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.
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
That is so true and that is a problem for even nonessential personnel. This weather comes same time every winter. You should be prepared but like Commuter said if this happens in the south-they don't have the equipment to deal with it.
I've lived in a very snowy region my entire life. NEVER had I bought snow tires or chains. Why do Southerners always assume that's the ONLY way we get around in the winter?
Winter driving takes practice and patience but most of all a cool head. Now we have cell phones so we can keep in touch with the hospital and let them know what is going on. Back in the day when cell phones were not available we had to manage somehow. Not easy but we did it. Yes keep your cell phone charged so it's ready when you need it.
I can't get behind a Northern nurse calling a Southern nurse a special snowflake .
I am a native Floridian transplanted to Maryland, and was a traveler as far North as the Maine/Canadian border. And I don't appreciate being called Mary martyr or a foolish martyr for do the job that I was hired to do, which may require extra effort during certain seasons.
I live in the South too. As nurses, we are considered "essential personnel" and have to get to work. Unfortunately, my husband is considered "essential" as well so we both have to go (he Homeland Sec.). I live over 45 miles from work. I have made it back and forth each time. Everyone that calls out because of the weather, makes the rest of us have to work short. It is spelled out very clearly in our personnel hand books and we get reminders when the weather is bad. They do offer rides to those that live within 10 miles, but that doesn't do me any good. I am originally from up north, so I don't mind driving, but the idiots who think "I got this, I got me a BIG truck" are the ones that make it dangerous.
You're absolutely correct about the idiots with the big trucks. They make it dangerous under normal driving conditions. They are the ones (who think they rule the road and) wind up in a ditch. "Oh you got this alright"
At 5 miles per hour my vehicle was skidding, sliding and spinning on the two sheets of ice beneath it. At 5 miles per hour I could not maintain control of my vehicle for more than a couple of miles.
Slow and vigilant didn't work for me...
Each situation is different. Some go well and some don't
I grew so weary of hearing this, "But my children!" excuse. If someone makes the choice to have children, then that person should expect to have some sort of plan in place so s/he can go to work. It is not the responsibility of PWOK (people without kids) to constantly pick up the slack/work long hours or work short just because someone else failed to plan.
This isn't a personal attack on the quoted poster; this is a longstanding problem those of us without children have had to put up with, sometimes for many years.
Thank You because those of us without children are always stuck working because of the ones with children think they are a first priority. We too have a life and a family consisting of mother, father, sister, brother that require attention as well.
It is not just inclement weather that folks use the "I have kids" excuse, what about them needing ALL Holidays and Weekends off. Really?
I have kids and I manage to work my share of weekends, holidays and always came in when I was scheduled to work, despite road conditions.
And even if you don't have kids- you are still entitled to have some holidays and weekends off and not get stuck working them all because the people with kids needs a holiday or weekend off. Then stay at home if you need time off.
I am a native Floridian transplanted to Maryland, and was a traveler as far North as the Maine/Canadian border. And I don't appreciate being called Mary martyr or a foolish martyr for do the job that I was hired to do, which may require extra effort during certain seasons.
I'm not sure how this relates to my post but I can't get behind calling people martyrs either, mostly because they are not, the conditions are likely not life threatening or they wouldnt be going in. Maybe potentially life threatening but not likely life threatening. They're just not afraid while some are even if irrationallly.
And what I meant about northern and southern is a Wisconsin native telling a Floridian native, who still lives in Florida, a special snowflake for being afraid of driving in their freak snow storm.
I agree newboy...most won't travel in dangerous conditions. I love my residents but I love my kids and husband more. My family needs me just as I need them. I would be a fool to try and get to work after watching the news seeing cars flipped over on the road and in ditches. Nope not me, not doing it. I never call out from my job and try to be a dedicated worker and team player, but today was an exception. I listened to my inner voice this time and called out.
It always amazed me that surgeries were never cancelled and the patients were always there on time waiting on us to drag in. Unless the doctor can't get in, work goes on. We've had doctors who open their homes to people and we walked to their houses or others who opened their homes for food/drink etc. We also had day care for children close down, and my sister had to stay in an elementary school with her students because they didn't close the schools. Atlanta was a mess last year. Those who work in a service industry just deal with it, deal with those who can't come in, and deal with the hand that's dealt-and you know the deal when you sign on to work so however you can work it out>>>Everyone pays dues, whatever part of the country you live in.
EwaAnn
282 Posts
That is so true and that is a problem for even nonessential personnel. This weather comes same time every winter. You should be prepared but like Commuter said if this happens in the south-they don't have the equipment to deal with it.