I am a new grad who started working this past December at a correctional facility for part time nights. I haven't had time scheduled this week but they called me last night to ask if I can work tomorrow for day short, but we have a snow blizzard warning and expected to get 8-16 inches of snow here....I asked my parents and they said that I can't bc of the snow and all...I had to decline...
I feel really guilty...I wasn't scheduled for day shift or anything but...my question is...I know nurses don't have "snow days" so was it wrong of me to decline? I did ask for more time but it sucks that they offered it during such a time when it is dangerous for me to drive out there...I know if you're scheduled though basically you have to go in. Was it unprofessional of me to say no? Are all the nurses going to talk badly of me now? ...
So, I have some tips for driving to work in snow. First, you need the right music. The Beatles' Twist and Shout is probably not the most prudent choice, but it's fun, and it fits the occassion. Second, keep reminding yourself that people on skateboards do this stuff on purpose all the time. If you work nights, like me, that little extra jolt of adrenaline on the way in can keep you alert for hours.
My facility has a policy that call offs during weather emergencies aren't counted against you. Very benign and forward-thinking if you are one of the people who can't, or won't, risk life and limb to get to work. Kind of a pain, though, for those of us with AWD and good snow tires, who don't live in ski resorts and have to work short-handed because of all the call-offs.
I'd say there's no shame in turning down an extra shift, or even a scheduled one, if you have to. Making half the trip in your car and the other half in an ambulance does no one any good. And, really, even if you're unhurt, tearing up your car isn't worth it. No doubt, a few will wonder if it was really that bad, but you can't worry about that. On the other hand, you shouldn't cry foul when those who do make it score a few brownie points.
Specializes in LTC, Disease Management, smoking Cessati.
My life is worth more than my job.... you have to feel safe driving in or you don't go. I had an employer once that "punished" us by making us work a weekend day the next week after not being able to get to work one night due to over a foot of snow.... I couldn't even get the car out till the next morning.... no guilt. I work for my employer, I am not owned by them.
I am not suggesting people risk their lives by going to work, but the original poster said they were CALLING for snow not that IT HAD snowed. THAT is the difference. And you have to remember the people that keep a hospital running when it does snow are usually people that are working double shifts and then have to get home. I have done it many times and it's not easy. You have to think of EVERYONE that you are affecting by not going in. IF the emergency system allows for you to get there safely, you should do your duty and go in and I don't think CALLING FOR snow, consistutes an emergency....you also have to think of the patients safety when you have nurses that are covering for you by working doubles and sleeping at the hospital in these emergencies. It has an cumulative effect.
I think the OP got excellent advice on both sides of this topic. My thought would be that since she has a 4wd and asked for more prn hours it would have been nice if she sucked it up and went in however as others pointed out it is not mandatory when you are prn. I guess it depends on the facility but my management gets kind of prickly of someone asks for more hours and then won't pick up shifts when we are in a jam.
Does your job have a service that comes to pick you up? Ours does. It rarely snows here, but still...it took me an hour and fifteen minutes when it usually takes me 30...but I went. If you asked for more hours...and it hadn't snowed yet..sorry don't mean to be mean but....you shouldn't have listened to your folks. My mom was a nurse for years, she usually says to go when dad says to stay. The decision is yours to make, not your folks.
No, I don't feel bad for calling in. I, too, live on the mid-atlantic area and am currently getting pummelled by snow. Our city has issued a mandatory no driving order even for health care workers during blizzard conditions. A few days ago I stayed almost three days at my job due to the 3 feet of snow we received. Luckily, I'm off today. Supposed to go in tomorrow... We'll see about that. My streets haven't been plowed since that last storm Saturday and Sunday. It'll be even worse tomorrow. Roofs are collapsing. Plows are being ordered off the road. Snow drifts 5 feet at least. 4 wd vehicles are getting stuck. This is historic and unprecedented for my area.
Sometimes, you have to take care of yourself first in order to care for others. And I'm staying safe!
Thank you for all the replies, some that made me feel better and others that didn't...haha.
They called around 9:30pm for the following day shift...and it was snowing before they called me. It is still snowing actually, I live in NJ, and it's supposed to be an all day today.
But I learned that it is subjective, whether to take the extra shift or not in bad weather. I felt guilty because I asked for more hours and they did offer AND that I know there are nurses working at their work places now.
I think next time, I will think more about saying I can instead of I can't. Yes, since I am new and I am a team player. I just really did not want to drive in this kind of weather because I might get into an accident. If I wasn't scheduled then I thought, why risk anything.
