feeling guilty not going in due to snow

Trauma Columnist · Feb 10, 2010

Do you live in an area where snow is common? Do you have or have access to a 4 wheel or AWD vehicle? How far a distance are we talking?

Personally, I have never called in for snow. I make arrangements to either spend the night somewhere or leave early. I currently live in IL and commute up to 55 miles one way to work. I have also lived in Alaska (the interior) and never called in there either.

That said, I'm not a masochist nor a superstar but rather if I am scheduled I go in and my employers know they can count on me.

It sounds like your situation is different though - you are prn I'm gathering? Then its up to you whether you make it or not.

Just curious though - why do your parents have anything to do with whether you go to work or not?

Tweety, BSN, RN · Feb 10, 2010

Don't feel guilty if it wasn't a scheduled shift.

You had to ask your parents???

heavenlystar87 · Feb 10, 2010

hahaha. I'm 22 and still live with my parents....if that makes it any better...I just asked because I wanted advice...Yeah I wasn't scheduled. I do have a 4 wd.. we've been hitted twice by a lot of snow here within the last 2-3 weeks. I am part time there, 5 shifts per 2 week, plus every other weekends.

Thank you for your responses.

Trauma Columnist · Feb 10, 2010

If you weren't scheduled, that makes it different - you have no obligation whether there is sno or not then....

creakyjoints · Feb 10, 2010

why are you feeling guilty? you know the reason. enough said.

caroladybelle, BSN, RN · Feb 10, 2010

There was a rather long thread about this back in December on this topic.

I suspect that you must live in my current region (Mid Atlantic). We are having unprecedented snow on top of the 2-3 feet on the weekend, and almost nothing has been cleared from that snowfall. Many plows have actually broken trying to clear this.

If you were scheduled, there would be an issue. However, you were not scheduled...thus no major biggie.

However, if you had been scheduled, there probably would be an issue. While some facilities are understanding...and this, for us, has been an unprecedented amount of snow in a short period of time, many/most are not. Especially if a certain amount of snow is expected in your area. In places like Florida, you may be fired (and nurses have been fired) for not showing up during hurricanes.

It is a good idea to find out what arrangements your facility makes for blizzards/excess snow/bad weather. In my facility, efforts were made to warn everyone, set up reasonable accomodations for people to sleep/rest between shifts, or before shifts when weather is expected to impair travel. Last weekend, I was scheduled for one shift but slept in facility, and picked up another, for those that could not come in. I spent around 48 hours in facility. I expected to do the same, but enough people came in early to slepp the night before shift, I did not have to stay. I had prepared, left extra food/water/litter for kitties, brought extra food, snacks for coworkers, emergency bag with extra clothes, yoga outfit to sleep in, my own pillow (I hate hospital pillows).

Some facilities also will send vehicles out to get you, so you do not have to drive.

Technically, since I stayed over last weekend, they would make efforts to relieve me. But I offered to do the extra as I am single, have no dependant children - several of my coworkers are new mothers - had child care issues. Plus I had to call in for a lesser storm, because I had severe pneumonia.

It is not required to come in when you are not scheduled, but it does garner a certain amount of respect from coworkers when you go the extra mile. Especially if you are new.

And, whether you live with your parents or not, they need to be aware that nurses do not get "snow days". Healthcare is 24/7 and sometimes you either have to come in early/sleep over/pick up to get it done.

zahryia, LPN · Feb 10, 2010

You're fine. I understand as a new nurse and someone who has been asking for extra shifts why you might feel uneasy, but if it's an optional shift, then you are not compelled to do it. There's also nothing wrong with asking your parents for their advice as long as they know if it was a scheduled shift, you would have had to go in.

Take the advice of the others and create an emergency plan/kit.

P.S. I was scheduled for a PRN shift tonight-as I thought the worst of the storm would be over. The storm is just getting into full gear now, so I asked my agency rep to see if the hospital would be willing to pick up an agency nurse. Thanks to the ineptness of my agency, he never confirmed my shift, so I don't have to go in anymore. But my point is you have to balance your personal safety versus the needs of the hospital. I choose my safety!

nicoled80 · Feb 10, 2010

I have called out due to inclement weather before. I have also took the chance by risking my life as well to go to work to help out on my off days, in bad weather. I have been offered rides by my job to work, but when I asked about bringing me home, I'd get no response. Didn't matter that I have a family to tend to as well. Yes nursing is a 24/7 job and we want our co-workers to be able to depend on us. However, sometimes that is not always the case. As nurses we have to keep in mind that healthcare facilities are going to run rather 1 person or 10 calls in or not. Of course the unit would be better off with all of its staff, but that isn't always going to be the case.

nicoled80 · Feb 10, 2010

Zahryia, you are absolutely right about "your" safety. If I do not feel comfortable traveling in inclement weather conditions, then 99% of the time I won't. Because if anything were to happen to me while attempting to make it to work, it would be on me. The facility will keep running and I will be easily and quickly replaced.

nicole109 · Feb 10, 2010

I'm also a fellow MD'er, and yes, this is ALOT of snow for us...I also work homecare, and we are working in this, I walked 2 blocks yesterday to see my patient because their street had not been plowed since the snow started on Friday night. I think it's up to you whether or not you take extra shifts during weather like this--if you live close to your employer and you have 4WD, then I would try to help out. Especially knowing that there are others that live further away and will have a harder time getting there. That's just me though, I like to help out when I can, because I want to know that people will be there to depend on when I need it. Ultimately it is your decision though to pick up an extra shift.

askater112 · Feb 10, 2010

I got a phone call yesterday from work. They wanted me to work any hours tomorrow on a different unit. I told them no b/c we'll probably have a snow day and I need to watch my kids. (really I don't like driving in snow....I'm not scheduled I won't intentially pick up a day w/ lots of snow....I'm wimpy what can I say!!!)

I was right. I don't feel bad about not working today. If I was scheduled I would've woken 1 hour early just in case roads were horrible. I work 20 minutes from work....not a long drive at all.

For 6 months we were getting phone calls every 5 AM prior to a work day trying to cancel myself b/c of low census. Once in a while I'd be mandatoried. Now lately it's back to them calling asking me to work.

We had a snowstorm once where only 1/2 the unit nurses showed up. We were supposed to have 6 nurses and we only had 3 nurses show up. In my 15 years of nursing that's the only time we had a large amount of nurses not arrive because of weather. Usually we have 1 nurse every so often in the winter not show up because of weather. Those are the nurses that live 45-60 minutes away from the hospital.

I'm rambling.....enjoy your day off!!! Don't worry....you weren't even scheduled!!!