"You can't call off!"

[snow22]

So here's my scenario:

I'm about ready to go to a new nursing facility. My two weeks was placed last Thursday (despite me not having vacation time or sick time). I have only this week left at my current job place.

Earlier this week I called off due to having a car emergency.

Today I was literally on the brink of going to the hospital today due to my anxiety...which has flared up a lot due to inclement weather and my drive (which is about 40 mins at best).

My family was begging me not to go in and do a double tomorrow.

I gave proper notice to my scheduler and proceeded to call my DON

My DON refused to give me the day off...at first. I proceeded to put my foot down without being rude and finally told her I will need the day off and will not be coming in. Between having 2 inches of ice incoming and being so mentally unwell from verbal abuse from manager and tired I can hardly keep myself awake during work.

She stated I was not caring enough for the residents by not being there...which I feel is inappropriate of her considering I have never called off unless there is an emergency or I'm deadly ill.

I seriously need a mental health break and I fear for my safety.

I was honest with her and my scheduler. I gave them time to fill my spot and I will be finishing my shifts.

Was this the right thing to do? I'm very scared they will fire me and I'll have a bad mark on my history as a nurse.

I'm also worried I will be bullied this last week of finishing my two week notice.

[Double-Helix, BSN, RN]

When inclement weather is predicted, essential personnel are expected to be at work as scheduled. Calling out was not the "right thing to do."

The right thing to do would have been to get to work before the storm started so that you could be available for work AND drive in safe conditions.

[NFuser]

Having been a victim of "extenuating circumstances"....

I recall allowing myself to be swallowed by the Guilt Monster once, over this. Called in a "I might be a little late" alert, four hours before the start of my noc shift, because I got caught in a white-out when a blizzard showed up earlier and more fiercely than predicted. Got 10 miles of my 50 mile rural commute out of the way in the first hour (some of it probably on a curb or in a ditch? regardless, my 4WD wasn't happy), and had to call off and turn around (could not see to get around an accident). I was insanely fortunate, because my supervisor had put the word out before the storm, knowing my commute was 10 times farther than most of the staff, so I was covered. Granted, from then on, I "over-prepared" - that was the first and LAST shift I missed due to weather. Made some friends at the nicest hotel closest to work, got a sweet discount, free breakfast, and a quiet room on the end of the hall, guaranteed, whenever I needed it.

Better than a 50-mile white-knuckle commute ANY TIME.

[River&MountainRN, ADN, RN]

The only time I have actually called out is when I was skidded into by a yahoo (we all know the type!) who insisted on speeding, trying to pass me, skidded on the ice, and knocked me off the road and into an ice bank. It was a solid enough bank of ice and impact that the airbags deployed and I had a river of blood running down my face. Thankfully, at the time, I had a very understanding supervisor, who was more concerned about my wellbeing (genuinely, not just because I was a warm body at the facility).

The only other time I've come close is when I left three hours early...and made it in just in time for a usual 20 minute commute. Multiple routes were closed off due to trees and wires down across the roads. It wasn't that my car couldn't handle the roads, in other words---it was that the roads were actually impassable! Thankfully, I knew the "capillary routes" (the routes that are so out of the normal way, indirect, and not ideal---hills and by water/ice) and was able to find one (ONE!) route that was passable. The off-going shift reported that they had a difficult time getting home because of the closed roads.

That being said, while I would've been miffed if I had to work a double because my replacement never showed, I can also empathize with the internal monologue of the moment ("Just WHAT makes all of this risk worth it?!?"/"WHY did I ever take a job where this would be a reality?!?!"), and if I hadn't been able to find that one mostly-safe route, I would've called out at that point.

[River&MountainRN, ADN, RN]

Oh, and lest our more southern neighbors feel left out of the conversation:

I called out for weather in Florida one time when I was working days and had a tornado, embedded in a thunderstorm, rip through the neighborhood and take off half of my roof. As if that wasn't bad enough, I ended up in the ER for a badly fractured ankle...after tripping over debris. Not my finest moment, hahaha!

[NurseQT]

I'm with the OP on this... years ago I was hit head on by a semi on the highway during a snowstorm. I wasn't speeding or driving carelessly, was actually driving 30 mph below the speed limit. My vehicle, which was a 4x4 did a 180 and I was hit. The officer who responded said had I been t-boned I and my two youngest daughters would probably have been killed. From that day on if the driving conditions are bad I won't risk it... I have four kids who depend on me and they come first.