How do you manage to get to work in snow storms ?

Nurses General Nursing

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I'm just curious. Currently in my area we just had a huge snow/ice storm. Its unsafe to drive in this weather. Since I work for the school system so for the last two days I've been off from work, due to inclement weather. However, what is the policy for nurses at the hospitals or other facilities ?

My mom is a nurse, and today she was scheduled 7a-3p. I was worried for her. She told me that she ended up being 2 hours late due to the weather. Of course there was nothing her boss could say, because saftey is first.

So what is your hospitals policy for inclement weather ?

Specializes in Psych, Med/Surg, LTC.

Sadly, this year it will mean calling off. I work 80 miles from home and yes I can attempt to plan ahead... But sometimes it does snow when unexpected! I don't think I will call off for snow as I have good tires and a 4x4 but if there is black ice, I am not going to attempt to make it in. I miss living a reasonable distance from work.

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Specializes in L&D/Maternity nursing.

watch the forecast, plan for extra time, dress warm, drive slow and use my 4 wheel drive.

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Specializes in ICU, psych, corrections.

We just got dumped on and had about 18 inches of snow overnight. It was coming down at 1-2 inches per hour and the Governor ended up calling it a snow day for state employees. Since I work in a state run psychiatric clinic, I got the day off with pay. Quite a difference than when I worked at a local hospital, wasn't scheduled but signed up for overtime, got called in (because of all the folks who called in due to the lovely snowstorm), and spent the next 2 hours fighting my way through white out conditions on the 30 mile drive only to be written up for being an hour late to work. Sigh. So glad I no longer work there.

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Specializes in critical care; community health; psych.
We just got dumped on and had about 18 inches of snow overnight. It was coming down at 1-2 inches per hour and the Governor ended up calling it a snow day for state employees. Since I work in a state run psychiatric clinic, I got the day off with pay. Quite a difference than when I worked at a local hospital, wasn't scheduled but signed up for overtime, got called in (because of all the folks who called in due to the lovely snowstorm), and spent the next 2 hours fighting my way through white out conditions on the 30 mile drive only to be written up for being an hour late to work. Sigh. So glad I no longer work there.

Good for you that you were able to make that change.

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Home Health.

I just started driving again after almost 10 years off the road (living in Boston, where a car is an expensive hassle). My car doesn't have snow tires. Tomorrow's forecast is 3-6 inches of snow, followed by sleet and rain. I'm not looking forward to tomorrow's commute.

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Specializes in L&D/Maternity nursing.
I just started driving again after almost 10 years off the road (living in Boston, where a car is an expensive hassle). My car doesn't have snow tires. Tomorrow's forecast is 3-6 inches of snow, followed by sleet and rain. I'm not looking forward to tomorrow's commute.

hello! fellow New Englander here! I had to drive in said storm today from central NH to the sea coast, because my school didn't close even though every other public school, and colleges in the state did. And I couldnt skip because I had a final and a presentation to give. Yeah, that was fun!

But I still live by my words. I planned ahead, got up 2 hours earlier than normal, watched the forecast and allowed plenty of time so that I could drive slow.

And then I came home and had to shovel myself a path into my driveway. In the pouring rain that came after the snow. I am pooped!

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Specializes in Med/Surg.

I've never missed due to weather before, but would have today, had I been scheduled! We got 15 inches of snow from midnight to 3pm, and I have thigh deep drifts outside of my garage. No hubby to make go clear it either (ha). People had trouble even with snowblowers, and my road didn't get even plowed until after 1pm. I live in town, but it still wouldn't have happened!

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Specializes in retired from healthcare.

I think a lot of places need to have some live-in staff members over the winter to protect people from having to drive to work.

In times past, I have also gotten the sheriffs department to drive me in.

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Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
I think a lot of places need to have some live-in staff members over the winter to protect people from having to drive to work.

In times past, I have also gotten the sheriffs department to drive me in.

You're kidding, right? Live-in staff so others don't have to drive to work? If you work in the snow belt, learn to drive in the snow. Because you're going to be expected to show up to work come hell, high water or snowstorm.

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Specializes in retired LTC.

I worked at one place that REALLY did have on-campus rooms that were rented out long term to staff for cheap peanut rent. The catch was that staff would be avail to work any shift at any cottage at the facility and at any time when requested. (And it was freq requested!) Direct clinical staff primarily used this option but it was avail to MDs, nurses, SWs, assistants & techs, anybody. They were NOT contracted agency employees.

It was a hospital building whose rooms had a typical bathroom with a general shower down the hall. I don't remember how they got their meals - they may have had their own small fridges but I doubt they were allowed any microwave/toaster/hotplate. And they used the campus cafeteria (maybe a purchased mealplan ?). It was a typical rented room with their personal stuff that they locked if they went out. They all had mailboxes c/o the facilityaddress. And they had guests coming and going. Those staff who lived on grounds raked in MAJOR overtime with almost nonexistent, minimal expenditures.

But there was that catch - if there were too many refusals, they lost the room rental. They were there for inclement weather. I guess the trick was to be off-campus if bad weather was coming...

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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.
I think a lot of places need to have some live-in staff members over the winter to protect people from having to drive to work.

In times past, I have also gotten the sheriffs department to drive me in.

Where I live the police are too busy during a snowstorm to play taxi. I grew up driving in this stuff and I have only called in once due to weather.

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Specializes in Emergency/Cath Lab.

I have this awesome invention called 4wheel drive. I also know how to drive in the snow as I have been doing it since I was 14. Know the plowed roads, know how to drive, take your time and plan ahead.

Where I used to work though we had a call sheet for those of us with the awesome 4x4 invention and we would go in when others wouldnt because of the scary white stuff.

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