Have you ever had an accident driving to work in a snow storm?

[Alnitak7]

My heart really goes out to the children and families of all those caregivers who are bullied into driving during this time of dangerous driving weather.

Their patients who sometimes do not really need help during the storm are strangely enough on a list of the ones they're coerced into driving to. These patients are afraid for their caregivers.

If you have to work during this time, may I suggest leaving before the bad weather starts and arranging a double shift so your relief nurses do not have to go out.

May I also suggest that nurse managers think about what they would want if these nurses were their own children or parents and find alternatives that do not involve threatening them into driving on a dangerous road.

Knowing how to drive on ice does not make anyone more safe.

[liketheairport]

This is what I've been trying to get across about some people having more handicaps than some others.

The employees with less handicaps could help out in times like this. I hope I'm not really the only one who can work extra hours to protect my coworkers, especially if the roads they drive on are more dangerous than the ones I came in on.

I don't think anyone should feel entitled to tell you that being pregnant and living too far away is "your problem." I think they should all work together as a team to protect people like you and that you can just make it up to them later in some way that does not involve being in a life-threatening situation.

And that was her CHOICE. That's the point people have been trying to make. No one's holding you hostage at work. No one's MAKING YOU come to work. Don't choose to stay and don't get P.O.d because they can't accommodate you when you CHOSE to stay. Yeesh.

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

In an old thread I did notice at least one poster who said their work place did offer them a place to sleep during storms even if it's just a carpeted room.

I am a witness to a coworker who was 10 minutes out of the shower with her hair still drying because she worked a double. So I want to know, did the facility violate laws by letting their staff use the patient shower?

At this same place, I was served a free meal on request because I was staying at work after my shift was done.

I'm not just here trying to invent new rules, I have actually seen managers go out of their way to make their staff comfortable.

No not if it empty...yes it is a nice employer that is considerate of their employee but they are under no obligation by law.

May I ask where do you live, whagt part of the country that you were stuck at work for 32 hours? I can see catastrophic events like Katrina but I have NEVER been stuck at work for 32 hours. NEVER....and I have been doing this is BAD weather states for a LONG time!

[KelRN215, BSN, RN]

I was about to post about this. I was wondering what happens if a State of Emergency is declared because that is expected with the snowstorm that started in my area this morning(and I'm scheduled for an overnight tonight.) In that case, you can be stopped for even being on the road. I have never had an accident but have had some harrowing drives that took hours and included nearly coming off the road despite going VERY slowly. My wipers have frozen over rendering my windshield opaque, forcing me to stop. I have cried with relief at the end of my drives. And usually I end up with an abusive patient after risking my life to get there. My hospital has no official policy but I've always been told we are expected to be there.

What happens is this: if you get pulled over, you show your hospital badge and then the officer will see that you are essential personnel and allow you to continue on. When I worked in the hospital, my badge said something like this on the back "this badge shall serve as access in the event of an emergency, please allow the holder to pass". That might not have been the exact verbiage (I had to give it back when I left) but the message was- this person needs to get through in an emergency.

[Alnitak7]

Who is bullying anyone?

There were a few times when I ended up walking in or walking home because it was actually faster to do that with the bad weather. I once walked home at 11PM.

I'm talking about times when I was scheduled to work at least 50 miles or more from where I live and walking to and from work was not an option. This is part of why I was so offended by the indifference of the building staff who seemed oblivious to my situation when I was working during the storms.

Ignoring someones right to safety and a place to sleep does qualify as abuse.

[loriangel14, RN]

What happens is this: if you get pulled over, you show your hospital badge and then the officer will see that you are essential personnel and allow you to continue on. When I worked in the hospital, my badge said something like this on the back "this badge shall serve as access in the event of an emergency, please allow the holder to pass". That might not have been the exact verbiage (I had to give it back when I left) but the message was- this person needs to get through in an emergency.

It doesn't work like that where I am. If the road is closed not only would you be in big trouble your insurance would be invalid if you were in an accident.

I think it's crazy that some places offer to pick you up and drive you to work.I am in Canada and they would laugh if we suggested this.My employer is pretty understanding if the weather is bad and you can't get in but we get few call ins.Most of us have grown up with this and are pretty good winter drivers.

[Alnitak7]

I have only worked at ONE facility that had a snow plan. They would ask the next shift to come in before the storm started and would supply beds and showers for the staff. They would order pizza and feed the staff in the morning. They paid call pay for the hours spent sleeping/socializing so they would have staff come morning. It was cheaper that the OT and mandating staff to stay. This was completely supported by the MNA (the union) and sure made my administrative days during these times easier. This facility would also use security in 4 wheel drive vehicles to retrieve close by staff during the usual snow storms. I once used National guard vehicles to get supplies meds to the sister hospital a few mile down the road....that was a bust day. Many people were evacuated to the hospitals (sister hospitals close to each other) as a safe haven for the storm surge that accompanies Nor'easters.

I went to work once when I probably shouldn't have....We had a epic storm. The facility knew it was coming so staff was called in for the day shift to spend the night and have a pizza party sleep over (pizza supplied by the hospital). After a 12 long hours I went home because "After 30 years....I can drive in anything"

Well... I underestimated this storm and over estimated my ability. I left at 0400 to get to a job at 0700 that usually took an hour without traffic and arrived at 0840.

By the time I realized it wasn't a good idea I was half way to work, ..snow half way up the car, 4 wheel drive and tire chains, which are illegal in MA,

When I arrived at work they were stunned...and angry I attempted the drive in the weather. The ride home was MUCH better after the plows....LOL

oops....I never misjudged a NE Noreaster again.

Ice you just can't drive on.

