Hi everyone. I joined this page to ask this specific question. I used to be a PCA, and am currently a college student. During my winter break, I was home and there was a snow storm that made visibility terrible, and the roads were not even plowed. I was scheduled to come in that night for an overnight, and had told my employer I probably wouldn't be able to get there due to the snow over 24 hours in advance. I messaged every single other person that worked as well, and everyone either did not want to or were even further away than I was. I had to end up just saying that I could not come in. I drive a very old sports car that has BALD tires. When I even hit a patch a slush doing 5 mph, I will still slide. Living in a town with all hills that was unplowed and had ice all over, I couldn't even get out of my driveway, and knew there was no way my car would make it there. My family did not allow me to take their four wheel drive vehicles, or even my brothers car which is at least a little safer. I do not live at school, so I didn't have anywhere I could stay beforehand to make it to work. I ended up being fired, and was obviously upset. I got yelled at for being "unprepared" and "irresponsible", as if I could have just snow shoed there or had any other option. This is NOT my full time job, it was simply for patient care hours. I did NOT take on this job thinking I would have to do this, nor was it ever mentioned to me. There were people on campus that just did not want to go in and cover me. Is this really my fault? I hate losing a job and a reference, but I can't control what car my family gives me, or that I have no viable option. I'm an undergrad, not a nurse knowing fully well what I have to do. Also, on overnights you get paid $20 for the whole entire night. You don't get paid hourly. I don't think totaling my car or getting hurt or killed is worth any amount, much less $20.
Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
There are no states where tire chains are prohibited when necessary for traction in ice or snow.
You can get cable chains for as little as $20, which is why I'm not see the insurmountable issue to keep the OP from getting to their scheduled obligation.
It must have changed then, because when I lived in Minneapolis (from 1973 to 2003) it was not legal.
I di not suggest that the OP buy a Subaru even though I never owned a new car in my life and I got this one for free! You'd be surprised what you can do with a bit of ingenuity.
Hppy
All I said was that I loved my Suburu. I never encouraged OP to buy one. It took me until I hit 39 years of age til I was able to purchase one (and in my favorite color of metallic green, no less). No way would I tell a 20 year old to get one herself.
... but for free, Hppy? Nice! I think my husband and I got a great deal, but it certainly wasn't free.
Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.
Pardon me for asking, but why can't the OP borrow money from her parents for tires? I'm all for adult children being as self-sufficient as possible, and you bet none of my four were lounging on my sofa after graduating from high school. But if the OP were my child, it would be my priority to make sure she was safe on the road. I wouldn't allow her to drive on bald tires, snow or no snow. Other than that, I agree with most of the other posters here; we just can't use weather as an excuse not to come in to work. I myself have stayed for days in a hospital room with a co-worker in order to be available for my shifts. (It wasn't all that bad---there was coffee and food, TV and a shower, pretty much all the necessities of life, and clean scrubs were available from the surgery department.) People need care 24/7/365, on weekends and holidays, even during hurricanes and snowstorms; it's up to us to be there for them.
I did not post this to get hammered about my car. If you did not read correctly I am 20 years old and an undergrad. I work 9 hours a week at my other job and pay for other bills. My parents do not pay for really anything for me, so please do not say "get a new car", because that is the least helpful advice to someone who does not have even a percentage of the money to buy that. Hence the "student worker". I do not plan on being a nurse, and I think I'm smart enough to know that living in a snowy climate requires a good car. However, again, I am 20 years old. I didn't get to CHOOSE where I live and was raised. When I HAVE a career and actual income, I will have a safer car. Not all of you were born with money I'm assuming, so perhaps be understanding.
For your own sake please get some safer tires so you won't end up injured or dead from a car crash. You might be able to get them for less from a junkyard.
Thankfully you are a student and jobs will come and go. It's too bad they fired you sounds like they were a crappy employer. Don't understand how you only get $20 that's less than minimum wage! Next time just call in sick.
