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.
Yeah, around here, if you call someone any of those syrupy, saccharine terms or endearment (or not), it would not go over well. It's not us taking things the wrong way. It's just not done in this area. You have to learn to adapt to the customs from one area to another,
I actually like working when the weather is bad. It's amazing how slow the ER is when the weather is bad:roflmao: In reality...I drive a Corolla, on Thursday I could not get my car out of the snow. We got 14 inches in 12 hours. I paid my brother to dig it out while I was at work (our engineering department gives rides in bad weather) and it took him three hours and my car got stuck repeatedly. The Tahoe that picked me up got stranded in a ditch for three hours. I have had my car 11 years. I have driven it in some squirrelly conditions and I never would have made it to work if I had not been picked up. I plan on buying a 4 wheel drive vehicle this year, but old faithful would not have gotten me to work and I would not have been comfortable navigating 14 inches of snow in a rear wheel drive vehicle. Sue me.
I drove a sunfire before I got my yaris. I could not get thru 2 feet of snow in a very strange snowstorm in 2006. I kept on getting stuck every so often. Each situation is unique.
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.
I was stuck in the Blizzard of 77 and this was like 6 years prior to becoming a nurse. After that wonderful adventure, I learned to keep warm clothes in the car and that's even before I started to drive. My emergency car kit or improved over time. So I was prepared in case I got stuck whether it was on the way to work or anywhere else for that matter.
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.
People with 4WD think they rule the road. They make unsafe road maneuvers, cut in front of you. They don't take into other drivers into consideration whatsoever. It's "out of my way" mentality that puts other drivers at risk.
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.)
No problem. It's just a thought. I guess it depends on the people. I never had to call them myself either.
People with 4WD think they rule the road. They make unsafe road maneuvers, cut in front of you. They don't take into other drivers into consideration whatsoever. It's "out of my way" mentality that puts other drivers at risk.
Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.
People with 4WD think they rule the road. They make unsafe road maneuvers, cut in front of you. They don't take into other drivers into consideration whatsoever. It's "out of my way" mentality that puts other drivers at risk.
It's not people with 4WD; it's people who refuse to grasp the concept that yes, it can happen to them. Making a claim about all people in a group behaving the same way is stereotyping, and it doesn't help your cause.
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.
But I will be the next day. PLUS I will not be sitting drinking hot chocolate. I would be snow blowing the driveway from the snow that kept me from getting out in the first place. But since I don't have to worry about snow you can count on me being there. When I did live in an area that had snow I did go to work. I only did that once or twice.I drove to work in my own clothes and changed into my uniform when I got there. Then when my shift was done then I would put my own clothes on again and went home. I rarely called off unless I had a migraine headache. Even then I worked so as not to leave my shift short staffed but that was really hard when you are nauseated.
I live way up north where snow is measured in feet. I also live 50+ miles from my job...and most of it is gravel. I will not risk my life for work. Period. I have been snowed in at work, working a 28 hour shift. We all do our part for our patients. Don't risk injury or life for a job.
EwaAnn
282 Posts
Yes please