Snow & calling out of work

IVRUS, BSN, RN · Mar 5, 2015

Personally, Unless you have a 4 wheel drive, I wouldn't chance it. You will help no one, if your in a ditch. Tell your hospital to send a 4 wheel drive to get you, and bring you home, then you'll come in. They should have these people oncall under this unusual occurance.

NicuGal, MSN, RN · Mar 5, 2015

Your hospital should have a policy for this, but most likely they are going to expect you to come in. Double your time and take it slow. If it is absolutely awful then turn around. We get level 2 and 3 emergencies here a lot, but usually the highways are a titch better than the side roads. Good luck and be safe!

blondenurse12, MSN, NP · Mar 5, 2015

Can you try to switch shifts with a co-worker who lives closer to the hospital? If you're in TN, it's more the freezing rain that is the issue. Anyone can drive in snow, slow and safe. But you can spin off the road on the ice going slow, especially if you have a light car like a Honda or Mazda. Also, I believe the Southern states don't stock salt so that is going to make the roads even more treacherous.

I'd call your manager and tell them you have major concerns about getting to work safely. I personally don't think risking it is worth it if there is some alternative.

danceyrun · Mar 5, 2015

Leave early, drive SLOW, put your car into a lower gear. Make sure you have blankets, food, water, and a flashlight in your car. I live in the south too so I feel your pain. Do be careful, and attempt to get to work.

vapeaches · Mar 5, 2015

Be safe. Bring extra clithes and keep a blanket with you in the car. Hopefully, your work will have 4 wheel volunteers who assist people getting in

PacoUSA, BSN, RN · Mar 5, 2015

We are considered essential employees, snow is never an excuse to call out. We are expected to be at work regardless. Unless of course one is stuck.

Sent from my iPad using allnurses

Libby1987 · Mar 5, 2015

People who live in the severe weather states don't seem to understand or they forget how unusual freak storms disable us not equipped for it.

I'm in California and I wouldn't drive on dangerous roads to get to work. I did get stuck while working in an unexpected heavy snow that hit below our snow line, even though I was crawling and keeping my foot off the brake etc I spun off the road in a very remote area with the snow still coming down. I was blessed and it happened in front of a remote fire station. I had to be picked up by a friend with 4WD, and couldn't get my car out for a couple of days. It also happened before many years ago when I got caught in the snow coming down and I couldn't beat the storm trying to get home from work, car again spun out and went off the road and thankfully sunk in the soft mud before going into the canyon.

What I would do in the situation you describe is try to find someone with AWD or 4WD that could get me to work, I'd pay them if they weren't close family or friend. I would literally start calling everyone and post on FB my need to safely get to work and whatever other ways I could network.

Gooselady, BSN, RN · Mar 5, 2015

I wouldn't chance it without good snow tires and four wheel drive. You won't by far be the only one. I'm no hero.

TexMex22 · Mar 5, 2015

So I've been a nurse for 4 years now. I live in the south where snow is not common. As of today every school system in the area is closed due to the snow. I have no kids, but this tells you how bad it is in the area. I live in the country and it's a 35 minute interstate drive to the hospital where I work. I am not sure if I should attempt to get to work or simply call out. I feel like I should at least try, but I've never had this problem before because I haven't been scheduled to work during a snow event before. I have very little experience driving in snow and the roads aren't plowed out here in the country.
So what would you do in this situation? Or what have you done in the past?
I am posting this because I really want opinions of nurses, not just my family/friends who advise me to stay home.
Thanks!!

I'm from Texas and like you, we don't get a much snow, but do get ice occasionally. I use the highway patrol or state highway websites to check road conditions. They are real-time and updated constantly.

*As others have stated, be sure you have emergency supplies in your car before leaving (which you should have anyway in the wintertime).

*Go outside and check conditions for yourself. I've found more than once that the gloom and doom on TV is to keep the masses at home and prevent accidents. Essential personnel are generally expected to be at work unless conditions are severely hazardous. I've never missed a shift due to weather. I've been late, but always get there even when people who lived MUCH CLOSER called off.

*Explore your non-driving options: your area may have volunteers with 4-wheel drive vehicles that will come pick you up and take you home. I've lived in several places where this was available to essential workers (healthcare, EMS, police, etc.) with simply a phone call.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Mar 5, 2015

I'm in the D/FW area of Texas. The roads are currently covered with snow and ice accumulation from last night's storm.

People in the Northeast and Midwest may not realize that our roads go unsalted, unplowed and untreated during winter storms and blizzards. Snow tires, chains and cables are not sold in this region. In addition, people in this area generally do not know how to drive in ice or snow.

Last week my workplace arranged for taxi cabs to transport nursing staff and dietary workers to and from work. Management also paid for hotel rooms for certain essential people. I used a cab to get to and from work last week.

BuckyBadgerRN, ASN, RN · Mar 5, 2015

I'm of the mindset "you probably knew this was coming and should have planned accordingly". Probably not popular, but that's how I feel, LOL! I live in an area where snow is common and calling in b/c you can't make it d/t weather is not an acceptable excuse.

You need to give it the ol' college try for sure

FlyingScot, RN · Mar 5, 2015

Yes but many of us leave for work before the roads are cleared/salted or drive on untreated roads for miles before we get to the major highways. Snow tires and chains are pretty much unheard of around here despite the snow we get. Not being experienced in driving on snow isn't an excuse. We all were inexperienced at one time. There's no special skill needed. Just drive slowly and make no sudden moves (braking or turning) and give yourself plenty of time. 4 1/2 inches of snow does not require 4 wheel drive. And 4 wheel drive is no advantage on ice.