Never driving to work in snow again

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Long story short: I live in Md and we go hit with some snow. I attempt to drive to work. I got stuck twice had , nearly drove myself into a ditch in the woods, and had to sit in my car for 2 hours with NO heat while waiting for a ride. I thank GOD and his angels for protecting me against seen and unseen car accidents. However, I will never risk my life like that again. BTW- I just brought brand new tires. No help. Until I get a 4 wheel drive I will be calling out.

I noticed the OP says she lives in Maryland. We got slammed with a lot of snow a lot earlier than all of the weather people had predicted - we expected to wake up to a dusting on 1-26 and already had several inches on the ground. We were supposed to get 1-3 inches total and ended up getting about 10 in some areas. There is no way that the OP could have predicted that - none of us Marylanders knew we were getting hit that hard and fast, including weather forecasters.

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snow tires.. chains.. and awd... whatever happened to the "be prepared" motto? If you live up north with snow.. you should just put on snow tires.. I recommend a good set of blizzak ws60's.

Or just keep a set of studded tires for the "really nasty" days in the garage. If it's dumping then no one is going to bother you about the studs.

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Specializes in floor to ICU.

Don't have snow here in South Texas but have flooded out my Dh truck that cost $500 to fix. :uhoh3: Have had my manger pick me up during a horrible rainstorm that flooded my neighborhood (big truck with bigger tires).

In hurricane season they plan for us to stay the night if there is a chance we may not be able to come in and relieve the next shift. I have had my share of sleeping on air mattresses under a desk.

I was wondering , too, what y'all do in the winters when there are days and days of snow... If we get icy roads here, we are not prepared (our cars or roads). Many people get stuck in the ditches and/or have accidents. Thankfully, it doesn't happen often.

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Specializes in Oncology/Haemetology/HIV.
Which works well for the psychic nurses, but not so much for those of us who don't have precognitive abilities.

In the case of this MD storm, no Psychic abilities were required.

If one checks the national weather service or the weather channel, this storm (not exact amts of snow) was listed at least ahead of time. And stronger warnings regarding severe weather were easily available 24 to 36 ahead of time. I know because was checking it. And while it may not be completely on the money on amounts, it was clear enough a warning to be prepared.

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Once you've risked your own life & expensive (or even inexpensive) vehicle in dreadful weather, wrecked and sat in the cold and the wet, OR even if the facility sends a big truck to get you, then won't give you food/sleeping quarters :eek: or a ride home, THEN one begins to say, "Hmmmm. I see just how they are."

And then you DON'T want to risk your life/health/vehicle for a greedy :twocents: corporation. THEN it becomes personal to you, and not in a good way.

Wow, that makes nurses sound like whiners. I'd fire anyone who has that attitude. If you live where it snows, either get a vehicle that's snow-capable or arrange for a ride. A skilled driver with a 2WD rear wheel drive vehicle can do a lot with it, provided it has proper tires. Take your vehicle out and play with it on slippery roads and parking lots so that you learn it's strengths and its limits. Do your research on Tirerack.com and all of the various enthusiast forums about what makes a good winter tire on that exact vehicle, because a tire is not a tire. You can buy a 4WD and still have slick-as-snot tires that make it impossible to get it moving without 4WD and impossible to steer or stop once it is moving. (Don't ask me how I know that, but it just got $927 worth of brand new traction tires put on it, just special for winter, lol.) A set of summer or all-season tires on original rims and a second set of winter tires on steelies may be a great idea. Tire chains may be part of the solution. Plan your trip for the off-peak hours when fewer other vehicles are on the road (my strategy if it's just snow, so that I have fewer idiots to watch), or alternately, plan your drive for a peak time when the ceaseless packs of traffic will keep the freezing rain from freezing on the road. Get a motel/hotel room, share with other commuters, and stay near the hospital for the night or a few nights.

Many, many people have occupations that don't let them call off just because of weather. How about the plow truck drivers, for example: Someone has to work around the clock to keep roads open. Someone drives ambulances. Someone is the cop who shows up at the accident scene. OTR truckers are out there on the roads in all kinds of weather, driving a truck to deliver meds, food, and other necessary supplies. Chemical plants and assembly lines keep going, and those workers have physical jobs that keep them hoofing it and lifting and lugging for a 12hr or longer shift.

