Let it snow !

Published

Specializes in LTC.

i love this time of year. to go or not to go to work in snow is the question. i know there are a ton of threads on this topic but once again we are faced with this decision.

what are your plans this year? are you going to risk your life and others to make it to work ? are you going make over night plans to stay at work ? or are you just going to stay home.

if its lightly snowing and i can drive in it then sure i will go. however, if i feel it is too dangerous to drive in snow then i won't go in. if i get in an accident on my way to work then what good would i be anyway? if i'm at work already and someone calls out, i will stay.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC.

I live 10-15 minutes from work. My car has AWD (and is a beast in snow and ice)...

So I'm going in. Rain or.. snow lol

But my "Don't answer the phone" philosophy still applies.

As for staying overnight.. No. I will not stay overnight. Only to work because someone couldn't come in. Other than that. Home I go. Worst case scenario... if the roads are that bad.. my grandparents live 5 minutes away from where I work. I'll stay there.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Psych.

I have 4x4 now. I made it last winter in the 23 inches in a front wheel drive. I dont mind driving in snow.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I've been in nursing >25 years, all of it in areas that have bad winters, and I don't recall that I've ever called in to work because of road/weather conditions ... I've taken a bag in with me and stayed overnight and worked the next day ... I've done my share to keep the facility staffed.

I think a lot of the "risking your life" rhetoric is really overdone and is largely an excuse. IMO, if you want a job where you can stay home when the roads are bad, get a job in an office. If you (choose to) work in a 24/7 facility, people are depending on you to show up and do your job -- it's your obligation to at least try to get there (and that includes having an appropriate vehicle, tires, etc.)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC.
I've been in nursing >25 years, all of it in areas that have bad winters, and I don't recall that I've ever called in to work because of road/weather conditions ... I've taken a bag in with me and stayed overnight and worked the next day ... I've done my share to keep the facility staffed.

I think a lot of the "risking your life" rhetoric is really overdone and is largely an excuse. IMO, if you want a job where you can stay home when the roads are bad, get a job in an office. If you (choose to) work in a 24/7 facility, people are depending on you to show up and do your job -- it's your obligation to at least try to get there (and that includes having an appropriate vehicle, tires, etc.)

I respect your opinion. I have been in a few car accidents and so have other coworkers in the snow. So I have a right to want to keep myself safe if I feel it is too dangerous. I have no problems with trying and have tried.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

If I stayed home everytime there was bad weather...I would never go to work!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med-Surg.

Where is this snow? I want snow... lol. I live near Vancouver, BC... we have had nothing... Just rain rain rain ..I should move to Calgary or Toronto.. they are still digging themselves out.

My car (VW Golf) is great in snow, i would go.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

I'm an APN who sees pts in a wide area of central IL. I never have a problem. Of course, I know it snows in central IL and when it does even though I live in the country, I do go out of my way to stay on main roads: I keep a shovel, salt/sand/blankets/water in my SUV all winter not to mention boots and coat/gloves/hat.

When I lived in Alaska I did even more but I was in a very rural (110 miles south of Fairbanks) and I commuted to school.

Have never lived anywhere where I couldn't get to work provided I started early enough and went slow enough.

Nope, I wouldn't call off just for the weather but again to each his own.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I inherited an enormous 4X4 vehicle; it will have to be the apocalypse before I can't get to work. I'm on a voluntary list (along with several other coworkers who own ginormous 4X4s) to taxi other in-town coworkers to and from work in terrible winter weather. I didn't get called last winter. I hope, hope, hope that I get a call this winter! I *love* driving in the snow. I grew up in an area that received some major snows during the winter, and I got to school every day in an old ford escort, no matter the weather.

No, I'll not be calling out for winter weather.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

People need to realize 4WD does NOT magically drive on ice. And after snow there is ice. An AWD SUV couldnt get out of my yard last year....they are not magic vehicles. I drove one morning in what I thought was very light snow in my SUV and slid BACKWARDS down a road. Then after I finally got back up later the vehicle jacknifed on a CLEARED lane of the highway! Thank God there was not an 18wheeler coming by when that happened. I CALLED IN THE NEXT MORNING!

People are also not going to run out and buy a 4WD vehicle so they can MAYBE get to work in snow....I'm trying to buy a CAR because my suv costs me so much in gas.

Last year in a nearby town 2 people died in a car accident when their car hit a random patch of ice left on the road and they skidded head on into the car in the next lane. Yes one little skid can make you plow into another vehicle, a telephone pole, careen off the mountain....so it is definitely a risk to drive in bad weather.

Ice storm out there this morning and I am safe in my home office!

Everyone be careful!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in DD/MR, long term care, homecare.

You guys should try home care in Minnesota. It rocks. Really. Gravel roads with 6 inches of snow and 10 feet visibility, not to mention I drive a pontiac sunfire. Staying home is not an option when you are the only nurse this patient will see all week. Sometimes we have to prioritize which patients we will see and which we will leave until the weather improves, but staying home altogether is not an option.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in PP, Pediatrics, Home Health.

I live 25 minutes away from 1 job, and 15 minutes from the other.I work as a community nurse for the job that is 15 minutes away doing foot care.If the weather is bad,all I do is reschedule their foot care to another day and don't go to work that day.Unfortunately the job that is 25 minutes away I have to go to as I am one of the only nurses that works full time nights.When the roads are bad I leave at least 2 hours before my shift starts so I can get to work on time, as well as I call ahead to tell them I am going to be late.I love snow but this time of year can really suck

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion