Your employer's policy re: *snow and ice*?

Nurses General Nursing

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Hi, I would really appreciate hearing from lots of people about what you do when you have to work but the roads are covered in snow and ice. I get many sarcastic or unrealistic responses from people I've asked. I should explain that snow and ice are still somewhat new to me, AND I have driven in a HORRIBLE ice storm and am still somewhat traumatized! :o

Once when I wasn't scheduled to work, the roads were treacherous and I was SO grateful to be off! When I asked my coworkers about it the next day, they said "they weren't that bad, I just drove slowly!" I'm happy for them, but I have slipped all over roads, even when I went slowly, and even slid through stop signs.....and it is SCARY!

I asked a paramedic what they do when there is an emergency out on rural roads that haven't been salted, and she said there's not much they can do, and maybe it's just that person's time to die......gee, what a great answer! (NOT!) :angryfire

I applied for a new job and asked the manager about snow and ice, and she said: "I *ALWAYS* make it into work, NO MATTER how bad the roads are, and I live a lot further than you!" :uhoh3: The thing is, I am dedicated to my job, but I am *NOT* willing to slip and slide on icy roads and risk my life......

So please tell me......what is your employer's view on this, and what do YOU do when the roads are just terrible?

Nurses are expected to be at work just like the mail man in inclement weather---something those considering this career should think about.

Do you mean the mail man that the CT nurse was just referring to?

The one who doesn't deliver mail during inclement weather?

Or were you referring to another mail man?

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I say, "good for you". But I don't think an employer should ask you to endanger your life.

Being a nurse carries a type of responsibility few professions have. One is being at work daily and on time. If you don't show up someone must work in your place. So should that be someone who has already pulled a 12 hour shift or someone ELSE that has to drive in the snow and ice to get to work to cover for YOU?

Either way, you have failed your patients. If you don't want a job with responsibility, then don't go into nursing. It isn't like a convenience store that will survive if no staff show up in bad weather. We provide a very different service to humanity, not a business that can close due to bad weather.

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But it was in the 70s in Phoenix here today... :)

Isn't Phoenix absolutely fantastic??? I LOVE Phoenix!

After living in Iowa (where when you smile in the winter and your lips break) Phoenix is absolutely heaven!

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Specializes in critical care.
Ya know... I'm not sure where Nurse got to equal Martyr. I'll do my best, but I'm not sacrificing my life for work. If a hospital can't handle a few people not making it to work due to weather, what the h*** are they gonna do during flu season??? Gee, how does your hospital handle sick calls?

I'm tired of the "If I can make it, you should make it, too" attitude. I've never had to call in because of weather, and I've driven through some nasty stuff. But I felt no compulsion to get there at the expense of my life - I always give myself the option to turn around and get back home if it got too bad.

Many of us don't CHOOSE to live in the area that we live in. Many of us don't have the OPTION of living in town, close to work. Everybody's so glad to have the help of the commuters in good weather, but God forbid if one day they can't make the 40 mile trip in over 2 inches of ice and blowing snow. Geezze.

Not always an exact science - that planning ahead business. What about the prediction of 2 inches of snow, which turns into 6 by the end of the day? The light freezing rain that turns into an ice storm? It's pretty easy for some of you to suggest arriving in town the day before to make sure you get to work, staying in a hotel. What about single parents? What about parents who work the same shift? What about people who's schedules with work and family balance on the head of a pin? It's easy to suggest, but not always so easily done.

EXACTLY!

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To the person who considers the residents her "family". That's very noble and maybe everyone should feel like that, but honestly, how quickly would you drop your "family" if they suddenly quit paying you? Would you still brave ice, sleet and snow to see them or would you go find another job?

When expectations become unreasonable they shouldn't be honored. Having said that we all should try our best to make it to work. When I worked 40+ per week for 18 years I always strived for the best attendance record. Now that I'm working part-time, I still do. But there are times when you just have to say no.:)

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Specializes in too many to remember.

The NH I work at really doesn't have a policy, but I know as a DNS, I have stayed over in inclement weather because I wanted to make sure there was a nurse there in case. I know this is very difficult with families with small children or single parents. I have a teenager and a very understanding spouse! I guess my best advice is to keep an overnight bag in your car in case you get stuck at work, and if travel is not advised, don't risk your life. If you can trade a shift with someone that is able to come in that day, and it is arranged before the shift starts, I think people are more understanding. From a DNS point of view, I don't think employees often think that that nurse manager may have taken 6 calls from CNA's and nurses that couldn't make it in and the minute they get someone to replace the person that calls off (or the nurse manager is working the floor), someone else calls in. And I have never understood someone in town calling in and the "country" people usually make it. Funny how the people with the worst attendance are the ones who call in in inclement weather. But staff that "rub it in" that they made it to work and slid through stoplighsts and "almost" ran into something drain on me. Keep the drama please.

Harleygirl

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Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.

the interesting thing to me is that so many folks are trying to justify staying home from work in inclement weather. no one seems to be trying to justify staying at work rather than driving home when the weather is bad. now why is that? i'm sure the roads are just as bad when headed in the homeward direction as they are when headed towards work.

ruby

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Specializes in too many to remember.

Tis true the roads often get worse while you are at work.

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Specializes in Telemetry, ICU, Resource Pool, Dialysis.
the interesting thing to me is that so many folks are trying to justify staying home from work in inclement weather. no one seems to be trying to justify staying at work rather than driving home when the weather is bad. now why is that? i'm sure the roads are just as bad when headed in the homeward direction as they are when headed towards work.

ruby

i haven't been justifying staying home during all bad weather. only weather which is dangerous and driving long distances in it could endanger my own life. as far as getting home, usually by 12 hours after a storm, the roads have been somewhat cleared or salted, and visibility has improved. but the ability to get home could be a concern to someone who's family depends on a tight schedule for child care or other concerns. and it's a legitimate concern.

as to those who mention that being a nurse carries the sacrifice of doing dangerous things sometimes...huh?????

police officers, emts and firemen get paid to do dangerous things on the job. not me. i'm not on the clock until i walk through the door. so don't compare me to them by wondering what would happen if ems said "sorry, the weather's too bad to pick up that accident victim."

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My mom lives about 30 mile from work and always seems to make it in through the snow and ice. We live in the country and there is no city roads for about 10 mile from us. We have no one to plow the roads. I found it funny last year we had a pretty big snow and my mom made it in, but there was a about 4 girls she worked with that lived 2-5 blocks from work and called in because the roads were too bad. Gotta love us country folks

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Harleygirl, you nailed it on the head - it's been my experience that the people with poor attendance are always the first to call out when there is bad weather (any excuse will do), and those with good attendance make it in as always. We had a snow storm several nights ago and staff from New York made it in (I'm in Vermont), and someone from 2 towns over called out.

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I work PRN so i watch the weather and only work when the weather is good:)

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