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 retired from healthcare.
I live 55 miles from where I work. We have had a major storm just about every week from the beginning of November to the end of December. I was late only once by 10 mins. You just leave earlier and drive carefully. The one storm, I did have to stay in town because the highway was closed. If it's bad, I pack a bag just in case I have to stay. For me, to call and say I'm not coming to work because of the weather is unacceptable.

My co-workers always tell me that my safety is the most important thing. "We'd rather have you alive and not at work than for you to be in the ditch."

What this reminds me of is a live-in job I had where when it snowed, I never had to leave the house.

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Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
My cars have only front-wheel drive. There was one day when a nurse who lived near me was kind enough to pick me up after a show-storm. She had all wheel drive

I lived in Wisconsin, which we know gets as much snow as Minnesota and in the mountains of Washington State. I've also lived in Boston -- another snowy city. I've had cars with front wheel drive since 1978, and have rarely had any difficulty getting to work. You just have to know how to drive in the stuff. A few years ago, we had back to back blizzards, and I passed several stuck 4-wheel drive vehicles with my little Prius!

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
What this reminds me of is a live-in job I had where when it snowed, I never had to leave the house.

Live in job.....??? What part of the medical profession are you employed? I am wondering what made you comment a thread from 2009 do discuss this on such a lovely day (at least where I am) in September.

Some hospitals have live in help they are called "residents"....the student doctor kind.

Depending on where you live in the country depends on how this is handled and how crippled an area becomes depends on how much snow they are used to.

When roads are closed they are closed to all except "essential personnel. Your hospital badge serves as your "pass" to be on the road. You are essential personnel.

I live in the northeast. I worked at a hospital that would call the staff in before a storm and have a giant sleep over and order pizza for the staff. If the crew leaving couldn't leave we would supply them a sleep room as well. We also utilized the hospital vehicles that were 4 wheel drive to retrieve employees.

If you live where ti snows you learn to drive in the snow and some parts of the country allow tire chains. One snow storm here in New England it took me almost 5 hours to drive a distance that normally takes 45 mins. Snow chains aren't legal here but I used them that day.....I figured I'd pay the ticket if I got caught......if they could even see them in the 3 1/2 feet of snow.

But you need t get to work. If you co-worker doesn't get relief from you they have to stay.

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Specializes in retired from healthcare.
Live in job.....??? What part of the medical profession are you employed? I am wondering what made you comment a thread from 2009 do discuss this on such a lovely day (at least where I am) in September.

Some hospitals have live in help they are called "residents"....the student doctor kind.

To answer the question, nurses get live-in jobs too. I have worked two live-in jobs and also in a boarding house. Here are some threads.

LIVE --IN Registered Nurse or LPN

https://allnurses.com/general-nursing-discussion/starting-boarding-home-358767.html

https://allnurses.com/retired-nurses-inactive/how-much-do-513477.html

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Specializes in retired from healthcare.

I live in the northeast. I worked at a hospital that would call the staff in before a storm and have a giant sleep over and order pizza for the staff. If the crew leaving couldn't leave we would supply them a sleep room as well. We also utilized the hospital vehicles that were 4 wheel drive to retrieve employees.

As far as calling the staff in before the storm and letting staff sleep over and offering a meal, I think that's the least they could do.

In years past, I have driven long distance in snowstorms to facilities that refused to offer sleeping quarters after I worked a double shift unexpectedly and was due back in at 7am the next day.

Refusing to offer sleeping quarters to staff who live long distances away when they go out of their way is a matter insane rudeness and shows a blatant lack of regard for their welfare.

I have noticed that some hotel employees are treated better than this and their supervisors have a deep concern about their safety. They offer them a room to sleep in for free when the driving is dangerous. It's no wonder people leave the nursing profession.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
Live in job.....??? What part of the medical profession are you employed? I am wondering what made you comment a thread from 2009 do discuss this on such a lovely day (at least where I am) in September.

Some hospitals have live in help they are called "residents"....the student doctor kind.

To answer the question, nurses get live-in jobs too. I have worked two live-in jobs and also in a boarding house. Here are some threads.

LIVE --IN Registered Nurse or LPN

https://allnurses.com/general-nursing-discussion/starting-boarding-home-358767.html

https://allnurses.com/retired-nurses-inactive/how-much-do-513477.html

I was referring to the hospital setting. I know that there is private duty or small private residences that hire live in's.

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Leave plenty early and drive carefully. :)

Our facility's policy on working in a storm: If you can't make it in, the previous shift has to stay and cover. It sounds kind of harsh but in reality, if the next shift can't make it in, chances are you can't make it home. We can either stay clocked in and find things to do or we can take turns clocking out and resting. We don't have sleeping quarters as such (our facility is usually full - no spare rooms), but we do have air mattresses that we can use in any vacant office. I keep a pillow and blanket in my car (along with an overnight bag) so I have my own bedding if I do have to stay. We are also free to raid the kitchen/pantry if we wind up staying over. All in all, it's pretty laid back.

I work in a psych setting, not a hospital.

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