How to get to work in a snowstorm?

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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?

Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

Nobody is calling anyone a "bad" employee here. All I see are folks saying to plan for bad weather (esp if you live in places where it snows, ices up or other foul possibilities) and plan ahead. I live in an earthquake and tsunami zone. You can't predict those, yet they (our employers) still ask us to have a plan for if/when they occur. They also conduct telephone drills on and off to check availability of employees in the case of an unpredictable disaster. Snow/ice storms and other weather tend to be predictable disasters. Most of the time, we have warning when they are coming. I know here in the PAC NW, snow is a rarety (west of the Cascades) but in every case, the weather people were right-on when they warned us snow and the giant windstorm that hit, were coming-----and it gave us time to prepare, in most cases up to 24-48 hours. Still, so many folks were unprepared and the power was out for an extended time here. Folks DIED burning grills and fires in their living rooms, trying to keep warm.

That is what is meant by planning ahead. Making sure you have enough food, water and blankets, batteries, flashlights, etc in case. This applies to the job. The hospitals have to run no matter what Ol Man Winter tosses at us. It's not being mean or unreasonable to ask employees to figure out a contingency should foul weather or a disaster hit-----how would their families be cared for? And how to handle work? That is not calling anyone a bad employee. It's reasonably asking everyone to be prepared, and yes, make a best effort to help out in desperate times.

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
I have been a nurse for 27 years...I have never not been able to get to work because of weather. I rarely call in for any reason. In the last 17 years have only been out only 5 days usually with sick kids. That said here are a few of my experiences. Once I was at the hospital when the snow hit...policy said they could hold us for until next shift arrived. I worked 16 hours ...hospital refused to feed us because the patient cafeteria couldn't figure out how to charge us...patients were giving us food off their trays...worked 24 hours like this until staff revolted and someone called a local radio station that shamed the hospital into feeding us. Worked 16 hours/day for 3 days...we were allowed 8 hour off to sleep and shower ...after 3 days when I was told I could leave the floor I went to my car, put on boots and walked 4.5 miles home. Once EMS brought us into the hospital ...stayed 2 days working 16 hours/day...hospital refused to get us home ...had to pay a cab. Hospital required those who didn't have enough money to sign IOU"s for meals from cafeteria. Once I went in on Friday ahead of the storm and got a hotel room with 3 other nurses (150.00 for 2 days split between 4 of us) Worked 16 hours for 2 days. All Administrators and physicians were reimbursed for the hotel but not nurses. 4 nurses for 2 days for $150.00 seemed like a bargin to me...won't do that again. Once was involved in a wreck with a new car when someone slid into me while coming to work to help out (on my day off ) because people further away couldn't make it in ...car badly damaged...2 weeks in the body shop ...$500.00 deductible...won't do that again either . Ever notice that nurses are expected to be on the job but ...all "non essential personnel" are not expected to come ie, laundry, housekeeping, secretaries, operators... are exempt. Often Administrators are not even required to come...they should be required to come and pick up the slack for all the non-essential people they have allowed to stay home...answering phones , getting laundry , passing meal trays.....after all if we don't need them then why do we hire them... For me these are all lessons learned...I will probably still continue to come but I expect the hospital not taking good care of me while I am there... Our administration learned the hard way that if you need to treat staff well because it snows every year and if you don't take care of your staff they won't make the effort to come in ....lkast year administration was in cooking breakfast and putting pizza on the corporate credit card (they struck a deal with local Papa Johns). I have learned "you get what you settle for" They expect me to come.I expect to have plenty of food, supplies, and someone besides me to answer the phone...I also expect the folks that make the big decisions and the big bucks to be on the sinking ship with me.

My plan: I keep blankets, boots, bottled water and plenty of snack food in my car. I pack an overnight bag with shampoo, hairdryer, clothes as well as extra scrubs. If they pick me up I get the name of the administrator who is going to see that I get home. I work in the ER...there is nothing I can't or won't do. I let them know I am always available for staffing issues but if it is not safe to drive, they have to get me there , feed me and get me home...this is non negotiable. And for the record, you can not be fired for abandonment if you have not assumed the care of the patient.

Very good points on this post. I agree.

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Specializes in LTC, MDS Cordnator, Mental Health.

I live in "sno Cat" (snowmobile) Country. becase i am a nurse the sherrif would come and get me if the LTC needed me. but i own a couple of 4wheel drive vehicals, so I have never needed to be picked up. DH loves to be out in it. we don't have hurricans just Blizzards... this has been a good year very little snow. But some years we have had 4 to 5 feet. and that can be misserable.

if we have to work 12 hours for any reason the facility feeds us,

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Hey hon, never said I had all the answers. Just wanted to see if the OP had even tried to find a way to go to work, or just decided she didn't want to try. I never advocated even driving in the snow. If you actually read any of my posts I advocated getting there ahead of time. And when the OP stated that even the libraries were closed (heaven forbid) and that she had no idea what the repercussions were for missing work (remember there's no "policy") then I suggested that she talk to someone to find out what would happen to her if she had to call in repeatedly. Yes, Virginia, there is snow in Michigan.

I've been surprised at how many people are astonished that they might be needed at the hospital. How many of you work day shift? Ever worked a 15 hour night with no end in sight because day shift couldn't make it in? What about working hours on end because some people on days, knowing that there was a massive storm coming in, knowing that the roads were totally clear when they went to bed, chose to stay home and drink cocoa? When we had our 16 inch snowfall, the snow didn't even start until 11pm. The highways closed at around 2am, and were opened around 9am. There were a few people who called in later than they would have left on a normal day, leaving us high and dry.

