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.
She had a car. Her problem was she didn't plan ahead knowing a massive blizzard was coming.
Allow me to address your snippet response.
First, in all the years I have been with the hospital, do you know how many times I have missed for snow?
ZERO. In fact, I usually go in for others that are not there. So before you claim I don't prepare I absolutely do.
I guess you missed the part where my vehicle slid off the driveway into the yard.
I called a tow to get me out. They said that they were so backed up that unless it was on a road or someone was inside they would not come.
I don't work in the city I live in. The snow came in two waves...the first wave already came, the second that was supposed to hit here did not come on the day it was supposed to. I was off that day the snow came where I worked. We got snow TWO DAYS prior to my scheduled shift to the tune of about 6 inches. That's a large fall where I live.
The day before my shift do you know how much snow we received? NONE.
The day of my shift we were supposed to only get 2 additional inches. We ended up getting 10. The roads were clear enough. Even the radar that I pulled up throughout the night did now show we were getting that much.
So would you travel to a hotel two days in advance, pay for two nights at roughly $80 a night in my area, for two inches of predicted snow (the large snowfall had already hit and roads scraped). No, you would not. Two inches is no big deal.
You can drive on scraped roads if you go slow. You cannot drive in 10 inches of freshly fallen snow. I also live in a mountainous area. You can't even get up an incline when it's like that.
It takes me 45 minutes to get to work. I got up in time to allow for 90 minutes for me to get there.
My point is that some nurses do try and get there and cannot besides all efforts. I even called a tow truck that refused to come!!! I can only go by the weather report. I got gas in advance and had my car swept off to make sure it would not freeze.
Short of bringing a magic wand and pixie dust I don't know what else I could have done.
The suits aren't all home with TV and cocoa. Our big bosses (CEO even) and managers are all there during bad weather and they stay 2 or 3 days at a time. They make sure to provide a horizontal surface in Recovery or the Nursing school dorm for us, along with plenty of food and shower supplies. Books, TV, an open gym, even a swim in the therapy pool - it's actually fun and we get to know each other in a new way. Most of us would rather be home, but going in early and staying late isn't so bad. Security will go get the stranded and will take people home, too. If it's a nice snow, we might even find the energy and time to make a few snowballs or build a snow family. Last year, I worked 16, had 8 off and stayed at work, did a 12, 8 off, did another 12 then got to go home. Had 4 or 5 hours of sleep while off at work. Not bad really, I was prepared with extra clothing, food, and mentally. Even played Scrabble. Great esprit d'corp among us. Glad it's only once or twice a year, enjoyed it while it lasted more or less.
A breastfeeding coworker was able to pump and get her fluids and we just all helped each other.
That's awesome that they do that.
Our administration? Didn't come in house for two days. Plus they sent an email out to all staff that under no circumstances were they permitted to stay at the hospital.
The ones that stayed over they wouldn't even provide a meal to.
My point is that I don't think administration should be telling anyone how they can use their PTO. Either it's yours or its not. Other people use it when they can't find a baby sitter, have a sick child, car trouble or any other reason. No...this past week was "special".
Oh...it's also important to note that no salaried employees were docked that missed because of snow. That also was included in the corporate email. Because we certainly aren't going to have managers and administration with short checks.
I feel obligated to point out the mistake in the title. If you say "The hospital could care less!", that means that their caring could, indeed, be worse than it is now.
If you say â€They couldn't care less, that means that their level of caring is as low as possible.
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
Ah unique circumstances. Not a sick kid or you being sick. A major blizzard that was warned for a week. I think they ( the powers that be) want people to understand not making it in to work during dire circumstances does not automatically mean a paid day off at home. I see no problem with that. They are not asking you to die on the highway, just to forgo being paid to stay home while someone else covers you.
You made out ok. In some places, people are written up for this. You were safe and warm at home, not stuck in a ditch somewhere.
Yet, Not one word from you about the person(s) inconvenienced by your not making it in. Someone had to cover for you and certainly did not plan on it. You were unharmed and safe at home, be grateful.
It is my considered opinion that we nurses need to grow up and stop considering ourselves saintly because we are expected to show up to work. The girl who runs the cash register at the 24/7 Walgreens has the same weird hours we do and does not get paid half what we do - certainly no PTO. She has no guarantee of 40 hours either; her shift changes constantly. Have you noticed how many 24/7 gas stations, Subways, McDonald's, and other minimum wage places are open to serve you as you huff and puff to your PTO-paid job? The days when only cops, firefighters, and medical personnel had to work weird days are over, people. We are blessed to have steady jobs that offer benefits.
My wife speaks four languages fluently, has a Master's from an Ivy League, and scrapes here and there for a few associate-professor hours between several schools. A friend of mine has 13 hours per week between three different retail stores. Not worth the gas. Pretty much everyone we know is in the same boat. You truly don't know how hard it is out there for people outside the medical field.
I once let a relatively new coworker stay at my home as I lived FAR closer than she did, saving her the expense of a hotel. She ended up being someone I wished I had never invited into my home. Lesson learned for me!
What do people in the north do when the local government issues a ban on driving? Like in NYC this past week didn't they say you werent allowed to be on the road? What happens then (in places where there is little/no public transportation)?
Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
What do people in the north do when the local government issues a ban on driving? Like in NYC this past week didn't they say you werent allowed to be on the road? What happens then (in places where there is little/no public transportation)?
Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
That's awesome that they do that.
Our administration? Didn't come in house for two days. Plus they sent an email out to all staff that under no circumstances were they permitted to stay at the hospital.
The ones that stayed over they wouldn't even provide a meal to.
Then I would look for a different hospital to work. ALL facilities where it snows all the time the brass IS there and stays. They allow staff to sleep and offer scrubs and food.
Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
My point is that I don't think administration should be telling anyone how they can use their PTO. Either it's yours or its not. Other people use it when they can't find a baby sitter, have a sick child, car trouble or any other reason. No...this past week was "special".
Oh...it's also important to note that no salaried employees were docked that missed because of snow. That also was included in the corporate email. Because we certainly aren't going to have managers and administration with short checks.
Salaried employees would not be docked...by law that is why they are salaried. Once they are docked that makes them hourly....and they work far more than a 40 hour week.
If you look at the HR policies for ALL of your PTO it says...pending on manager approval and unit needs.
I am so sorry ((HUGS)) without a union contract they administration can pretty much do as they please. It is clear you tried but I remain confused how a 4 wheel vehicle got stuck in 10 inches of snow.
Kooky Korky, BSN, RN
5,216 Posts
The 4 wheel drive was her plan. She just needed to augment it by leaving home early, pre-plowing, something.