Going that extra mile ... literally

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Specializes in CCU, Geriatrics, Critical Care, Tele.

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Often Nurses must defy harsh elements in order to get to work. Some even trudge through all kinds of weather going way above and beyond the call of duty. It's called dedication and self-less determination. We know that our presence can possibly be the one single factor of a positive outcome in the lives of our patients. Have you had to do this?

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Snowshoe to work?

No.

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Specializes in ICU.

Definitely haven't had to snowshoe to work, but my current job puts employees up for a written warning and possible termination if we call in or show up late on an adverse weather day, so I will definitely be finding some sure way to get to work, and to make it there on time.

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Definitely haven't had to snowshoe to work, but my current job puts employees up for a written warning and possible termination if we call in or show up late on an adverse weather day, so I will definitely be finding some sure way to get to work, and to make it there on time.

Oh my gosh - my last employer was the complete opposite. If you were going to be late to work during a weather emergency, so long as you called ahead and got there within an hour of your scheduled start time, not only would you not be penalized but you would still be paid for the

Of course that was only for declared emergencies, not just run of the mill lousy weather, but still. We've had a few of them the last few winters. More than once when I was stuck in charge of staffing, I had a potential call out for the next shift rescind their call after I reminded them of the policy.

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Specializes in Med nurse in med-surg., float, HH, and PDN.

I drove 15 miles in a blizzard once.......to get HOME! I always joked that 'I may not be able to get to work, but I can ALWAYS get home!'

Sometimes my husband would take me in his 4 wheel drive; unless it is ice I will always attempt to get to work. Police will transport nurses in bad weather to assure staffing. It's only very infrequently that I can't make it in.

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Specializes in Psych.

Ive driven to work, making tracks, snow to door handles of the subaru I was driving. Three closed roads and 2 hours late ( and I left 1.5 hours earlier than I normally do, and kept them updated on the progress on the way there). On the way I got out and pushed ( and guilted a few me) a few cars out of ditches.

Last winter my alternator went out about 20 miles from work. Had to call my parents to bring me a spare care ( the subaru from above) as i sat in the bars parking lot in -15 degree weather. Only 30 mins late that night.

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I remember one bad drive home. I had put off emptying my bladder for a few hours. I clocked out and was headed out the door when I remembered (somehow one is able to ignore the full bladder feeling after awhile) that I needed to go. I decided rather than go out of my way back to the bathroom, I would just drive home. About halfway home there was an accident up ahead of me and the entire freeway was closed off. We were literally stuck with no escape. I had to sit there for almost an hour. It was awful, and I was contemplating trying to find a bush to go in on the side of the road, with a freeway full of people to gawk at me. I just held it and suffered through until they opened up the freeway again and I could slooooowwwwly move past the accident and resume normal speed. I was so tired by the time I made it home, and my poor bladder. It was irritated for days after that. Now when I clock out I always visit the bathroom before I go home. Even if I don't think I have to go at that time.

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Specializes in Aged care, disability, community.

I've driven to work in a category 1 cyclone, a tornado (I just thought it was a bit windy, Australia shouldn't get tornadoes) and I've also had a police escort to work during the Black Christmas bushfires in 2001.

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Specializes in Med nurse in med-surg., float, HH, and PDN.
I remember one bad drive home. I had put off emptying my bladder for a few hours. I clocked out and was headed out the door when I remembered (somehow one is able to ignore the full bladder feeling after awhile) that I needed to go. I decided rather than go out of my way back to the bathroom, I would just drive home. About halfway home there was an accident up ahead of me and the entire freeway was closed off. We were literally stuck with no escape. I had to sit there for almost an hour. It was awful, and I was contemplating trying to find a bush to go in on the side of the road, with a freeway full of people to gawk at me. I just held it and suffered through until they opened up the freeway again and I could slooooowwwwly move past the accident and resume normal speed. I was so tired by the time I made it home, and my poor bladder. It was irritated for days after that. Now when I clock out I always visit the bathroom before I go home. Even if I don't think I have to go at that time.

Mom's best advice ever: "Go before you go." :)

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I remember one bad drive home. I had put off emptying my bladder for a few hours. I clocked out and was headed out the door when I remembered (somehow one is able to ignore the full bladder feeling after awhile) that I needed to go. I decided rather than go out of my way back to the bathroom, I would just drive home. About halfway home there was an accident up ahead of me and the entire freeway was closed off. We were literally stuck with no escape. I had to sit there for almost an hour. It was awful, and I was contemplating trying to find a bush to go in on the side of the road, with a freeway full of people to gawk at me. I just held it and suffered through until they opened up the freeway again and I could slooooowwwwly move past the accident and resume normal speed. I was so tired by the time I made it home, and my poor bladder. It was irritated for days after that. Now when I clock out I always visit the bathroom before I go home. Even if I don't think I have to go at that time.

Had something similar once. I always "go" before coming in or leaving work. I have gone through some terrible snow and ice conditions to make it in. Once only to find out they were closing the office afterall. I was pretty upset then.

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I work in home care and I actually like the snow days! The astonished look on patients faces when you knock on the door as they try to figure out how you managed to get down their unplowed dead end road with the 5 ft high snow drift that was blocking the entrance. Yay for 4 wheel drive vehicles and a driver who knows how to handle the roads.

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Specializes in psych/dementia.

Not as a nurse, but when I was a PT aide I walked to/from work (~0.5 miles) in a blizzard. It was so bad they ended up getting the plows off the road for a period of time. It made for very eerie walking! The walked to/from work for the next 2 weeks as we had back to back blizzards and the road I live on wasn't plowed.

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