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 not aware that Florida had a freak snowstorm. I must have missed that one. That's what straight nights will do for you.
I AM one of those "martyrs" who gets to work when I'm scheduled . . . even if the conditions are potentially life threatening. A freak ice storm, snowstorm or hurricane, and I'm at work where I'm supposed to be when I'm scheduled. You plan ahead, you arrive early, you drive slow -- all things that other people have mentioned. Yes, people do get hurt on the roads when there's bad weather -- but people get hurt on the roads in good weather, too. Statistically, your odds of getting to work safely are pretty good, especially if you're smart about it. But that doesn't mean I'm not afraid to drive in a snowstorm or an ice storm -- I am. I grew up and learned to drive in Wisconsin, and I know how to drive in the snow. I also know that most of the idiots who live where I live now do not . . . and they scare me to death sometimes. But I took a job knowing that was part of the deal, and personal integrity demands that I be at work -- so I plan ahead and I get there.
I am quite offended that you or anyone else would decide that you know whether I'm scared or not. And I'm offended that anyone who is "irrationally afraid" thinks that somehow absolves them of honoring their committment to be at work. If you're irrationally afraid to be on the road in snow, stay in a hotel, a friend's house or at the hospital. But don't make your irrational fears someone else's problem by failing to show up where you've promised to be when you've promised to be there.
I should have had my comments peer reviewed before I posted as I sure wasn't meaning to offend.
Much of it wasn't meant to be quite so literal. Prepared skilled people tend to make good decisions and have less fear from lack of experience. I can't gauge anyone's fear from here but I believe there's a continuum with healthy cautiousness on one end to paralysis on the other. Same storm, different reactions. I would imagine but I don't want to offend, that your fear is shifted closer to the cautious end than the anxiety ridden kind, usually associated with lack of experience or maybe it's just the personality involved, on the other.
I also intended to convey that following the lead of the experienced was the most accurate gauge of risk. That if multiple people with experience were making the drive then it's probably not a completely non sensical thing to do.
I had a very scary experience driving in whiteout conditions and vowed to never do it again. Work or not.
Imagine being on an expressway where most people travel 70 + mph and at the time you can only go 5 or 10 mph in rt lane because the winds are so high you can only see white. Imagine praying the whole time (2 hours) that everyone sees your hazards and dont slam into you as some over confident 4x4s or semis travel faster than they should , which they often do.
Nope not for me. Fire me if you want but I value my sanity and life more than that .
Those of us who are responsible and go to work have had the same frightening driving experiences as you and others have described. And we're scared, too! Ice scares me, semis in the Interstate terrify me and sometimes I have to guess where the pavement begins and ends. When my 30 minute drive takes three hours, I promise you I'm sweating and quaking in fear the entire trip. But if everyone decides they're too special to bother trying to come to work, what happens to the patient's? Or don't they matter to you?
Oh they matter and so do you. Both are important. Just pray that all goes well on all ends.
The way I see it....we chose a profession where it's never really acceptable to call-in except in emergency type situations. If half the people on your staff called in because they didn't want to try to make the drive, then the nurses who did make it in get rewarded with more or less being screwed over and making up for missing staff. Not to mention it jeopardizes pt safety. The hospital is still full of sick patients that need care regardless. Most hospitals will let staff sleep in empty rooms if needed during bad conditions.
I have always been told that you can call a cab or have the police take you to work if you have a vehicle that isn't suitable for ice/snow. Maybe try to find a co-worker that has a 4 wheel drive vehicle and carpool if possible?
It's really not that difficult to drive on bad roads, you just have to go slower and not make any sudden adjustments or punch the gas too hard. Drive slower in a lower gear and be careful.
Well if you get into into an accident, you end up a patient yourself not to mention the other victims that are injured. In that case your life is endangered and you are no longer any good to the patient at that point.
While I agree with you that folks need to be responsible and go to work, I did have to chuckle about calling the police for a ride to work. If I called the police to take me to work during every storm, I would get an ear full, after they managed to stop laughing at me for making such a ridiculous call.
Maybe not- they understand that you too are an essential worker
Maybe not- they understand that you too are an essential worker
Trust me. Around here, the police would never give me a ride to work. Nor would I want, or expect them to. They have more important things to do, than playing chauffeur for the day. Never once, have I ever thought about that being an option. Why would I expect anyone to take me to work, when I can drive myself? If they can drive in bad weather, then I can too. What's the differene? (Not trying to be snarky, just trying to make a point and be realistic.)
Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.
Trust me. Around here, the police would never give me a ride to work. Nor would I want, or expect them to. They have more important things to do, than playing chauffeur for the day. Never once, have I ever thought about that being an option. Why would I expect anyone to take me to work, when I can drive myself? If they can drive in bad weather, then I can too. What's the differene? (Not trying to be snarky, just trying to make a point and be realistic.)
In my situation for critical pediatric home care the local police &/or county sheriff enter into an agreement with the agency to offer support for specific scenarios to ensure qualified nurses can reach the patient. Sometimes it's the city prioritizing plowing a path to the patient home. Sometimes they help the family clear a spot for the nurse to park. All of this is done in emergency planning stage. Even ensuring nurses closest to the most critical patients are oriented and qualified to cover in an emergent or urgent coverage scenario. The logistics are amazing.
Yes I made it to work. It was slick but I drove very slowly and didn't have a problem. A SUV flew past me and ended up about 2 feet from slamming into a rock wall. Driver was ok.
This thread has so many posts and I haven't read them all. Thankfully I didn't die as some have speculated ������������������
Glad you made it okay. Hope you had a good shift. I don't think anyone wanted you to die. I don't wish that on anyone anyway. Once I reach my destination I take a deep breath and say Okay we're good.
No, it isn't a reason to call off. I work in the ER and hubby is a medic/ff - we HAVE to get to work. We live in the snow belt. You just have to go slow (yes, this may mean 5mph) and intentional and smooth movements. If we are in a state of emergency and roads are "closed" - our hospital is a little more lenient on arriving late. They won't give us the typical "late" points.
Bahaha, we've even considered buying a snow mobile to take to work.
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
Well if you get into into an accident, you end up a patient yourself not to mention the other victims that are injured. In that case your life is endangered and you are no longer any good to the patient at that point.
And if you just stay home with your feet up and a nice cup of hot chocolate, you're no good to any patient, either.
lol
Libby1987
3,726 Posts
I should have had my comments peer reviewed before I posted as I sure wasn't meaning to offend.
Much of it wasn't meant to be quite so literal. Prepared skilled people tend to make good decisions and have less fear from lack of experience. I can't gauge anyone's fear from here but I believe there's a continuum with healthy cautiousness on one end to paralysis on the other. Same storm, different reactions. I would imagine but I don't want to offend, that your fear is shifted closer to the cautious end than the anxiety ridden kind, usually associated with lack of experience or maybe it's just the personality involved, on the other.
I also intended to convey that following the lead of the experienced was the most accurate gauge of risk. That if multiple people with experience were making the drive then it's probably not a completely non sensical thing to do.