like an idiot. :)

Super_RN, BSN, RN · Feb 3, 2011

Last year I actually lived right across the street from the hospital--I walked to work every day. When we had snow storms last year, I had no problem picking up when others couldn't get in. I'm thankful I wasn't all crappy about it then, because karma sucks...and when it happened to me Tuesday night/ Wed morning, I was very thankful for the staff that lives close that were able to be there.

SHURN · Feb 3, 2011

I worked Tuesday day(7a-7p) and wed day. Many of the night shifters that were scheduled for Tuesday night came in during the day and slept on the cots that were set up. They relieved us. I only live a few miles from the hospital, but I knew I would not get out of my driveway in the am. So, a co-worker and I shared a hotel down the street and used her 4 wheel drive to get there. The hotel gave us a big discount and it cost $30 each. In a huge suite. The hospital also offered accommodations and staff who stayed were offered "disaster preparedness" pay. Then when I got to work on Wed, the hospital did not allow the night shifters to leave. They slept at the hospital during the day and worked Wed night. We (day shift) were allowed to leave last night. Those night shifters are the ones that really sacrificed.

I know there are a few different circumstances (no child care) but we had 70% of staff call off! Yes, 70%!!!! :eek: come on. People knew it was coming, they could have slept at the hospital. You can't tell me that all 70% had a legitimate excuse! I know of 5 in my unit alone that are single and could have come the day before. One girl lives about a block from me and insisted she would make it in wed by leaving very early. Even if you left 3hrs early to get in, if you get stuck in your driveway, it doesn't matter. And guess what happened. Yes, it sucks! But the patients are there regardless. Selfishness made my job harder and pt care worse!

Biffbradford · Feb 3, 2011

From the local paper: http://www.jsonline.com/news/milwaukee/115010864.html

The nearest 'town', Hales Corners recorded 28 inches of snow and winds over 50mph:

"Molly Kaul, a nurse on her way home from working the late shift at Children's Hospital, had been stranded at Loomis Rd. and Highway 100 for more than three hours as of 3:30 a.m. "She was driving home around midnight from Children's Hospital where she's a nurse," her husband, Brent, wrote in an e-mail to the Journal Sentinel. "I can't get any tow trucks to get her because they all said they're only towing for the police now. The police were trying to get a tow truck to her but now they say that most, if not all, tow trucks are off the roads because they were getting stuck.

"The cops can't even get to her. So she's just sitting there. I can't get to her because there's no way I could get out of our subdivision. Her cell battery is running low too. I don't know what to do now."

Kaul was rescued by Franklin police just after 4 a.m. after being stranded for more than 4 hours. Police couldn't make it into her subdivision so she walked the last couple blocks without shoes, which were lost in the snow.

Others were not yet that fortunate"

General E. Speaking, RN, RN · Feb 3, 2011

My supervisor finally called me back. They are making the classrooms "sleep rooms". Nothing mandatory...yet. I am keeping a close watch on our Texas weather. I don't want to sleep on a cot/air mattress with 30 other people but will if it means relieving my night time coworkers. :nurse:

highlandlass1592, BSN, RN · Feb 3, 2011

My friend had to work Tuesday night, she got a call from her manager to come in 2 hours early. Here's the kicker: the manager was concerned for my friend's safety as she would be driving into the blizzard at her normally scheduled time so she had my friend come in 2 hours early and paid her OT to do it! My friend didn't have to start working early, just show up so her manager would know she was safe. That manager needs a huge kudos..way to care for your staff! She also made great arrangements for any on her staff who had to stay. Wish I worked for that NM!

GM2RN · Feb 3, 2011

From the local paper: http://www.jsonline.com/news/milwaukee/115010864.html
The nearest 'town', Hales Corners recorded 28 inches of snow and winds over 50mph:
"Molly Kaul, a nurse on her way home from working the late shift at Children's Hospital, had been stranded at Loomis Rd. and Highway 100 for more than three hours as of 3:30 a.m. "She was driving home around midnight from Children's Hospital where she's a nurse," her husband, Brent, wrote in an e-mail to the Journal Sentinel. "I can't get any tow trucks to get her because they all said they're only towing for the police now. The police were trying to get a tow truck to her but now they say that most, if not all, tow trucks are off the roads because they were getting stuck.
"The cops can't even get to her. So she's just sitting there. I can't get to her because there's no way I could get out of our subdivision. Her cell battery is running low too. I don't know what to do now."
Kaul was rescued by Franklin police just after 4 a.m. after being stranded for more than 4 hours. Police couldn't make it into her subdivision so she walked the last couple blocks without shoes, which were lost in the snow.
Others were not yet that fortunate"

This is an unfortunate incident. But this nurse was safe at the hospital, although I'm sure she preferred to be home, and made the choice to try to navigate the roads late at night in the snow. So I'm not sure what your point is in posting this.

locolorenzo22, BSN, RN · Feb 4, 2011

I worked tuesday nite, came in from a hour away with a packed bag, cause I KNEW we would be required to stay. followed my MIL all the way down, we came in from a hour away and the roads were not that bad. However, finding out people called off from in town because of the snow....not good. Day shift had to sign papers stating that they were offered to sleep in the hospital but HAD to be in on Wed if they were scheduled.

Nights tuesday staff had to stay in the hospital due to the admin not being sure if they would have staff for Wed.

I understand that, you have to expect you weren't going anywhere. But they had security posted at doors. Thankfully, we were able to use a closed room with some beds and a chair versus the mass cots in a education hall.

I have VERY little sympthathy for anyone who didn't bring items. it's all people talked about for 3-4 days! Everyone was very understanding, patients and their families who made it in Wed night brought snacks and one guy even tried to get us some pizza! lol....the stores were all shut down, but still.

I hope everyone had a ok shifts, but enjoy some time off!