How to get to work in a snowstorm?

DizzyLizard · Feb 9, 2007

I live in a snow area and am usually able to make it in to work but I refuse to sacrafice my well being and safety for my job. It's not worth it. I also won't ask someone to sacrifice their well being just to get me to work. We have had an unusually bad winter and I've already called off 5 times since December. In the span of about 4 weeks we got approx 7 ft of snow.

County roads are at the end of the list to be plowed so it took 2 -3 weeks for anything to start happening. With the high winds, bitter cold temps and snow we were buried for 2-3 weeks before we got any help. There was no contact with the outside world. My family was much more important at that time because we were literally having to figure out how to survive. I made it clear to my manager where I stand on the issue and she's been ok with it and knows I'll be there if I can.

**canoehead, BSN, RN** · Feb 9, 2007

When I was a supervisor we used to remark on how the people that lived an hour north would always make it in, but some that lived in town would call out consistently.

One person called in because her snow shovel was buried and she couldn't find it. She obviously is prepared for life's little curveballs...not.

Dizzy- 2-3 WEEKS for the roads to be plowed? During the ice storm in the NE we were declared a disaster area, the power was out for 2-3 weeks in the boonies, but the roads were cleared (mostly) within 24 hours of it being over. Where in heck do you live?

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · Feb 10, 2007

One person called in because her snow shovel was buried and she couldn't find it.

I think i would have made up another excuse than reveal that kind of stupidity to others.

DizzyLizard · Feb 10, 2007

Canoehead - we live in the rocky mountain region on the eastern plains. Yeah, roads weren't plowed. It was ugly. The entire state was declared a disaster area but it still took a while. First, the snowplows kept breaking down so what few there were, weren't enough for mother nature. The other huge problem was that people were abandoning their vehicles in the middle of the road (interstate, hwy, and otherwise). The ems units had to dig through the snow, find the cars, and remove them from the road before plowing. Once the plows got through they didn't know where to put all the snow and had to wait for front end loaders to transport it elsewhere. The other problem was the dispute of who's responsibility it was to plow. County, city, or private (homeowner assoc). I say who cares! Plow the roads so we can get on with our lives!

Tiwi · Feb 10, 2007

I can see this is a serious problem. I'm lucky to live in an area where there is no such thing as hail let alone snow. But yet our local hospital still has snowshields, seriously! Apparently it is based on a Canberra hospital (capital of Australia), which in turn is based on a Canadian hospital, so there you go! Government logic in action... I don't know how true it is, but I nursed a gentleman who helped physically build it; he said that they were going to put a heating system in...like the other two hospitals! Helllooo, we are in the tropics here...:smackingf

caliotter3 · Feb 10, 2007

Tiwi

I thought that govt stupidity only existed in America!

Tiwi · Feb 10, 2007

Tiwi
I thought that govt stupidity only existed in America!

I hate to tell you, but its a world wide phenomenon...[bANANA][/bANANA]

jojotoo, RN · Feb 10, 2007

vamedic4 wrote: "I'd call the hospital and tell them "hey, you want me there, find a way to get me there"...even if they have to bring you in in a cab, it's cheaper than a lawsuit from inadequate staffing. That's what they'll do for you here."

Why would you expect your employer to pay for your cab instead of paying for it yourself?

**canoehead, BSN, RN** · Feb 10, 2007

LOL, I remember a news story about our EMT crew. They got sent out to get a laboring woman, the first ambulance went off the road at the end of the driveway. They called a plow to clear it out. the plow went in the ditch. Second ambulance arrived and fishtailed around and gave up. Finally they got a backhoe to the location and after a lot of sanding they brought this poor laboring woman out in the scoop of the backhoe, put her in the ambulance and hightailed it to the hospital. Took them 2 hours of trying to do it. They considered letting her deliver at the house, cause she was that close, but it was a breech-I think she delivered in the ER(not sure) but I knw she was panting and breathing for the two hours.

God, you have to admire a woman who could pant for two hours for the good of her infant, AND have the gumption to leave the house in a backhoe scoop. Probably with half the town watching. The papers were kind enough to run a postpartum pic of the whole family smiling, and not the backhoe shots.

TrudyRN · Feb 12, 2007

vamedic4 wrote: "I'd call the hospital and tell them "hey, you want me there, find a way to get me there"...even if they have to bring you in in a cab, it's cheaper than a lawsuit from inadequate staffing. That's what they'll do for you here."
Why would you expect your employer to pay for your cab instead of paying for it yourself?