Several years ago several nurses were fired in DC for not being able to get to work during a blizzard when the roads were literally undriveable. Fortunately most employers are not that uncaring. Where I work they will offer bonuses for nurses to stay overnight if their is a snow emergency, they were even paid for their sleep and food provided and empty hospital beds to sleep in and shower. In the morning most were sent home as enough day shift workers were able to get in to work.
I did try to find alternate transportation, but seeing as that my only options were my parents, who said they were not going anywhere, I was kind of stuck in regards to that.
Why couldn't you borrow your parent's car if they were not going anywhere?
FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, can someone please explain to me why this conversation is being had on a NURSING SITE when this person is talking about going to a job in an apartment complex?!?!? I just feel like i wasted precious time trying to figure this out and I dont want to read through the zillion page post any longer!!!
Technically she's right. A Millennial is someone who is born late 1980 to early 2000s. Guessing by her age, she was born in either 1998 or 1997, which makes her a Millennial.
Even if OP is technically a millennial, it was a pretty snide way to begin one's post. I think that the negative implication was pretty clear to most readers.
As a fellow "technically millenial" who is on the opposite birth year cusp of the generation, I am pretty sick of the dismissive and derogatory comments that are so often made (and rarely with good will).
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
Several years ago several nurses were fired in DC for not being able to get to work during a blizzard when the roads were literally undriveable. Fortunately most employers are not that uncaring. Where I work they will offer bonuses for nurses to stay overnight if their is a snow emergency, they were even paid for their sleep and food provided and empty hospital beds to sleep in and shower. In the morning most were sent home as enough day shift workers were able to get in to work.
And yet there were those of us who had farther to drive and who made it to work anyway.
My employer offered beds in Pre-op, Post-op and on several floors. I thought I was lucky to get a guerny in pre-op; some of my colleagues who "weren't that lucky" were provided rooms at the Hilton. (But they had to walk three blocks to get there.) We got meal tickets, but no bonuses.
You are suggesting that I walk 15 miles in the dark in a snow storm? When there are people driving that could very easily hit me if they lose control of their car somehow?
I'm a get your ass to work nurse, and even I don't want you walking in a storm.
Our hospital has members of the public that will come out in their 4 wheel drive vehicles to get essential staff, but the hospital has to make the request. They'll give you a spot to sleep before your shift (you'll share with other staff) and usually linen if you choose to come in before the storm hits. So talking to your boss about ways to make it work was appropriate. Her saying "make it work," was unhelpful, especially to a young person who hasn't had to think through this situation before.
For $20 a night, I'd have called in too. I'd also never drive on bald tires, even in the summer.
I wonder if you asked to trade cars with a family member...maybe your mom or dad, for the night. They were staying home anyway, and surely they want you to be safe, AND keep your job.
I'm a very mean lady, and I get even meaner when the next shift doesn't show up.
Don't be a nurse if you want to snuggle down under warm covers when it snows. Seriously.
Could you imagine if you were the victim of a crime or your house caught fire and the police and FD said "gee whiz, too much snow, you're on your own."
Specializes in Tele/Interventional/Non-Invasive Cardiology.
Why are people such ******** in this thread? We all have been in staffing situations that suck as nurses. I hate annually having to decide what to do during hurricane season here in Florida but it is part of the job. However, I think by the 100th post of saying the same thing over and over again, maybe the point has been made? I just don't understand how rude and presumptuous some posters are. From the condescending, "millennial" posts to insinuating the OP was a crap student who instructor didn't care about her, and finally that her parents can't trust her with a car? If this is how some of you act in a anonymous forum, I can only imagine what it is like to work with some of you.
The OP made a bad decision and hopefully learn her lesson. She rightfully DESERVED to be told to drive a safe car and not work in a job that has 24/7, 365 expectations. She did NOT deserve to have rude accusations about her character.
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klone, MSN, RN
14,857 Posts
It must have changed then, because when I lived in Minneapolis (from 1973 to 2003) it was not legal.