Bad weather and getting to the hospital

Published

I have a clinical today in L&D, my last one before break between semesters. I set my alarm extra early, b/c a big storm was coming. Well, it came. I cannot get out of 1) my driveway, 2) my subdivision, 3) my first main road.

It's the snow drifts. Not so much snow, but the wind is wicked. I talked with my clinical instructor - she said not to worry, it can be made up. But I thought about when I am actually working on a unit and bad weather hits - the kind where you really can't get in for awhile - how do you handle that? I feel like it's my responsibility to be there, regardless of weather conditions. I am very uneasy about missing a clinical assignment.

Specializes in ICU.

Wow, these stories just amaze me!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in CVICU.
I feel like it's my responsibility to be there, regardless of weather conditions. I am very uneasy about missing a clinical assignment.

You are absolutely correct. I'm glad you realize this now :D When you know a storm is coming, plan ahead. A lot of times, if I know a friend who is also working the same shift with me and has an SUV or a truck, I will ask if I can get a ride with them to work. If that doesn't work, I will call another friend to get a ride.

I know sometimes you absolutely can't get out. I have gotten stuck in the middle of the street halfway to work. I just called and told them what happened, worked on digging myself out, and then arrived at work a bit late. Usually the people on the previous shift are pretty good about helping out and staying late since this has happened to them before too.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in psych. rehab nursing, float pool.

I used to get peeved at the amount of co-workers who would just happen to be sick during a snow storm and it was always the same people.......

dont forget a candle , matches, comes in handy if you get stuck and run out of gas. A burning candle can at least add a small amount of warmth until you are rescued. All else that Daytonite mentioned was always in my trunk, including jumper cables .

I do not miss the perils of winter driving.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Hi, SusanKathleen,

Just gotta love Michigan!!

We finished our clinicals up yesterday, and were supposed to be on campus today to get our evals. My school seems to be the only one in this whole area that is open today, but my instructor chose not to drive in 1 1/2 hours so did us all a favor and called in sick.

I'm glad your instructor was understanding. Sometimes these things happen.

Take Care...

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I'll get there as far in advance as I can with an overnight bag to stay.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Neuro ICU and Med Surg.
I used to get peeved at the amount of co-workers who would just happen to be sick during a snow storm and it was always the same people.......

dont forget a candle , matches, comes in handy if you get stuck and run out of gas. A burning candle can at least add a small amount of warmth until you are rescued. All else that Daytonite mentioned was always in my trunk, including jumper cables .

I do not miss the perils of winter driving.

I totally understand getting peeved at co workers who call in during snow storms. I am that person today. Not because of the snow, but becasue I am sick with a inner and outer ear infection and a hacking cough, and fever. I can't even take a deep breath without coughing. So I was going to attempt to go in but thought better of it.

I think Daytonite gave some real good suggestions.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Home Health, Psyc, OR.

I live in North Dakota so I have some experience with snow. Just last weekend we had a bad storm and people got stuck at work for over 24 hours because people could not get into work. But they also could not get home. The problem isn't always just the snow drifts but we had zero visability because of blowing snow. It doesn't matter what you drive if you cannot see you hand infront of your face! We usually try to plan ahead and stay in an extra room or something. But we do not take chances because with -20 temps going out in a storm can be deadly!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.

hospitals are open 24/7/365. if you know ahead of time that the weather is going to be awful, you need to make arrangements to get there anyway: stay closer to the hospital the night before your shift, set your alarm and leave extra early, whatever it takes. i've gone to work on a snowmobile and i've skiied to work. whatever it takes.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Community, OB, Nursery.

Last time we were forecasted for bad weather (which turned out to be nothing) I stayed at my mother's place (about 7 mi away, vs my 48) and left early. Fortunately, it was nowhere near what they forecasted, and nobody had any issues either getting there or getting home on either shift.

Our place does make arrangements for employees to sleep somewhere if it comes to that.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in psych. rehab nursing, float pool.

I remember my sister age 11 at the time was scheduled for surgery. She was to be at the hospital the night before. My dad during a snow storm did his level best to get her to the hospital 11 miles away . He became stuck, everyone was stuck. He said a snowmobiler happened by. My dad stopped him, explained the situation and God bless the snow mobiler took my sister on the back of his machine and brought her to the hospital. It was a surgery which could not be postponed.

That was back in the days when you were not so afraid of strangers and accepted their kind acts.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

This sort of thing has been an issue everywhere I've worked...living in Indiana, we have our fair share of winter grossness. In fact, we had a lovely ice storm just this morning.

Everyplace I've worked has dealt with this differently. The first LTC I worked in would sometimes write you up if you called in for weather related reasons and left them understaffed. (That was just ridiculous to me.)

At the second LTC I worked at, they scheduled two extra aides and an extra nurse every shift in case of call ins. The bad thing about that is, if everyone showed up, the extras had to turn around and go back home.

At the hospital I worked at, they would try to call in people to cover for call ins, but if they weren't successful, the unit was often understaffed. They were understanding about the weather, though.

At my current facility, if the person set to cover for you calls in and they can't find a replacement, you have to stay until a replacement arrives. I absolutely hate this policy, because I have already been forced to stay for a double twice this winter. However, it does ensure that the unit will have at least minimal staffing.

I know what you mean about uneasiness. I've only had to call in once due to weather, I live close enough that if worse comes to worst I can walk, but I felt guilty and uneasy the entire time. I guess just remember that your safety is the most important thing! If you get hurt trying to get to work, you'll miss a lot MORE work. Don't worry, in places with harsh winters, people understand. I don't think they'll hold it against you if you get trapped by the weather.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in critical care; community health; psych.

The combination of ice and hills is potentially deadly. I've watched the salt trucks drive cautiously. It's not worth it to bang up myself or my car and there's no place to crash on the unit so I call in and wait for the roads to clear. I've also pleaded with the City to send the salt trucks out very early.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion