Well, I want to say first that I fully understand that hospitals expect you to be at work no matter what the weather.
I always go. I go for other people. That's why I have a four wheel drive. However, sometimes there is bad timing. Such as major snow that falls heavily and rapidly.
I got up, took a shower, got in the car to go to work. I swept it off the night before, got gas the night before, washed my uniform and had it pressed in case the power went out.
I warmed up the car, went off my driveway...moved about 15 feet and it slid into the yard.
The vehicle would not move.
So for the first time in years...I don't call in sick but maybe once a year. Never for weather.
I have PTO right? Lots of it because I never call in.
Get this...hospital is not allowing me to use my PTO for that day.
Freaking ridiculous. So if anyone else makes an attempt and wrecks. Call the news right after the tow truck. The general public should know that hospitals don't care about the safety of their employees. So this crappie about the fact they do? They can stick it as far as I'm concerned.
From a legal standpoint and this is something to look over in your contract, is PTO contingent on approval?
In corporate America, it doesn't matter what you do to not come into work ( I know being a nurse is a different mindset but stay with me here) if you have available time to use they are not even allowed to ask questions. You are paid for your absence from work if you have that time available
I see everyone's comments on here and I am just about to start nursing school but I have worked for a very large company for the past 7 years so my view point on this is different than some other people's.
Review that contract or your employee handbook, which i just almost called a syllabus. lol
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
Ok I have been watching things unfold, and predictably, the OP is LONG GONE. Interestingly, her story evolved as people began to disagree with her. I think she expected us to all beat our chests and cheer her on in her crying "UNFAIR" in her rants. It did not go as expected, so she kept adding on. But some of us held fast to our disagreement and she disappeared.
One thing we need to get straight: the title of the thread (misworded as it is) is also inaccurate:
NO ONE asked ANYONE to die on the highway for their job. NOT ONCE.
And another point:
The folks in the path of the storm had a WEEK to prepare. A WEEK.
Yet things happened and some did not make it in. The storm was worse in some places than others. It was said by the OP that near the hospital, conditions were not as bad as at the OP's home. I get that. It was dangerous for the OP to get out of her driveway. She was unable to make it. Ok. No one wrote her up. She did not lose her job, either.
But to be paid to stay home in one's warm home is pretty silly to me. She was safe, unharmed and nice and comfy. Where's her gratitude for that?
Those who worked in her stead were inconvenienced in one way or another. THEY deserve the kudos. The OP was not at work in what were dire and unusual circumstances and IMO, does not deserve to be paid for her day off. The OP should not be rewarded for staying at home. I don't see it as punishment, just as fair and setting the precedent that, in the future, calling out or not making it to work under dire circumstances------ people will not be rewarded with a paid day off.
And those who call us "Rude" and "bad nurses" for simply disagreeing and having dissenting opinions, are to me, being very unfair. Yet, we don't lob similar insults at you. I have not insulted your integrity or your nursing capabilities even once. I find that interesting and quite telling of who YOU are.
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
I am sure you wouldn't. I expect good care when I am a patient and I will not tolerate incompetent, negligent, disrespectful nurses. You definitely would not get away with it.
Your assumption that I am incompetent, negligent and disrespectful (because I disagree with you, no doubt) is amusing and incorrect. My assumption that you would be difficult is based on your pot stirring on this forum. Perhaps you are nothing like that in real life. Perhaps little piggies fly.
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
Ok I have been watching things unfold, and predictably, the OP is LONG GONE. Interestingly, her story evolved as people began to disagree with her. I think she expected us to all beat our chests and cheer her on in her crying "UNFAIR" in her rants. It did not go as expected, so she kept adding on. But some of us held fast to our disagreement and she disappeared.
One thing we need to get straight: the title of the thread (misworded as it is) is also inaccurate:
NO ONE asked ANYONE to die on the highway for their job. NOT ONCE.
And another point:
The folks in the path of the storm had a WEEK to prepare. A WEEK.
Yet things happened and some did not make it in. The storm was worse in some places than others. It was said by the OP that near the hospital, conditions were not as bad as at the OP's home. I get that. It was dangerous for the OP to get out of her driveway. She was unable to make it. Ok. No one wrote her up. She did not lose her job, either.
But to be paid to stay home in one's warm home is pretty silly to me. She was safe, unharmed and nice and comfy. Where's her gratitude for that?
Those who worked in her stead were inconvenienced in one way or another. THEY deserve the kudos. The OP was not at work in what were dire and unusual circumstances and IMO, does not deserve to be paid for her day off. The OP should not be rewarded for staying at home. I don't see it as punishment, just as fair and setting the precedent that, in the future, calling out or not making it to work under dire circumstances------ people will not be rewarded with a paid day off.
And those who call us "Rude" and "bad nurses" for simply disagreeing and having dissenting opinions, are to me, being very unfair. Yet, we don't lob similar insults at you. I have not insulted your integrity or your nursing capabilities even once. I find that interesting and quite telling of who YOU are.
Wow I am honestly surprised at all the negative responses toward the OP. Where I work, an absence is an absence no matter what the reason. You get a point and you May use your vacation time(pto) to make up so your check isn't short. Is it that crazy for someone to not want their check shorted so they can pay their bills? Some of us don't have the luxury of having a second income in the house and one day not mattering. I'm in Indiana, and we are a fire at will state. Maybe that is why it is different. But I still feel as though you should be able to use your PTO for any absence.
There are always people who will abuse the system and ruin it for the good ones. While I get that no one wants a nurse caring for them who has been working 20 hours, are there not laws against that? We are not allowed to work more than 16hrs, then we MUST be clocked out 8 hours. They CAN make us stay if we can't make it back in, but we are never working 20 hours.
A side note here: We all need to live within our means. You should NOT be one accident or illness away from homelessness. Nurses are relatively well paid, compared to many Americans, who truly do live hand to mouth.
It's important to have an emergency fund, to cushion life's inevitable bumps in the road. You should not be living high on the hog, then cry that you are out of funds!
I recommend Dave Ramsey's book, The Total Money Makeover as a start.
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
Wow I am honestly surprised at all the negative responses toward the OP. Where I work, an absence is an absence no matter what the reason. You get a point and you May use your vacation time(pto) to make up so your check isn't short. Is it that crazy for someone to not want their check shorted so they can pay their bills? Some of us don't have the luxury of having a second income in the house and one day not mattering. I'm in Indiana, and we are a fire at will state. Maybe that is why it is different. But I still feel as though you should be able to use your PTO for any absence.
There are always people who will abuse the system and ruin it for the good ones. While I get that no one wants a nurse caring for them who has been working 20 hours, are there not laws against that? We are not allowed to work more than 16hrs, then we MUST be clocked out 8 hours. They CAN make us stay if we can't make it back in, but we are never working 20 hours.
The negative responses were at the idea that the OP is entitled to use PTO whenever she chooses. Most hospitals won't let you use PTO during a declared weather emergency. This is to keep some folks with poor work ethic and lack of integrity from spoiling things for everyone. The OP chose to stay home for the entire shift rather than keep working on a way to get to work. She stayed home in warmth and comfort while others were inconvenienced and put at risk due to her decision.
If one day of lost pay will ruin your budget, then you need to work harder to make it in to work that day. The OP essentially gave up at the start of the shift and didn't even try to get to work once the shift started. I'm sure some of those nurses forced to stay over or run short handed because of her decision would have been delighted to see her even four or six hours late.
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
The negative responses were at the idea that the OP is entitled to use PTO whenever she chooses. Most hospitals won't let you use PTO during a declared weather emergency. This is to keep some folks with poor work ethic and lack of integrity from spoiling things for everyone. The OP chose to stay home for the entire shift rather than keep working on a way to get to work. She stayed home in warmth and comfort while others were inconvenienced and put at risk due to her decision.
If one day of lost pay will ruin your budget, then you need to work harder to make it in to work that day. The OP essentially gave up at the start of the shift and didn't even try to get to work once the shift started. I'm sure some of those nurses forced to stay over or run short handed because of her decision would have been delighted to see her even four or six hours late.
Mini2544, ASN, RN
159 Posts
From a legal standpoint and this is something to look over in your contract, is PTO contingent on approval?
In corporate America, it doesn't matter what you do to not come into work ( I know being a nurse is a different mindset but stay with me here) if you have available time to use they are not even allowed to ask questions. You are paid for your absence from work if you have that time available
I see everyone's comments on here and I am just about to start nursing school but I have worked for a very large company for the past 7 years so my view point on this is different than some other people's.
Review that contract or your employee handbook, which i just almost called a syllabus. lol
Sarah