Have I had an accident? I've slid off the road but because I was going slow no harm done...a part of living in bad weather areas.

What annoys me are the employees that live within blocks of the facility who call out whenever there is a cross breeze or they don't have a shovel or their husband didn't plow the drive. If you live where it snows...buy a shovel.

This is what I have been trying to get across about protecting nurses from driving on dangerous roads. If one facility can help and protect their staff during storms then a lot of others should follow.

I'm not here to make excuses for anyone who lives blocks away and who could just come in early or catch a ride if they're afraid of driving in snow.

[liketheairport]

I'm talking about times when I was scheduled to work at least 50 miles or more from where I live and walking to and from work was not an option. This is part of why I was so offended by the indifference of the building staff who seemed oblivious to my situation when I was working during the storms.

Ignoring someones right to safety and a place to sleep does qualify as abuse.

You chose to come in. You also chose to take that job 50 miles from where you live. Accept the consequences of that CHOICE and move on.

[Alnitak7]

They who? "They should stay longer....they who? Who should be offered a hot meal?

Lots of places I have lived if people get stuck they can eat in the cafe for free. They can wear hospital scrubs and shower in a open room.

If you are scheduled you are expected at work why on earth would they ask...do you want to work in the storm? You are scheduled and you are expected to be there....whether or not you show up is entirely up to you. If the "roads are closed except for essential personnel your badge is your pass for the roads.

Why are there only certain places that let someone eat and shower when they're stuck? That goes to prove that this type of courtesy and common sense could not be as unrealistic as some posters are saying.

The real question is would you like to work during the storm at a place where they have a blatant disregard for your rights and feelings, where they do not thank you, and that is at least 50 miles or more away from your home, when the roads are icy and the trucks like to terrorize people with front wheel drive.

I do not really have to wonder why these places (that bring in hundreds of thousands of dollars per year) could not find anyone in their own populated cities willing to work with them.

I really don't find it that hard to work doubles to protect myself and other people when I get to these places. For all I know, I might have saved more people this way than just myself and a coworker since there are lots of people on the road.

I do get upset when I'm abused by building staffs who think they're entitled to ignore the needs of their help when they have been stuck there for 16 hours or more. (one reason I used the word sociopathy)

[OCNRN63, RN]

I was about to post about this. I was wondering what happens if a State of Emergency is declared because that is expected with the snowstorm that started in my area this morning(and I'm scheduled for an overnight tonight.) In that case, you can be stopped for even being on the road. I have never had an accident but have had some harrowing drives that took hours and included nearly coming off the road despite going VERY slowly. My wipers have frozen over rendering my windshield opaque, forcing me to stop. I have cried with relief at the end of my drives. And usually I end up with an abusive patient after risking my life to get there. My hospital has no official policy but I've always been told we are expected to be there.

If you know the storm is coming and you are scheduled to work, then you should leave in plenty of time to get there. I think the definition of "essential workers" varies from one area to the other.

Pack a bag with all the things you'll need and leave in plenty of time so you're not frazzled.

[KelRN215, BSN, RN]

I'm talking about times when I was scheduled to work at least 50 miles or more from where I live and walking to and from work was not an option. This is part of why I was so offended by the indifference of the building staff who seemed oblivious to my situation when I was working during the storms.

Ignoring someones right to safety and a place to sleep does qualify as abuse.

I don't see anything in any of your posts that qualifies as abuse. Did the facility put you in shackles and lock the doors and tell you that you couldn't leave? You CHOSE to stay. You chose to work for an employer that is located 50 miles from your home in an area of the country that has bad winters. You could have opted to drive the 50 miles home, you could have hailed a cab and gone to a hotel. You didn't and you're mad because they didn't give you a bed designated for a patient. Sorry, under no definition is that considered abuse.

[liketheairport]

Why are there only certain places that let someone eat and shower when they're stuck? That goes to prove that this type of courtesy and common sense could not be as unrealistic as some posters are saying.

The real question is would you like to work during the storm at a place where they have a blatant disregard for your rights and feelings, where they do not thank you, and that is at least 50 miles or more away from your home, when the roads are icy and the trucks like to terrorize people with front wheel drive.

I do not really have to wonder why these places (that bring in hundreds of thousands of dollars per year) could not find anyone in their own populated cities willing to work with them.

I really don't find it that hard to work doubles to protect myself and other people when I get to these places. For all I know, I might have saved more people this way than just myself and a coworker since there are lots of people on the road.

I do get upset when I'm abused by building staffs who think they're entitled to ignore the needs of their help when they have been stuck there for 16 hours or more. (one reason I used the word sociopathy)

...They're supposed to thank you for coming in and doing your job? They are NOT LEGALLY REQUIRED to give you a shower and a place to sleep. You're not being abused, you're playing a martyr here.

I get it upsets you, I get it they're perhaps being jerks, but the managers simply aren't being sociopathic. It really, really peeves me when people use psychiatric terms to inaccurately describe someone just being a jerk. It's not abuse. You chose to be there.

I walked for two miles in pouring rain to work one early morning. It wasn't snowing, but it was cold. I couldn't call for a ride, my boyfriend wouldn't drive me, and I was scheduled. They didn't provide me with dry clothes or anything. It wasn't very nice, but they weren't legally obligated to do so. So I worked in wet clothes. Oh well.

They're not being abusive, they're not being sociopathic. They're being your employer.

[OCNRN63, RN]

​I do recall one year when we had a HUGE blizzard; like nothing I'd ever seen. The governor at the time said "Everybody off the road," and that included hospital/nursing staff. The only people allowed on the road were the road crews, police and EMS. That was about 20 years ago...we haven't had any snow like that since then.