How to get to work in a snowstorm?

Nurses General Nursing

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Hi. I was wondering what your hospitals policy is on snowdays? Ours doesn't have one and I live 1 1/2 hours from work. The highway was actually closed and I was still expected to come in?

I make an honest effort. But living on a dead end one lane road that does not get plowed makes it impossible sometimes. We have been snowed in for a week before and had to hike it 2 miles to the nearest convience store.

If I think I can make it in, but not sure I can make it back I pack a bag of everything I would need.

I don't mean to be rude, but doesn't the National Guard have better things to do than play chauffer? I understand the hospital needs to be staffed, but is it worth their time to drive an hour each way so I can work an 8 hr shift? I have never heard of anyone in the area using the National Guard to get to work. I would rather stay and work a double than work for 8 hrs and have to face the drive home.

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Regarding what the snow policy is for my hospital, I actually don't know! Something that's crossed my mind from time to time is finding OUT.

Normally, NYS is totally buried in snow many times by this time of year. This season has been truly bizarre in that we've gotten not more than a few dustings. FEET is normal, dustings....not.

I remember hearing radio announcements in past snowstorms (or just prior to them) asking volunteer drivers with 4-wheel drive to contact them (or hospital number, whatever) if people were able to help get nurses to and from work under those conditions. I always wondered about the bravery of such people, when I myself was often terrified at getting behind the wheel of my own car to get myself to work (which I always did, rare bird that I am, lol).

I'm reasonably sure the official policy is "get your butt in there, period". And the unofficial policy is "if you don't get your butt in there, the previous shift is gonna kill you when you eventually DO show up"! Speaking as someone who works 12 hour nights on a busy unit I sure wouldn't want to hear why the next crew wasn't going to be in for a few more hours...

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, MNICU.
O.K.- Nowhere in my thread did I say I was looking for an excuse not to go to work. I was simply asking if other people had a snow plan. I worked at our local hospital for 11 years and they are the only show in town. They own everything- clinics, md offices, nursing homes, specialty clinics, etc.. I got tired of being treated like crap and left to a much larger and better facility. The downer is the drive. Everything else is great. We plan to move closer in the spring, but in the mean time I am stuck. And the going in on an earlier shift thing doesn't work for me. We do 12's and I have children.

If you reread your original post, you stated "The highway was actually closed and I was still expected to come in?". To me, that says you're expecting to be excused from working because of snow???

As for a snow plan - are you expecting your employer to drive 1.5 hours (or more in the snow) to pick you up? Or are you expecting for them to offer you a place to stay? There's a huge difference. Have you asked about a place to stay? Everywhere I've ever worked has made accommodations (although they may not be ritzy), and preference has gone to those who are going to work the following shift and who live farther away. I find it interesting that a hospital in the upper Midwest has absolutely no plan for snow? Maybe you need to ask some additional people. Your manager should at least be able to tell you whether you'll have to go without pay for missing a shift or if it counts as an extra occurrence.

With the children- if you have a total of 3 hours commute, and you work 12 hour shifts, who watches them the rest of the time? Is there a way that you can ask someone to watch them a little more? If you have a husband or partner, is there a greater than average chance that this person will have the day off due to the snow?

Anyway, it sometimes takes a little advance work. Yes, it might not be *fair* but nursing in a hospital is a 24/7 business and blizzards and other natural disasters tend to increase our census.

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Specializes in ER/ ICU.

The schools were closed, library closed, highway closed. Where am I supposed to drive if not the highway? Our hospital does not put you up anywhere. I have to get home, as I pay for daycare by the hour.I certainly don't expect them to come pick me up. That would be ridiculous.

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Again all these answers just show the self martyring that nurses get pounded into their head and learn to espouse back out. Granted hospitals do not close but remember people it is a job. That is all it is worth and you have to weigh that in against your personal and family safety in a blizzard/hurricine situation. I can just bet the docs were not making it in to see their patents during the OP weather incident. Stop the self martyring and for once put yourselves first.

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if nobody cn get into work does that mean that staff that is in there has to work day and night for a week....

that threat that they can get your license for patient abandonment does hold water...if one nurse can't work because she is sick and it is not considered abandonment then the nurse that can't get in bcause of weather, car trouble family emergency cannot be held to account , yo have to walk in, take keys and report - i have had a don who actually thought that she could do this, a couple of nurses [smarter than me] called in and said they wouldn't be back to work actually one of them faxed in her resignation and the dumbo don wants to call in state board

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Again all these answers just show the self martyring that nurses get pounded into their head and learn to espouse back out. Granted hospitals do not close but remember people it is a job. That is all it is worth and you have to weigh that in against your personal and family safety in a blizzard/hurricine situation. I can just bet the docs were not making it in to see their patents during the OP weather incident. Stop the self martyring and for once put yourselves first.

Amen!

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Again all these answers just show the self martyring that nurses get pounded into their head and learn to espouse back out. Granted hospitals do not close but remember people it is a job. That is all it is worth and you have to weigh that in against your personal and family safety in a blizzard/hurricine situation. I can just bet the docs were not making it in to see their patents during the OP weather incident. Stop the self martyring and for once put yourselves first.

Amen!

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Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
hi. i was wondering what your hospitals policy is on snowdays? ours doesn't have one and i live 1 1/2 hours from work. the highway was actually closed and i was still expected to come in?

i see that you live in michigan. michigan normally gets snow in the winter, so yes, you would be expected to come in anyway. if you think you live too far away to come in when it snows, you may want to stay in a hotel closer to work if it's going to snow.

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, MNICU.
The schools were closed, library closed, highway closed. Where am I supposed to drive if not the highway? Our hospital does not put you up anywhere. I have to get home, as I pay for daycare by the hour.I certainly don't expect them to come pick me up. That would be ridiculous.

Yes, it does seem ridiculous, doesn't it? You haven't mentioned if you've discussed this situation with your boss, but it seems like that would be a logical step. All I've heard so far is why you can't go to work and that there isn't a plan. Have you asked what the repercussions are? Have you talked to more than one person? I can think of a few: manager, HR, hell go to nursing administration. Might be worth a few points on the old clinical ladder if you are willing to help find a solution!

If I were in your situation I'd be very concerned about the consequences. Yes, if you can't get to work, you can't get to work. But there are a limited number of absences that we all get. How many until you lose your job? Have you talked about the repercussions with your family?

You're the one asking for a "plan" - it might be a good idea to start with your employer???

Meanwhile, I hope it doesn't snow any more in Michigan :uhoh21:

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HCA??

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Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
not trying to be rude, but i'm wondering why you would think that you would get a pass from work because of the distance to work? especially living in michigan which gets a lot of snow?

i may have a different perspective. i'm new to a snowy climate. i chose to live in town so i wouldn't have to deal with a snowy commute. i realize not everyone can live close, but if you choose to have a career with no snow days, and you choose to live in the boonies, then you owe it to your co-workers, the hospital, and the patients to at least make an effort. the work doesn't disappear because you live too far away.:uhoh3:

i grew up in wisconsin and i'm with you. if you live in a state that gets snow, why in the world would you think you get a pass from work because you have to drive 1.5 hours? you chose to live there. you chose to work there. you chose a hospital job which staffs 24/7/365. you owe it to your co-workers and the patients to give it an honest effort at getting there, even if that means staying at a hotel closer to work when it threatens to snow!

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