KidzNrz17 17 Posts Specializes in Oncology. Feb 3, 2015 I am retired now, but I spent several nights sleeping at the hospital when it snowed. Did I love doing that? NO. But it is important to the patients to have staff there to care for them. I also felt like it was important for me to do my part to help out my co-workers. I live in the country where the roads can get bad. Sometimes my husband took me and sometimes I just took clothes etc with me. I've also had my assistant nurse manager call me and say someone else was willing to stay and work a couple days so would I come in later in the week. Maybe part of it is in learning not to resent a place for needing you to do the job you agreed to do.
Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN 5,047 Posts Specializes in SICU, trauma, neuro. Has 16 years experience. Feb 3, 2015 I don't think the issue for anyone is the idea of staying on-site in a weather-related emergency; the issue is if the facility is refusing to pay them as non-exempt employees. I think all of us care about our patients. We care about our patients in bad weather and in perfect weather. That doesn't mean we're willing to work for free, though. I can't speak for everyone, but my time away from my family and home comes at a price.
Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN 5,047 Posts Specializes in SICU, trauma, neuro. Has 16 years experience. Feb 3, 2015 Maybe part of it is in learning not to resent a place for needing you to do the job you agreed to do.I don't think the issue for anyone is the idea of staying on-site in a weather-related emergency; the issue is if the facility is refusing to pay them as non-exempt employees. Willingness to care for patients doesn't equal a willingness to work for free. I can't speak for everyone, but my time away from my family and home comes at a price.
CapeCodMermaid, RN 6,090 Posts Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health. Has 30 years experience. Feb 3, 2015 Not true. I stayed for 72 hours straight during a blizzard as the ADON...
Cowgirl1886 5 Posts Feb 4, 2015 It's very rare for it to snow in Texas, but when it does it's bad. There was no excuse. Our facility let us sleep in empty rooms, set up mattresses, cots, and made pallets for us so we could sleep and not miss work. They also fed us without charging the normal guest meal fee.
ComeTogether, LPN 1 Article; 2,167 Posts Specializes in Keeping my head above water. Has 8 years experience. Feb 4, 2015 I was expected to show up for my shift, so I could get there before the storm or drive during the storm. When you are essential staff you have to figure out how to get there. If everyone called off, they wouldn't have anyone to care for the patients. That being said, my facility paid us around the clock when it happened, but I don't suppose they have to. Why not just bring things to do and pick up extra shifts while you're stuck there?
IsmeAmanda, LPN 128 Posts Has 13 years experience. Feb 4, 2015 My CNA job required us to stay. And if you couldnt drive in snow - they called you a police escort because those are equipped to drive in snow.
NYVANC cna 6 Posts Feb 24, 2015 I just got an occurence for calling out due to weather last week. Today a week later the weather is bad again unsafe driving and school is closed here in Durham NC. I am going to attempt but one slide and back home I go. What good am I to a pt or my family fom a ditch or up a tree?
Starletta, CNA 109 Posts Specializes in CNA. Has 2 years experience. Feb 28, 2015 I live in Connecticut, and people called out at the slightest amount of snow, burdening the rest of us with an extra workload. My former boss finally said, "You all live in New England, get used to it." I'd never live in a "Snow" region without an All-Wheel Drive, or 4 Wheel Drive vehicle.
RainMom 1,114 Posts Specializes in PACU, pre/postoperative, ortho. Has 12 years experience. Mar 1, 2015 We aren't asked to stay but our managers & shift supervisors make it a point to let everyone know there are designated areas for staff to stay overnight. I've packed a bag a few times thinking I might stay in order to not miss my next shift, but then it turns out not too bad & I make my way home.
icuRNmaggie, BSN, RN 1,970 Posts Specializes in MICU, SICU, CICU. Has 24 years experience. Mar 7, 2015 My CNA job required us to stay. And if you couldnt drive in snow - they called you a police escort because those are equipped to drive in snow.Were you paid for every hour that you were mandated to stay at the facility? Did they make you clock in and out for your rest/sleeping hours? If so, they violated federal wage and industry law and you could file a wage claim for those hours which should be paid as overtime.
caliotter3 38,333 Posts Mar 7, 2015 Discipline me. I don't care. I dont abuse PTO. Never again will I sleep at a hospital during a storm. I was assigned a pt room, then awakened and told to get up because this room is for Dr soandso. I didn't. I don't remember what I said but I know it wasn't very nice.I was precepted by a nurse who lived far enough away that she took advantage of the hospital's policy of allowing nurses to sleep in their vacant hall. She said this worked out for her usually, but she did not like it when they made her vacate the bed for doctors, as they had priority.
