How to get to work in a snowstorm?

Nurses General Nursing

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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?

How can they expect anyone to come in if the road is closed? What are you supposed to do, take a snowmobile or maybe fly?

LOL, maybe reindeer. :idea:

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Loyalty to God, Loyalty to Country, Loyalty to Family, Loyalty to Yourself, Loyalty to you Friends and lastly is Loyalty to you job. Responsibility to you God, Responsibility to your Country, Responsibility to your Family, Responsibility to Youself, Responsibility to your Friends, and lastly again is Responsibility to your job. Note I did not capitalize job becasue of all the responsiblities that is the LEAST important responsibility and loyalty one should have and in a healthy person it is the LAST thing that they should have.

No one is asking you to die for your job unless you are in Iraq.

It might be time to either move south or get away from a 24/7/365 job. I do wish you well. I know this is hard.

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The schools were closed, library closed, highway closed. Where am I supposed to drive if not the highway? Our hospital does not put you up anywhere. I have to get home, as I pay for daycare by the hour.I certainly don't expect them to come pick me up. That would be ridiculous.

Schools and libraries do not impact you getting to work. Highways closed

- you should have checked with law enforcement. you are considered an essential worker and the guys and gals in blue would likely have been more than happy to help a felllow essential worker.

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My feeling is I will make an honest effort, I won't risk killing myself. (Because it's a 24/7/365 facility, there's another 365 shifts that they'll need my warm body to cover a few of after this one!)

If I'm stuck at work because others can't get in (and I've been that one too) then I'll suck it up. Just like they'll have to suck it up if they're stuck there. I'd rather whine that I'm working over than get news they killed themselves getting here. Like I said, honest effort. But don't be a martyr.

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Specializes in Public Health, DEI.

Whoever made the remark about the snowmobile, the funny thing is that there were people who brought their's into work once or twice during really bad storms. Shoot, why not??? It isn't like they had to worry about the traffic. When I was growing up, the minister of our church lived about 5 miles away and he used to drive his snowmobile on bad Sundays. Lots of church members lived within walking distance and made the trek, so the effort was worth it.

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Specializes in ER/ ICU.

to answer the multitude of questions.... I am a single mom and childcare is an issue because she cannot stay there 24 hours a day. I do not own a snowmobile, skiis, etc...and if I did- would probably be dead of frostbite by the time I arrived. Yes, the highway was closed d/t a snow emergency- by the state police. I am quite sure they have more pressing things to do than drive me 1 1/2 hours to a hospital. I did attempt it- i was on that highway w/ 0 % visibility and black ice- thats how I know it was closed. It was closed for 5 hours. I know people will disagree w/ me. That's human nature. I stick to my original statement- it's simply not worth my life. Yes, I have been stuck at work for 18 hours because people couldn't make it in. I do know it sucks.

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Specializes in Public Health, DEI.
to answer the multitude of questions.... I am a single mom and childcare is an issue because she cannot stay there 24 hours a day. I do not own a snowmobile, skiis, etc...and if I did- would probably be dead of frostbite by the time I arrived. Yes, the highway was closed d/t a snow emergency- by the state police. I am quite sure they have more pressing things to do than drive me 1 1/2 hours to a hospital. I did attempt it- i was on that highway w/ 0 % visibility and black ice- thats how I know it was closed. It was closed for 5 hours. I know people will disagree w/ me. That's human nature. I stick to my original statement- it's simply not worth my life. Yes, I have been stuck at work for 18 hours because people couldn't make it in. I do know it sucks.

I agree with you. And as I said in an earlier post, it all balances out in the end, because sometime you'll be the nurse already at work when the weather begins and will have to stay to cover for people who can't come in. I don't understand the claims that people have driven to work when the roads were impassable. If they were able to make it in, then the roads obviously weren't actually impassable now, were they?

I didn't mean to imply that you should ride a snowmobile in to work, I was just remembering the winters where I grew up. Very, very few people actually did that.

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Specializes in ER/ ICU.

Thank for being one of the reasonable people.

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Thank for being one of the reasonable people.

Say, how come you work so far from your home?

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Specializes in ER/ ICU.

The one question I didn't answer. I worked for our local hospital for 11 years and finally got tired of being treated like crap. I don't want to work for them anymore. The problem is ... they own everything, local clinics, specialty clinics, nursing homes etc. You pretty much have to drive the distance to be treated well. They know it too. Most people just stay and suck it up. That got old. I guess 11 years was my max.

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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!

well ruby vee. i work 140 miles from home. i take the greyhound. it happens to work for me. and no, i would not drive home in a blizzard. i will get a hotel room and take the next bus home. not all nurses have this option but it is one worth considering if a storm were to come. i am working in the morning. i have a bus ticket bought for 0345 which is when it leaves. it will arrive at my destination one hour before my shift begins. this is an option for nurses who have access to the transit.

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Whoever made the remark about the snowmobile, the funny thing is that there were people who brought their's into work once or twice during really bad storms. Shoot, why not??? It isn't like they had to worry about the traffic. When I was growing up, the minister of our church lived about 5 miles away and he used to drive his snowmobile on bad Sundays. Lots of church members lived within walking distance and made the trek, so the effort was worth it.

snow mobiles are illegal on many roads and highways as they tear up the road. This is not always an option.

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