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.
You are working in an ICU with a critically ill, vented patient. You've just worked a 12 hour night shift and you are dead on your feet. None of the day shift nurses feel safe driving in during a snowstorm or tropical storm, so they all call out.
Who is going to take care of this patient? You're just going to walk out? Look up "patient abandonment." Your labor laws aren't going to help you in this situation.
Actually, if you feel so tired that you're unsafe you can say that. If there is a snowstorm, the hospital can make arrangements ahead of time, as they do with hurricanes. They can have extra staff and allow nurses to get some rest. I've done it. You're still tired, but safer.
I understand your frustration. Most of us have been young and poor. I'm sorry you got fired. In healthcare, most acute care facilities still require essential personnel to come in, even in inclement weather or natural disasters like hurricanes. In the future, ask your employer about their inclement weather policy. If you are considered "essential personnel," then make arrangements to stay near the facility in this type of situation. Ask around. There are usually people who live near the facility who will open up their homes to coworkers in these situations, or who have 4 wheel drive and will help you get to work safely. You could even demonstrate leadership and help organize a "get to work" and overnight lodging plan for the employees, if needed. Best wishes.
She is a poor college student working in an overnight position in an apartment. How is she to get somewhere to stay? Burglarize a home? The only advice for her is "call in sick."
Lots of comments about OPs responsibilities. First of all, OP is not a nurse. Second, when the officials tell you "no travel on the roads" not even nurses are supposed to be in their cars travelling. This causes problems for rescue personnel, who have to risk their lives to save you. Just look at the bad weather we had and all the people who lost their lives. There are no worthy employers who would want their staff to come in despite clearly unsafe conditions.
As for all the advice to the swearers, maybe, just maybe, they're fed up with posters sitting on the head of a twenty year old making no money and having no resources. Many people do not know what it truly means to have no money. We must be careful about the advice we give on this site. Walking? You drove in a blizzard? A real blizzard? For what? Would you advise your child to do something so unsafe.
OP, never, ever put yourself in harms way, unless you are some kind of rescue person or it's your child. And next time, do not ask these questions on a nursing forum. Call the police department and get sound and rationale advice.
I think it's better to be prepared and actually get to work when you're expected.
I've been in nursing for decades and nurses call in sick all the time, when they're not sick. That is when they need to "get to work." Some call in sick so often, you wonder if they're going to another job. But they're still on the payroll. The fact is, the lower you are in rank or importance, the easier it is to say "come in despite snowstorm or be fired." If anyone verbalized that to me, I'd ask for an e-mail. If a nurse manager said that to a nurse who actually went out on the road and was injured or killed, what do you think the outcome would be?
Lots of comments about OPs responsibilities. First of all, OP is not a nurse. Second, when the officials tell you "no travel on the roads" not even nurses are supposed to be in their cars travelling. .
Nurses are considered essential personnel. The OP most likely would not qualify as essential in this situation.
Actually, if you feel so tired that you're unsafe you can say that. If there is a snowstorm, the hospital can make arrangements ahead of time, as they do with hurricanes. They can have extra staff and allow nurses to get some rest. I've done it. You're still tired, but safer.
Of course the offgoing nurse is unsafe at some point. My hypothetical does not include having fresh staff in house. If you had that, there is no issue to discuss. I'm talking about mass call offs, no one shows, there are not enough personnel in house to take over patient care. What do you do? Leave?
Second, when the officials tell you "no travel on the roads" not even nurses are supposed to be in their cars travelling.
As for all the advice to the swearers, maybe, just maybe, they're fed up with posters sitting on the head of a twenty year old making no money and having no resources.
Au contraire. Nurses are exempt from travel bans during weather emergencies and natural disasters. All you need is to show your badge and you will be sent on your way.
As for the swearing. First it is against the TOS of this site. Second, it does nothing to further discussions. Third, there are much better ways to express frustration. Finally, this isn't the Jerry Springer show.
I think we can agree it's a tough situation for all and there is no good answer.
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
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
So now you know that there's no good time to let your boss know that you've made a committment which you have no intentions of honoring. The fact that you have done so at all means you will likely lose your job -- good intentions or no. But what good intentions were those, exactly? Did I somehow miss where you intended to honor your committment?
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
Wow this really chapped my butt.
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....
And here I thought all the "schtick" about being proud of no bathroom breaks, standing for 12 hours, getting UTIs, etc. was sarcasm.
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
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.
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
Lots of comments about OPs responsibilities. First of all, OP is not a nurse. Second, when the officials tell you "no travel on the roads" not even nurses are supposed to be in their cars travelling. This causes problems for rescue personnel, who have to risk their lives to save you. Just look at the bad weather we had and all the people who lost their lives. There are no worthy employers who would want their staff to come in despite clearly unsafe conditions.
As for all the advice to the swearers, maybe, just maybe, they're fed up with posters sitting on the head of a twenty year old making no money and having no resources. Many people do not know what it truly means to have no money. We must be careful about the advice we give on this site. Walking? You drove in a blizzard? A real blizzard? For what? Would you advise your child to do something so unsafe.
OP, never, ever put yourself in harms way, unless you are some kind of rescue person or it's your child. And next time, do not ask these questions on a nursing forum. Call the police department and get sound and rationale advice.
Apparently the laws about travel and essential personnel are different in different states. In my state, when there's a travel ban, essential personnel are still expected to come to work. I've been stopped by the state patrol on my way to work during a travel ban. I show them my hospital ID, and they escorted me to work. I was grateful for the escort, actually. If I had run into problems, help would have been right there.
Skippingtowork
342 Posts
Actually, if you feel so tired that you're unsafe you can say that. If there is a snowstorm, the hospital can make arrangements ahead of time, as they do with hurricanes. They can have extra staff and allow nurses to get some rest. I've done it. You're still tired, but safer.