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.
Well, I live in a city where travel bans are initiated when the weather is too dangerous to... well... travel. So yep, I don't travel when it's unsafe to travel. But I will be so glad to take lessons on how to drive through black ice, scuba dive to work through floods, or hang glide over piles of snow if anyone is willing to teach?
A travel ban for weather doesn't include you. What if every nurse, doctor, EMT, firefighter, or police officer decided to stay home and drink cocoa? It doesn't work that way. You have a responsibility. You go to work.
What really sucks is when you're genuinely sick when the weather is bad, so you have to call out. No one is going to believe you. I have had the good fortune (knock on wood) to not have this happen, but some of my coworkers have not been so fortunate. Coworkers who never call out, who work extra, and who have been there in all kinds of bad weather, all of a sudden get trashed because the pathogens didn't wait until clear weather to strike.
I realize that's not the main topic of the thread but it is tangentially related, just thought I'd throw it in.
I live in the south too and completely understand your concern, I'm terrified of driving on black ice after a bad experience driving home from work one morning a few January's ago.
Since then, I know to watch the forecast closely and I keep an overnight bag packed and ready, including a single Coleman air mattress. The last time I was scheduled during a winter storm, most of our ICU staff ended up staying, working out what needed to be done for their kids and pets with family and friends. Not everyone has resources available but for those who can stay or can still make it to work, it makes every difference.
As a Southerner (by the Grace of God) - I am happy to announce that during the latest batch of crap weather that was dumped on us during my night shift, every single day shifter got into their cars and trudged to work and made it on time. I drove home (my 30 minute commute took me 1.5 hours) and was able to sleep peacefully in my bed. Yay, teamwork!
It isn't just about "getting to work" - it's about your teammates. It's not about "the hospital", it's about the patients. I know if I were to call out (especially at a time where a million people could call out), I would be letting my team mates down. And I'm not ok with that. Nursing truly does take a village. Thankfully, it appears the majority of the nurses on my unit share this philosophy.
I live north of Nashville and I'm not a nurse yet so I was able to call out of work but it's has nothing to do with 4wd or taking it slow here. It has to do with people that don't care to alter their driving style. The one day I ventured out in the weather, I had people riding my bumper and zipping past me. That's why there are accidents and why people die over something as stupid as snow. The bad storm from a few weeks ago, I stayed home for several days and the news covered 4 wrecks that were all tahoes and 4wd vehicles. People think 4wd drive means you don't have to change how you drive but that is not the case. for some reason the interstates here weren't plowed/salted and they ended up being a free for all with no lines to guide people.
I lived in PA years ago and you would see plow truck every 5 minutes. Here you might see one the whole time there is bad weather. The city I live in is pretty large (not as big as Nashville) and we only have one snow plow. People also drove appropriately for the weather in PA. It's very frustrating to see how insane ppl act here in the south over some snow but you can't control other ppl.
Usually people know in advance when bad weather is coming and have specific emergency codes that are enacted. Most nurses who live far away are asked to stay if the code is implemented. If you choose to go home, you should have made plans to get back-or stay close enough that you would not need to drive yourself. Nurses are considered "essential". In the future, pack a bag and snacks and prepare not to go home if you live that far away. Figure out a plan next time for kids, pets, the elderly etc.
People who don't have snow to contend with have hurricanes and the same process is put in place. It is a tough situation for sure, and we all hate the fact that we have to comply with hospital procedures for bad weather, but that's the deal.
You usually get compensated very well in these circumstances.
Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
I can't get behind a Northern nurse calling a Southern nurse a special snowflake as in general their weather experiences and driving skills and preparation are different, but I do think you can if your own coworkers are refusing to deal with the same weather, which also makes me believe that it isn't all that life threatening. And I do think people who live in the harsh conditions know the dofference and wouldn't want anyone to actually risk their life.