Maryland has what must be the biggest collection of 2-lane roads anywhere in the lower 48 states of the USA, so I can sympathize with the OP. And most of the Beltway drivers don't flipping know how to drive even on a fine sunny day, so I am glad that I don't have to deal with Balto/Wash Beltway idiots when they get snow. Send 'em over to Cleveland and have someone there teach them a few things about winter driving. FIRST: We have to s-l-o-o-o-o-o-w the vehicle down... :D

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In the case of this MD storm, no Psychic abilities were required.

If one checks the national weather service or the weather channel, this storm (not exact amts of snow) was listed at least ahead of time. And stronger warnings regarding severe weather were easily available 24 to 36 ahead of time. I know because was checking it. And while it may not be completely on the money on amounts, it was clear enough a warning to be prepared.

I agreee the weather men were pretty close on the MD storm. They said 6-10 inches for our area and tho some may have gotten 12 but the difference was petty. You can tell by the warnings that the "potential" for bad weather is there and if they say 3 inches and you plan for more then you will always "be prepared for the worst". Hope for the best and plan for the worst. Never be suprised that the weather man was off.

And if the weather service says the snow is coming at noon, watch the weather radar and leave at 10. No psychic ability needed. Just planning!

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Where I work calling in during a snow/ice storm is NOT tolerated. In fact, if we do call in we are classified as AWOL and we can not use our leave time to get paid! The staff has been advised to prepare for the inclement weather and make necessary arrangements to arrive at work.

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Specializes in Oncology.

Snow is not a problem. I have good snow tires. I'm used to driving in the snow. I can take my time. However, if all the roads are blocked with jack knived trucks, I'm not getting anywhere.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, DSU, Ortho, Onc, Psych.
Long story short: I live in Md and we go hit with some snow. I attempt to drive to work. I got stuck twice had , nearly drove myself into a ditch in the woods, and had to sit in my car for 2 hours with NO heat while waiting for a ride. I thank GOD and his angels for protecting me against seen and unseen car accidents. However, I will never risk my life like that again. BTW- I just brought brand new tires. No help. Until I get a 4 wheel drive I will be calling out.

This happened to me one night. Drove to work in bad weather, in the morning - freezing cold, battery would not start, had to sit and wait for help for nearly 2 hours, was freezing. It's worse here when it happens in the heat - no air conditioning and you are just about strangled and claustrophobic by the closeness of the air.

If the weather is REALLY bad, I don't go into work now. I tell them get someone who lives closer, too bad if they don't like it. It absolutely poured down here not long ago, I couldn't even see out the street properly. No way I'd be driving in that if they had called me to go to work.

I know nurses and other work colleagues who have gone out in very bad weather, and who have either had accidents, or have not survived. Your life isn't worth a job.

I hope to God you kept the car doors locked, I got stuck near the woods too one day when my car broke down, and it was very scary - then these 3 guys came along....but that is another long story for another thread.

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[quote=XLR99;4755818

Here's an interesting anecdote - a few years back when I worked in the OR, we had one of the monster storms come over. About a third of the OR staff called off, but ALL the patients were on time.

To add to that, it's interesting that patients who are ready to discharge can also find rides to show up to pick them up, too! ......and don't forget to stop at the grocery store on they way home and stock up! Ever notice how busy the grocery store is on a snow day??

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Agree with above about the nasty attitude. If my child is a patient in the hospital, you can bet I'm worried about Nancy the nurse getting her relief-someone working double or triple shifts is NOT safe to give care, and that means my loved one is especially not safe.

And what if Nancy the Nurse has children at home, too, who due to snow are now not going to school?? Betty the Babysitter is required to stay and continue watching her kids? I guess it's easy if you only think of you and your own. I am glad to see not everyone thinks this way.

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Specializes in LTC.

My boss was totally appreciatative for me coming in. She said that she was surprised to see me come in and to never risk my life like that again. I have a sweet DON so she completly cared and understood. So far as nurses working short I have done it and others have too. No one can work 24 hours but we manage somehow. Once again if I end up stuck, hurt, or dead while driving in snow the nurses will have to be short anyway. My plan is to get all wheel drive as soon as I get some extra money.

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