In our case, the AM staff actually came in the night before and slept here - and all of them actually showed up, so I drove home. As I said, my facility and specifically my department, has better than average access to places to sleep, in a blizzard. We have had some nationally known/published attendings, actually sleeping in the same type of clinic quarters that staff is, on both occasions, because they would not drive in this weather. The facility is also better with trying to shift staff, to those better able to stay... as we have several new Moms on staff.
I could have stayed for safety issues, but chose to get home before it got too bad - like it still wasn't bad as most of the off roads in my 'hood have not been plowed from the earlier fall. Getting from the hospital to the major highway last night was not bad, and the highway was down to one lane each way, with few drivers and no one going over 30mph. Everyone was down to following the same set of car tracks on the interstate, because of the layers of snow. The big problem was off the highway and into the neighborhood - involving hills right before red lights, and most alternate roads still snowed in. After several close calls with getting stuck, I made it home to find no parking places. I grabbed the snow shovel out of the back seat, and dug out a parking space.
Please be aware that I am a new transplant from Florida/Georgia - my car does not have 4 wheel drive, or ABS, and is a compact that is over 15 years old. I WOULD NOT! recommend trying this, but I was desperate to get home, and it was going to get much worse overnight.
And my radio/cassette player is stuck - I was listening to Pink Floyd, quite spooky and surreal in a snow storm.
I probably would have been better off staying at the hospital, as my windows are low to ground and the snow is creeping up them. My kitties probably think that we are being buried.
Always look out for your personal safety as that is first and foremost, ALWAYS! But check your departments regs, check accomodations, and make a really good emergency weather plan now, for the next time when you ARE scheduled. This good opportunity for you to think about those issues, before it occurs again.
And to my FL/GA friends, I still like working here enough to stay this far North. Trust me, my facility's arrangements for snow sleepovers are much better than "hurricane" arrangements I have had to sleep over in.
I haven't had time scheduled this week but they called me last night to ask if I can work tomorrow for day short, but we have a snow blizzard warning and expected to get 8-16 inches of snow here....I asked my parents and they said that I can't bc of the snow and all...I had to decline...
I feel really guilty...I wasn't scheduled for day shift or anything but...my question is...I know nurses don't have "snow days" so was it wrong of me to decline?
It absolutely is NOT wrong of you to decline. You were not scheduled. It is their responsibility to fill the shift, not yours! Is one unscheduled shift worth an accident? No way!
Just decline. You do not have to give a reason.
Nurses really need to stop with the guilt all of the time. I've never met another person in another Profession that has guilt over work like so many Nurses seem to possess. I always remind myself that I could be fired on the spot without any reason and trust me, facilities will do this all of the time. No notice or explanations. It works both ways.
Please, take care of yourself. You are a young nurse. Don't burn out so early with extra shifts and guilt!
Specializes in Management, Emergency, Psych, Med Surg.
I know how to drive in show and have an SUV with 4 wheel drive anti lock brakes so it is no problem for me. I have only called in once for ice on the road and that was before I learned to drive in it.
I felt a little bad about calling in but taking one look out my window and seeing one of my neighbor's car spin out of control was enough to convince me that I didn't need to be out doing the same thing. I don't have an AWD drive car as it is not a requirement for employment at my job. In addition I spoke to one of my co-workers who said that nobody in administration made it in this morning...so I gather it is okay for them to have a snow day? Plus she said most of the nurses there were planning on staying another shift anyway because the driving conditions they hear are too dangerous. And my job doesn't make arrangements to pick people up for work or give you a bed if you're stuck overnight...they may give you a blanket and a chair is what I've heard. Like a poster above said, we as a profession need to stop feeling the guilt. I don't hear any of my other friends express guilt when they can't get to their jobs.
nursemike, ASN, RN
1 Article; 2,362 Posts
So, I have some tips for driving to work in snow. First, you need the right music. The Beatles' Twist and Shout is probably not the most prudent choice, but it's fun, and it fits the occassion. Second, keep reminding yourself that people on skateboards do this stuff on purpose all the time. If you work nights, like me, that little extra jolt of adrenaline on the way in can keep you alert for hours.
My facility has a policy that call offs during weather emergencies aren't counted against you. Very benign and forward-thinking if you are one of the people who can't, or won't, risk life and limb to get to work. Kind of a pain, though, for those of us with AWD and good snow tires, who don't live in ski resorts and have to work short-handed because of all the call-offs.
I'd say there's no shame in turning down an extra shift, or even a scheduled one, if you have to. Making half the trip in your car and the other half in an ambulance does no one any good. And, really, even if you're unhurt, tearing up your car isn't worth it. No doubt, a few will wonder if it was really that bad, but you can't worry about that. On the other hand, you shouldn't cry foul when those who do make it score a few brownie points.