Never driving to work in snow again

Fiona59 · Jan 31, 2011

I'm driving on a 35cm icepack on my suburban street. Our mayor is begging citizens forgiveness. I was supposed to be graded two weeks ago. For some reason he doesn't think a northern city needs more graders and ploughs.

General E. Speaking, RN, RN · Jan 31, 2011

If Mr Employer feels that it won't be possible for you to make it in based upon a weather report why shouldn't the nurse be compensated for staying in the hospital and for sleeping on an air mattress while their own families are being neglected? Nurses are not in the military after all.
We are constantly told that health care is a business. So why not recognize such payments and services as a cost of doing that business?

One year during an expected hurricane to our area, we were required to come the shift before and sleep at the hospital. BYOE meaning Bring Your Own Everything. We brought our own food, air mattresses, etc. We were paid the entire time (even when sleeping plus we received bonuses). The money made it at least tolerable for the inconvenience of being without our families and sleeping in odd places around the hospital. Phones were jammed so it was difficult to keep in touch with loved ones to find out if they were safe or even if your house was still standing.

The next hurricane, they paid us only for the time we were on the floor. Nothing extra despite sleeping under a desk all night only to come to work without a/c running. It was very hot and humid. We were short-handed and using emergency generator outlet-plugs, had brown water coming from the pipes requiring us to pass out/drink nasty aluminum canned "potable" warm water. Very difficult getting through on the phones again. It was the longest, most miserable 14 hour shift of my life. We were all sweaty, hot and sleep-deprived.

A little extra would have been appreciated. I guess the hospital got "sticker shock" from the first hurricane because they sure changed their tune.

highlandlass1592, BSN, RN · Jan 31, 2011

Third Blizzard this year in SE PA.... had 16in snow started past Wed into Thurs. When my staff and I left 9:30 PM Wed it was snowing 3 in/hour --as soon as one side of car cleared off other had 1in on it. Drove home 20 mile hour.
Home care office didn't close Thurs just a delayed opening 1-2hrs. My RN's were in by 8AM as they had prepared for it. 5 out 9 clerks didn't make it. Treated staff to lunch as thanks for extra effort.
Processed 84 homecare referrals Thurs and 134 Friday---our normal volume: business went on as usual. Just reminded referral sources and patients it might take 2-3 days to be seen due to some areas in Philly still not plowed, no gurantee next day service.
Motto: be preparred.

Kudos to your staff for their dedication! Strong work! And Kudos to you for recognizing your staff with lunch, I'm sure it was greatly appreciated.

Kim5/08 · Jan 31, 2011

I have no idea why you quoted my post to make your point.

Becuase I agreed with you and was carrying the "Nancy nurse" analogy another step. At the end, my comment was intended to say I was glad to see not everyone had the same nasty attitude. Maybe I didn't express it properly and should have included a double quote? Then again, I'm not sure how to go back and pull out the second quote! :lol2:

caroladybelle, BSN, RN · Jan 31, 2011

For the most part, nurses are what makes a hospital "run". People depend on us when they are hospitalized. And our coworkers depend on us to get there to relieve them; Twelve hour shifts can be too much at times let alone having to work beyond that. I get all that.
But here's a crazy thought: Why is the entire burden of truly treacherous road conditions often placed entirely upon the nurse?
If Mr Employer thinks it's possible and safe to drive in (when the Highway Patrol etc. and your own eyes are telling you otherwise) why shouldn't Mr Employer be required to offer round trip rides to core staff before any threats of disciplinary action are permitted?
If Mr Employer feels that it won't be possible for you to make it in based upon a weather report why shouldn't the nurse be compensated for staying in the hospital and for sleeping on an air mattress while their own families are being neglected? Nurses are not in the military after all.
We are constantly told that health care is a business. So why not recognize such payments and services as a cost of doing that business?

By the same token:

Nurses place a big emphasis on being "Professional" . Part of being professional means recognizing what your job entails and not taking that job if you are not capable of doing what that job requires. You choose where you live, where you work and what you drive. You also choose whether you are married, or have children. You also as a professional need to plan for emergencies.

If one chooses to work in a hospital that is 24/7, in an area that has inclement weather, one needs to inquire about how that facility expects you to handle those issues. If you as the employee cannot fulfill those expectations and the employer offers no leeway, then don't take the job. If your employer offers extra incentives like pay, that is absolutely wonderful. But we are professionals that choose to work in this profession for rates considerably higher than minimum wage and with that there comes professional obligations. Paying for an occasional m/hotel room when one chooses this job and chooses to live farther away knowing what the implications are when bad weather occurs should be an expected by you.

If one does not like it, there are other jobs, and other locales to work in. Working in a clinic or an office that closes for inclement weather is one - though it generally pays less. And there is also plenty of nonprofessional jobs where the business closes. Your family will not be nearly so inconvenienced .... But in most cases one will not be paid as much.

Having said that, last year's 50 inches of snow in less than a week, in an area that normally never tops 20 during a full

Season, fell into the unexpected - snow plows were breaking around here and we slept at the facility for 3 nights. We did get paid a nominal amt for the inconvenience. But I certainly didn't expect it, merely the OT pay for any extra shifts.

Horseshoe, BSN, RN · Jan 31, 2011

Becuase I agreed with you and was carrying the "Nancy nurse" analogy another step. At the end, my comment was intended to say I was glad to see not everyone had the same nasty attitude. Maybe I didn't express it properly and should have included a double quote? Then again, I'm not sure how to go back and pull out the second quote!

