I don't know if I should call out or not r/t snow storm

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I live in New Jersey, and there is an anticipated snowstorm, the snow will be 8-12inch in the night. my shift is 3-11pm. There will be nothing at 3pm, but when I leave work at 11pm, I will be stuck in the snowstorm. I am live 40mins away from my work place. I personally feel bad to call out, but my family is worry about me driving home in the snowstorm, especially, I never drove in any heavy snow or snowstorm before. I need some suggestions.

Specializes in NICU/Mother-Baby/Peds/Mgmt.
48 minutes ago, ChickenHealer said:

I understand where you're coming from. I live in Pennsylvania, in an area where we're expected to have about 12-18 inches of snow. Based off of how much we have right now I imagine we might have more than that much.

One of the nurses I work with lives in a development that plans to start plowing the snow at 5 PM tomorrow. Her shift is at 7 AM that same day and will likely be unable to leave for work even if she wants to. I wouldn't blame you for calling off if you're in a situation like she is- where you actually cannot get to work even with best efforts. Our hospital enlisted the national guard to help transport hospital staff to / from work. Interesting times.

Then that day shift nurse should get into the hospital or a hotel tonight.  How awful if night shift has to stay and work all or part of day shift, and then possibly work nights again tomorrow night.

I missed a turn once to go onto hospital grounds because it was too icy and then I went into a ditch when I turned around.  Wasn't hurt, just upset.  A day shift nurse came and got me and I went to work.  A friend got pushed into a median by a truck and pushed for a mile or so on the truck's front bumper till he realized she was there and stopped.  She wasn't hurt, just upset.  She went in to work.  Night shift nurse showed up at 5:15 one night instead of 7 because she wasn't used to driving in snow and didn't know how long it would take her to get to work.   If you know or are reasonably sure you can't get to work for expected weather than you figured out how to get there or try to make a trade with someone.  There's not really an excuse to say "oh well".....imo

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Specializes in Critical Care.

This probably won't be the last foot of snow to ever fall in NJ so you might start considering plans to make this commute more manageable, but in the mean time, no, I wouldn't call out for fairly unsurprising weather events.  

If you're interesting acclimating yourself to driving in snow, keep in mind that good ice/snow specific tires are the most important part.  A front-wheel drive with good Winter tires will do better than an AWD with generic tires.

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Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

Even though we don’t get snow more than once or twice during an average Winter, I would keep a change of clothes, a couple days’ worth of meds, a blanket and snack foods in the car just in case I got stranded or had to stay at the hospital overnight. This was when I worked the 3-11 shift. I actually didn’t mind staying in an empty patient room—I had a warm bed, cable TV, coffee and meals plus a place to shower. And it was free! It was certainly better than trying to negotiate the steep, snow-covered hill, where my house was, in the dark.

Bottom line, a nurse has to be prepared NOT to call in due to weather if she/he can possibly avoid it. It’s our responsibility to be at work when we’re scheduled. I’m a wimp about ice and snow myself, but the only time I called in for weather was when I was on day shift, and we had a surprise ice storm during the night. I literally could not get the car up the long sloping driveway, let alone down the hill and into town. Not even my husband, who had lived in Colorado for a few years and knew how to handle the elements, would attempt it. Otherwise, I’d have gone in despite my misgivings.

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Specializes in Critical care.

Absolutely unacceptable. Plus, if you never start driving in bad weather you will never get used to it. I packed a bag just in case, took it extra slow going home, and adjusted my route to include more main roads and less hilly, winding, side roads.

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Specializes in Mental health, substance abuse, geriatrics, PCU.

Just part of the job to be present when weather events occur. When you have advanced notice of snow you definitely need to make arrangements to be there. We are expected to work no matter the weather just like we're expected to work with patients that have infectious diseases.

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Specializes in New Critical care NP, Critical care, Med-surg, LTC.

Just as a follow-up, we got about a foot of snow last night in CT. In my relatively small, 200 bed hospital, we had 27 nurses call out this morning. Nurses were mandated all over the place, up to 16 hours total. I felt badly walking out at the end of my shift knowing some of my coworkers were stuck (but I already got my turn a couple weeks ago). But apparently people feel they are more important than their coworkers, just a sign of my current hospital's culture. ? 

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Specializes in ER.

Buy your house knowing that you’ll HAVE to get out during Winter storms, get the best snow tires you can afford. Get 4WD in your next vehicle if possible. Pack a shovel, salt, warm clothes, snacks, a couple candles, and extra scrubs in the back. I wouldn’t do without a AAA membership and a cell phone. You need to be ready to stay overnight at work, or safely wait a few hours for a tow truck. It takes planning, but it can be done. Snow is no reason to miss work.

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I agree with the other posters- calling out in a snowstorm is just unfair to your coworkers and doesn't look good to management either. Especially if it's not snowing when you leave for work! I'm not a nurse yet- almost there- but have worked in healthcsre for years. There's been so many days that I watched the snow falling outside and wished I could stay home and drink hot chocolate by the fireplace (my fireplace isn't working but that's another story). However, that's not the career we chose. Pack that overnight bag, carry supplies in your car, and get AAA like yesterday if you haven't already. Nursing, and healthcare in general, carries huge responsibility. If you call out, it's not like some paperwork won't get done or someone might not get their coffee in time- it makes things unsafe and chaotic at work.

I hope everyone made it to work and home safely! 

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Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.

Anyone else dying to know what the OP did?

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Are you really asking this lmao ?

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Specializes in New Critical care NP, Critical care, Med-surg, LTC.
41 minutes ago, klone said:

Anyone else dying to know what the OP did?

Somehow I think if it wasn't the answer they were looking for, we will never know. We were a potentially hostile crowd. ?

 

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You are essential personnel. If you can get there, you get there. If you cannot make it out... oh well.  You may sleep on a cot in a corner somewhere.

 I live in a snowy area as well. Made it home ( mostly) every time in 12 inches. Had to have a cop push me out of the main road.. slid into my side street and couldn't go any farther. Left the car and slogged home in my work shoes. Best advice.. bring boots.

 

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