I also think, like I said in my first post 30 pages ago, that an inexperienced driver needs to do everything they can to obtain a safe ride to work. *I* may not drive in the snow but if it's doable I'm going to find someone to get me to work.
And it doesn't matter what I think about my employer, my employer has nothing to do with it. Or my coworkers except in a positive loyalty sense. It's all about work ethic and responsibility. A not so great employer or coworkers doesn't take away from my work ethic anymore than they can take away from my integrity.
FTR, I was not referring to anyone specifically on this site; I was referring to nurses in general who fob off their responsibility to show up on either another nurse, or just leave the department short because they fail to plan. Those are the "special snowflakes" to which I referred.
What really sucks is when you're genuinely sick when the weather is bad, so you have to call out. No one is going to believe you. I have had the good fortune (knock on wood) to not have this happen, but some of my coworkers have not been so fortunate. Coworkers who never call out, who work extra, and who have been there in all kinds of bad weather, all of a sudden get trashed because the pathogens didn't wait until clear weather to strike.
I realize that's not the main topic of the thread but it is tangentially related, just thought I'd throw it in.
That's why it's important to not "cry wolf." If you have a long history if being reliable, people tend to believe you.
Getting further tangentially unrelated, I have had coworkers get genuinely ill on Christmas and seen management make them drag their 104 degree febrile butts in to prove their illness. I'd rather someone get away with a fake call in then get our whole BMTU and all of its employees exposed to that.
Thanks everyone for your responses. I am in TN. The governor has closed state offices and is advising people to stay off the roads. We are under a state of emergency. At my house I got 2 inches of sleet and 4 1/2 inches of snow. Some got more. I have been watching the news and the interstate I have to drive on is still covered and is shut down just 20 miles in the opposite direction from the way I go to work. Maybe conditions will improve in a few hours. I'll leave early and attempt it. I just hope it goes well.
Okay I used to live in the north by Lake Erie. Unfortunately us nurses and other personnel do not have that option of staying home. Sometimes we had 1-2 feet of snow and guess what you still had to go to work. There are such things as four wheeled drive. And in real bad situations there is this thing called a ski doo. Of course you may not have neither of such luxuries. but a front wheeled drive will do just fine. Once I was picked up by a 4WD and went to work(not that I really wanted to but) and worked a double shift on top of that. Emergency personnel do not have that option of staying home in bad weather. Besides somebody may need our services be it fire, ambulance, rescue and so on. And there is always this one baby that is ready to come into this world in such a lovely wonderful weather-they have a knack for doing that. We chose this line of work. I live in the south where I don't have to be dealing with this. On occasion we get a few inches of snow and the city shuts down because of not enough equipment. Now in my case, if i don't have to be on the road, then I am not getting anywhere near it because the people around here don't know how to drive in. So should they hit an icy patch and slide into each other. No thanks. That's why I ran from it in the first place among other reasons. I know how you feel. It can be scary but do like the others say: leave early and plenty of room in front of you and bring change of clothes plus a tooth brush plus emergency car essentials as well.
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.
True but if you do drive put a 10lb bag of cat litter(road salt if you can get access to it). in the trunk of your car. It will some weight on the back of the car.so you don't fishtail.
Specializes in Addictions/Mental Health, Telemetry.
I've never had to deal with snow! I live in south Florida and have had to go into work for hurricanes. We have to pack a bag, sleeping bag, snacks, etc and both shifts must come in before the hospital is put on lockdown ahead of the impending storm. I once got stuck at the hospital during a hurricane that just sat on us for 4 days without moving!!
No, there have been a lot of rude responses. Particular 'seasoned' nurses calling other nurses 'special snowflakes' just because they don't see eye to eye about whether one should risk their lives to come to work.
~PedsRN~, BSN, RN
826 Posts
A travel ban for weather doesn't include you. What if every nurse, doctor, EMT, firefighter, or police officer decided to stay home and drink cocoa? It doesn't work that way. You have a responsibility. You go to work.