Maybe they could split the cost. Or the cab could make the rounds and pick up several employees, not just one.

deehaverrn · Feb 12, 2007

still reading though everything (only up to pg 8) but had to post before finishing (bedtime for bonzo)

I can see parts of both sides of the story. First you need to be prepared for the weather whereever you live. If you live in the noth , there usu. will be snow. I have AWD. I have always driven myself to work when it snowed less then 2 feet, higher than that and i simply can't get through unplowed roads. I do resent people who live an hour away who call out consistently because I know for a fact that when they were interviewed they denied that this would affect them getting to work in inclement weather. In 25 years I have only been late twice due to weather. My manager gave me complete grief both those times. Once was after 25 inches of snow, we had shoveled our driveway but the road was not plowed. Once the plow came though I left for work almost immediately so was one hour late..my boss actually checked with people she knew in my area to see if I was truthful (which they affirmed). Another time after a hurricane sent rain our way, I got up at my usual time, not expecting trouble and the road was like a river! NO way would I risk it, I told them I would let them know as soon as it was safe, and my boss kept calling me every 10 to 15 minutes!! I did finally go in to work so was less than two hours late. Later that day, we learned that a girl in an SUV (much bigger than my car) had been swept away and into the creek on a parallel road two blocks from us. Twice they sent National guard people out after us, but then we were on our own to get home. Once they told us at the end of our night shift that they would find us a place to sleep, and that we could have a free meal in the cafeteria. We were sent to an outpatient area to sleep on stretchers than suddenly two hours later there was all this noise..the cleaning crew had arrived (and yet on the floor the nurses had to clean because the housekeeper had called out). It was impossible to sleep with all the noise, plus they had scared us to death. Later when we went for supper we were told that everyone only got one meal and we had had breakfast (yeah cuz a donut is equal to a whole meal).

At a previous job, I arrived at work and only two aides had come in for my shift. It was surprising cause I lived about the farthest away. The night shift nurses were in the lounge smoking (this was years ago) and immediately called the sup who dismissed them. They had taped report but had done nothing but sit and wait for someone to arrive, so no meds had been given (including insulin) although the aides had started breakfast. Two admits were just put in their rooms. It was a medical unit with 30 beds. I was the only RN there!! I paged the sup, who offered nothing. Listened to report. Gave instruction to the Aides. Gave out insulins and reviewed the vitals and blood sugars. Then quickly rounded through all the rooms. Next the OR called to tell me that should give one of the admits the preop dose...WHAT? I told them that they needed to talk to the supervisor because I would NOT be getting an elective surgery patient ready under any circumstances. I don't even remember the rest of that day, but I do remember that no one else came in and I was not relieved until evening shift at 3 pm. (by 5 nurses). I was written up for not getting the ops ready (I don't recall if they actually had their surgery or not). The next time it was bad weather...I called out.

I do resent when people will call the night before (who don't even live far away) when there is only forecast for 6-9 inches. Then when we only get 3 inches they don't come in anyway, and nothing happens to them. I think having to take paid time off is too easy. I guess it needs to be a compromise. Everyone should have a plan, if you're afraid to drive or live far away..come early or stay with someone who lives closer, or work out a deal with someone else to work for you while you take another day for them (maybe a weekend when they want off?) But that is just for the ordinary storms, for extreme weather no one should risk it...I have made a decision that if it is too bad for me to drive, then I'm not coming in, not even if they send someone for us. I had questioned how they had lists of volunteers to do this because I questioned the safety of just getting in the car with someone you don't know..plus who tested their driving skills? It was ironic because another area hospital had a guy who drove their nurses in, arrested for murder later that same month. However, legally, I'd think that in a case where your employer is arranging for your ride, they would be liable workman's comp. wise for any accident. Having said that, its still not worth it.

angel337, MSN, RN · Feb 12, 2007

honestly, i'm more worried about the nurses that are stuck at the hospital with no relief. i can't imagine being forced to work probably 24hours with no sleep because my relief couldn't make it. the patients suffer to, but they will suffer more with a dog tired nurse or no nurse at all. this is where administration comes in. i think if nurses can't make it in then the managers need to be there. lets see how fast they get to work.