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.
Then why come on a nursing message board and post questions? And then get snippy when you get the advice you asked for................????
Unfortunately healthcare professions are not like almost every other profession that let you stay home when there's bad weather. In any health-care capacity, someone has to take care of the patients. So, in working these jobs you have to be prepared for any kind of weather and you are expected to get to work....even if conditions are unsafe. It sucks...but that's how it is.
And the irony is that most of those nurses who declared it "isn't worth my life" to drive to work will somehow discover a bastion of courage when it comes to getting HOME!
As far as calling in 24 hours in advance: why didn't you make arrangements with a friend, family member or co-worker to drive you in to work. You had 24 hours to get something arranged. Even a taxi cab. The responsibility is on you & you alone to make sure you are present and ready to work when you're scheduled.
I think OP was under the impression the calling ahead thing is supposed to be helpful. While they try to make arrangements to borrow a car or get a ride or swap shifts with coworkers they have numbers for nothing is set in stone so the supervisor or manager has a full 24 hours to make calls on their end to see if anyone can potientally cover a shift if the OP can't move her mountain. I doubt OP could afford a taxi or uber 15 miles in a snow storm
I recently learned this is frowned upon, not sure why but it's better to just call last minute with an emergency
I think OP was under the impression the calling ahead thing is supposed to be helpful. While they try to make arrangements to borrow a car or get a ride or swap shifts with coworkers they have numbers for nothing is set in stone so the supervisor or manager has a full 24 hours to make calls on their end to see if anyone can potientally cover a shift if the OP can't move her mountain. I doubt OP could afford a taxi or uber 15 miles in a snow storm
I recently learned this is frowned upon, not sure why but it's better to just call last minute with an emergency
I don't see how it matters exactly when the OP made it known that they had made a commitment they had no intention of honoring.
There is no amount of prior notification time that you ***** up in which your **** becomes someone else's responsibility.
I don't see how it matters exactly when the OP made it known that they had made a commitment they had no intention of honoring.
There is no amount of prior notification time that you ***** up in which your **** becomes someone else's responsibility.
You're right its no ones responsibility but OP's however the idea is that yeah I **** up and I'm trying to fix it, I'm letting you know now so you can make moves to keep your train running smoothly. Does that make sense? Its kinda hard to put in writing
So letting my boss know early that this may be an issue gives them more time to find another coworker (who's number I might not have) to cover so the whole team isn't just down a person. Its a move with good intentions that just doesn't translate well or always work out with healthcare specifically
ooooOOOooohhhHHH....the martyrdom here give me shivers. Really. It does.
Please. This schtick about being proud of no bathroom breaks, standing for 12 hours and then working another 4-6 while Charge finds a float or PRN to come in, getting UTIs because really your patient's life is just way more valuable than your health....
Is exactly, precisely, 100% spot on----why we RNs receive zero respect from administration as well as patients. Why the working conditions suck. Why we will never, ever have nursing ratios or enforced breaks anywhere but in California. Being a martyr doesn't make anything right. Ever. Balanced approach to everything, and if I have to pee...you'd better believe I will find a way to get someone over there to push on that chest...no really, never happened, but you get my drift.
Someone here said it...boy, you sure as **** find a way to get HOME when your shift is over, but watch the call outs when the game is on or the weather gets crappy or someone wanted a vacay and it wasn't approved. Don't ** anybody with this "I would walk 500 miles in the dark, during a blizzard, with my camping gear strapped to my back, throughout the night in order to get to my shift 24 hours early!" rubbish.
I got fired from a "non essential" hospital job, because I lived 45 miles from the facility, my roads never, ever get plowed, let alone brined. I HAVE A PATHFINDER and I was a PRN lab tech. AS NEEDED. I committed yeah, to the shift---but that morning, a freak ice storm was predicted (in a southern town, that's the death toll for anybody coming in to work)...and I live alone. They had already sent all the kids home from school and closed businesses. I had a geriatric dog, no family in the area and nobody who could most likely take care of said dog for what was looking like at least 72 hours at the facility... and a nursing exam in the morning.
You bet your sweet life I called out. I didn't tell them it was because I actually valued my life, my nursing career and the lives of everybody on the road---because just like most of the posters here, that facility's policy was....you give your life for the facility. Period.
Until, of course, one snowy night, a nursing student got killed because she was going in to her CNA position at this very facility....because some ******* Charge RN threatened her with being fired.