Ok. By making your quote it sounded like you were equating me with those who think only of themselves (as I made a comment I'd want my child cared for by a nurse, not a sleep deprived zombie).:)

To make a double quote, I hit the "quote" button, copy the whole thing, then hit back page, find the second post I want to quote, hit "quote," then paste the first quote above that. It's a little time consuming, but once you have done it a few times, it's pretty easy. There may be an easier way to do it, but I'm not aware of it. Some forums have a double quote button, but I don't see one here.

EDIT: Oops, there is a multiple quote button. It's the "+ button next to the "quote" button!

Horseshoe, BSN, RN · Jan 31, 2011

the shift that is at work, they are safe. i am not going to get on the road and die just so nancy the nurse can have relief. all the nurses running around to meeting all week, they should fill in. opportunity for management and supervisors to truly earn their pay checks.

wow, that's harsh! i suspect you would view things differently if you were the one stuck at work for 24 hours while your colleagues were safe in front of their fires at home.

exactly.

Katie5 · Jan 31, 2011

I know where you're all coming from. I normally have a 1.75 hr drive to work at a large hospital (don't ask- 3 kids in the school system +bad housing market=not going to move) -and 2 weeks ago the snow storm hit -my drive to work was almost 4 hours long. Absolutely awful.

What?!!

glasgow3 · Feb 1, 2011

by the same token:
nurses place a big emphasis on being "professional" . part of being professional means recognizing what your job entails and not taking that job if you are not capable of doing what that job requires. you choose where you live, where you work and what you drive. you also choose whether you are married, or have children. you also as a professional need to plan for emergencies.
why yes, of course, how foolish of me. if one is truly a professional (nurse), every aspect of one's life should revolve around their employer's every wish.
but we are professionals that choose to work in this profession for rates considerably higher than minimum wage and with that there comes professional obligations. paying for an occasional m/hotel room when one chooses this job and chooses to live farther away knowing what the implications are when bad weather occurs should be an expected by you.
yes indeed, we are indeed fortunate to earn rates higher than the minimum wage for we surely do not deserve them. in fact, we should always give the excess back to our employers plus a little extra for their trouble. and nurses are in a much better position to absorb an unexpected $100-200 hotel bill than a hospital/corporation. all the nurses need do is cut back on that next bottle of cristal they were going to have with dinner that evening. what could a corporation possibly cut back on?
if one does not like it, there are other jobs, and other locales to work in.
yes indeed. with the nursing shortage, finding that perfect job should be a snap. those numerous "i can't find a nursing job of any kind" threads scattered throughout allnurses.com these days are pure fiction.
....and we had to stay over 3 nights....
we did get paid a nominal amt for the inconvenience. but i certainly didn't expect it, merely the ot pay for any extra shift
however, i am certain that you will return the nominal amount and the overtime. after all, to expect compensation for "inconvenience" would just not be professional; and other professionals (attorneys, accountants, physicians etc) typically are exempt from overtime wages as well.

caroladybelle, BSN, RN · Feb 1, 2011

No need to be so snide, just because some of us choose to behave as responsible adults.

We all are free to make choices. Some of those choices have consequences to them. It is regrettable that is not recognized.

This is not about being a martyr - it is about making responsible choices with career family and work and after making them, fulfilling your obligations responsibly. This does not mean giving back pay that was justly earned. It does mean knowing what your employer's policies are and either living up to those expectations or not taking the job that can easily go to someone that will fulfill those expectations.

Our jobs do not dictate our lives. We make choices. If you do not like your employers requirements, there are plenty of other employers - go find one that accommodates you.

I, like so many responsible adults, made the choice to work where I do based on my needs. I investigated the weather, the neighborhood and my workplace, including it's payrates and made a choice, thus obligating me to fulfill obligations. I am not a martyr and do not expect my fellow nurses to be martyrs to their employers. That is very clearly indicated in my post, that you so deliberately misinterpreted.

I do expect my coworkers that DID of their own freewill choose to work with my facility fulfill their obligations, barring issues way beyond all control. We live in MD, we know what winter weather is like. There are plenty of healthcare jobs out there. If you choose one, knowing full well that they need to be staffed 24/7, and choose to live distant to the facility, you have only yourself to blame. The facility neither forced you to take the job nor forced to live far away - those were choices that you made, not your employer. You then should not be surprised when you have to "pay" for that choice at some point.

It is called personal responsibility - not taking on something when you cannot fulfill the obligations that It entails.

Oh, and professionals do get their version of OT - it's called a bonus for work well/completely done.

Kim5/08 · Feb 1, 2011

I don't live in a really snowy area, so I am asking an honest question, not being sarcastic.
What happens to the shift waiting to leave when you call in? It's not only the patients who need us, but the prior shift. They can't work their shift and yours, too. So what happens to them when nurses either can't or won't risk the drive in?!

The shift that is at work, they are safe. I am not going to get on the road and die just so Nancy the Nurse can have relief. All the nurses running around to meeting all week, they should fill in. Opportunity for management and supervisors to truly earn their pay checks.

Wow. That's a nasty attitutude. Hope you feel the same when its your relief that doesn't show up and you have to work the double or triple shift.
And you seem to think its OK for you not to drive in the snow, but you think its OK for the managers and supervisors to drive in the snow?

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.

LoL, thanks Horeshoe! I can be "compter stupid" sometimes. It just took me 15 minutes to figure out to hit the + key on each one and then click post! :clown:

Horseshoe, BSN, RN · Feb 1, 2011

With the big winter storm hitting the Midwest right now, this issue comes to the fore again. Hopefully everyone who does drive in stays safe. I'm watching the news right now and the Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers have apparently taken their ice storm to Texas.