So just remember, the next time that you don't even try to make arrangements, that you are leaving the previous shift in a precarious position. And we have kids, too.

You're right I know nothing about the OP, and my questions to her went unanswered. She never said if she had anyone else to help with kids (outside of the babysitter), or if she ever talked to her manager or HR or anything. I know that if I had a problem getting to work, I'd want to make sure that I wasn't jeopardizing my career that I've worked so hard for. But that's just me.

So I apologize if I've offended anyone for advocating that we take a little personal responsibility. We all knew what we signed up for, and it should be no surprise that hospitals don't close for the weather. I know that I'd hate to know that my loved one was in a hospital being cared for by a skeleton crew or by an entire shift of people who were exhausted with no relief in sight.

And for the record, my concern is NOT for the employer, but for the many nurses who had to pull together to work her precious shift, and for the patients who were left in the lurch. Obviously, they don't matter in this "it's all about me" atmosphere.

The op simply wanted to know if anyone had a snow plan. If you read back through your own posts, I'm sure the OP felt that she was on the witness stand as you interrogated her. I WILL NOT put my life on the line to go in and work at the hospital. Period. All I am is a warm body and like previous posters said, other staff were not made to come in, only nurses. I also do not want someone taking care of me who has worked the entire night shift and is still working at noon. Where is administration in situations like this? And where are all the managers? Would they roll up their sleeves and get dirty? It is not up to ME to have a plan, it is up to my hospital to put in place, a plan in case this is a problem. I have worked here for 18 years and I live in the mountains in western Montana so when it snows here, it not only dumps, but it blows. My safety and the health of me and my family is most important and I will always go to work but if I had to drive 1.5 hours in a blinding blizzard, I would call in sick, pure and simple. No questions asked. I have not abandoned my patients as I never actually accepted an assignment. Believe me, if you are in an accident on your way to work in conditions that you...and the hospital know are unacceptable, they do not care what happens. You are simply a warm body that CAN and WILL be replaced. Don't forget that you work for corporate america.

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Specializes in CT ,ICU,CCU,Tele,ED,Hospice.

well i have been a nurse 20 yrs i have only missed work for snow on 3 occasions.we get snow and blizzards too.and while i make plans to go in ahead there are somethings you can't plan for .1st time i missed i left 2 hrs early for a 20 min drive i was 1/3 way there had a car accident ended in a ditch ,3 times i tried to get out to ask plowfor help and each time was ignored i started walking and had severe asthma attack ,fell hit my head etc no one in site ,this was in days before cell phones.finally i got home and called out work and ended up in local er .2nd time i missed both ends of my street were blocked off and the major highway which was my only way to work was closed we were in a blizzard.(this was years later).i just could not get there .lastly 2yrs ago i had 45 min commute planned ahead had car ready with stay over bag blanket etc and we got 2 feet snow plow did not show up my snowblower wouldn't work and the roads were closed .i called over a doz people to try and find a way in no luck .my hospitals have never offered to pick me up.my point being yes we have responsibilty to our coworkers and pts to show up and plan ahead but sometimes things happen outside my control .and i feel i have made the effort to get in but on 3 occasions in 20 yrs plus i couldn't and i don't feel bad about that.its not worth my life.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Geri, Ortho, Telemetry, Psych.

I know this is off subject, but SmilinBueEyes, you have the prettiest picture under your name.:smokin:

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

THanks Jill.

I realize I changed my mind since the last time this topic was posted. I used to say "no way no how" when bad weather hit, they would have to do without me. I guess I have changed my stance since this very harsh winter, having seen some foul weather. I realize I am not the only one who has kids at home and worries about getting there safely. I have decided I should try, however cause everyone has the same concerns I do. Unless there is no way to physically get there, I will at least try.

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I live in a heavy snow area and have never missed work due to snow. My advise is to have a 4WD vehicle. Also, leave yourself plenty of time. I live 30-40 minutes from work. I also suggest not living so far from work.

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I don't know what my employer's policy is regarding inclimate weather but it really doesn't matter. I make it a point to get to work every day on time.

In all the years of driving in inclimate weather, sometimes 50+ miles to work, I have never had a problem. When the road surface becomes slick, too many people somehow forget how to drive.

I have missed a total of one day of work because of the weather. There was a state of emergency and it was illegal for non-emergency personnel to be on the road. I was not a nurse at the time. If I had been, I would have gone to work.

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Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
i never realized how many negative responses i would get by asking such a simple question. i'm sorry but i don't feel my job is worth my life and i am sorry for those who do.

oh, for pity's sake! if you "don't feel your job is worth your life," perhaps you shouldn't have taken a position in a hospital where staff are required to be on hand 24/7/365. you chose to take the job. you chose to live 1.5 hours away. you know it snows in michigan! you don't get it, sweetie. i'm sorry for you!

i wonder how you'd feel about winter driving if you were at work after a 16 hour shift and were suddenly offered the opportunity to go home. would that be "worth your life"? or would you stay at the hospital because you were afraid to drive in the snow. think about it from that angle, and then think about getting to work in the snow!

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

it never ceases to amaze me how many of those people who think it's too dangerous (and not worth their life) to drive to work in the snow don't seem to have these hesitations about driving home!

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I have to agree. Living 1 1/2 hours from work is quite a ways. That adds 3 hours on to your commute. A big stressor and actually a risk even without that added problem of a snowstorm.

Where I live, people do commute this distance, across a mountain pass, to work in a major city. They usually do avalanche control in the afternoon, so it works out well. They have 4WD or AWD, and they live with it. The only time they don't make it is if the pass is closed for some major problem. I know a nurse who commutes for 3 12 hr shifts a week, and I know others who commute everyday.

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