Feel all better now? Oh but now they're sorry. Really really really sorry. Gee....she should have blown off ALL of her nursing classes that day, with her attendance requirement, probably failing because of that very thing....because some ******* RN wanted her tech to flip rooms for her and just couldn't do without.
Yeah, i got fired. And it was on a conference call with another supervisor and this woman gleefully stated that "your services are no longer needed". Whaddya know....two months later, that very same gleeful manager got fired for flogging her "Beach Body" ** to her employees, pressuring them to buy her and her husband's products. Where was concern for patient care during all of her hours on the computer selling her shakes and videos on company time?
Yeah...I'm all for patient care, and I'm all for adulting....but guess what. This kid thought he was doing this ******* a favor by giving them a head's up and a chance to find a replacement or brace for impact. But no. That's never okay. Because it's inconveniencing someone who wants to go home and who the hell cares what happens to your relief, because hey, you are the center of the universe.
I will never, EVER go in to work if it means I risk my life. EVER. I like living. No job is worth it. And I am all okie dokie with being the unpopular kid on the unit. When I am there, I give 100% at all times. When I am off the clock, I am not Nurse Titanium Plates. I am Private Citizen Titanium Plates with Responsibilities to Herself and Her Family. I am no good to MY FAMILY and MYSELF if I am dead in a ditch. But I'm sure my employer will send flowers along with that sympathy card. Maybe.
The car advice..."go get a Surbaru!" Yeah. My Pathfinder can eat your Subaru, and I still wouldn't have come in to relieve you. Because you think your life is more important than mine.
I recently was asked to return to that same facility, btw. Where I was unceremoniously told that since I wouldn't risk my life, my services were no longer required....and I kindly told them that would have to decline. Mentally, it was because I know that they don't give a rat's rump about my safety, it's all about their bottom line. A friend who worked for Vassar Bros some years ago, related a story where she and her colleagues were going off shift during a snow storm---and their CEO called each and every single one of them when they got home, to make sure they traveled safely.
It's unreasonable to expect that kind of concern from an 850 bed Level 1....but I sure as **** will go and work for that tiny hospital and give it my 110% to get in there, when they at least ACT like they care.
OP....move on. And if you want a great piece of advice? Always remember from whom you are asking guidance. We're a bunch of people who can't (or won't) stand up for themselves and fight for basic things like the privilege to eat or pee. But they'll gladly risk their lives to get to a job who denies them those basic rights. And think this is normal or "badge of courage" worthy. It's not.
I agree with this 100%. OP needs to lose the "it's not my fault" attitude. It is absolutely without a doubt 200% your fault. Take responsibility for your actions. Your parents and boss are not required to take care of you. You needto develop some problem solving skills for any job you have in the future. Nobody appreciates an entitled brat
This is getting really heated and I think a few things were missed. I am guessing this was not the first time the OP called off and that is why they were fired.
Second, the OP said their parents stayed home and one of their cars could have been used.
Third, I would not be safe working way past my normal time to clock out so I do understand the posters expecting the next shift to arrive.
Where I live the group homes also have the "over night" shift as well. As the previous poster stated, the pay is minimal because the clients are sleeping.
I would not walk 15 miles in the snow but I would have gone in early and brought my stuff to work on homework, entertain myself, or whatever until my shift started. When I was in nursing school we were not allowed to miss or be late at all. I would get up earlier and drive much slower to make it safely on time to my clinical site or classroom. I also had a weather app on my phone to plan ahead.
I agree with this 100%. OP needs to lose the "it's not my fault" attitude. It is absolutely without a doubt 200% your fault. Take responsibility for your actions. Your parents and boss are not required to take care of you. You needto develop some problem solving skills for any job you have in the future. Nobody appreciates an entitled brat
There is simply no excuse for driving an unsafe car. If you were in a accident due to you bald tires and someone was killed and it could be proved that you knew your tires were bad you could be convicted of manslaughter and go to prison. No one said to get a new car but we did say you should get new tires.
Hppy
That's probably why she didn't go in...her car was not safe.
vintage_RN, BSN, RN
717 Posts
Then why come on a nursing message board and post questions? And then get snippy when you get the advice you asked for................????
Unfortunately healthcare professions are not like almost every other profession that let you stay home when there's bad weather. In any health-care capacity, someone has to take care of the patients. So, in working these jobs you have to be prepared for any kind of weather and you are expected to get to work....even if conditions are unsafe. It sucks...but that's how it is.