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.
You are correct and I would never say your family doesn't mean as much to you as mine does to me. I worked my weekends and holidays no problem. Everyone makes decisions based on needs in their lives. I can live with mine and it doesn't matter if someone else doesn't agree. I can sleep just fine at night. That's what it comes down to really. People need to stop asking what should I do and make decisions for themselves. It is called being an adult.
It's an Internet forum and people will portray themselves in any light. With that being said, I refuse to believe people are going to travel to work in a raging blizzard out of a sense of duty. Let's be real here. We're not super men or women. I'm not taking any chances at being swept off the road because I have to make it to work. Yes, I have worked 36 and 48 hour shifts (20 hours of work/4 hours of rest cycles as per my hospital's policy) through hurricanes and blizzards because the next shift couldn't or didn't come into work. And that's okay. Because if a nurse on my unit was swept off the road because they had to drive through "white out" conditions (as a previous poster mentioned) just to make it to work, I would feel devastated.
Specializes in Med nurse in med-surg., float, HH, and PDN.
But, you know, sometimes 'storm duty' is just the luck of the draw, advanced warning or not.
I've done my share of making it into work when others haven't been able to. I've done my share of working doubles because of bad weather.
I think that if my only option for not making it to work is being in an accident, in a ditch, well, good grief! I've been in a ditch in a snowstorm, in a flipped car. Took me a while to get over that one. Never underestimate the power of emotional impact.
I should be allowed to use my best judgement. I am a responsible adult. I I say I can't make it in, I can't. Sometimes I can do a 2-hour-delay, like the schools do.
It doesn't happen often that I bail out in bad weather, but I have actually had a supervisor call and say that I shouldn't even TRY to come in until the roads improve. I've said it to others myself.
I understand about critically needed personnel having to get there, but I'd rather give those who can't get in the benefit of the doubt than attend a funeral.
Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
I have no problem being labeled a "special snowflake" by people I don't know and will never meet on an internet forum. I was under the impression that adults could disagree without name calling but guess not. If it makes you feel like a bigger person to make jokes and call names, then right on I say! Yes, I absolutely look out for number one and will continue to do so because I am not a martyr and do not profess to be one. You do you and let me worry about what I am doing over here. Oh and should your cats require TLC then by all means stay home with them.
I'm not a martyr either, but I was put in the position of working >12h (normal shift was 8.5h) frequently because people didn't make the effort to get to work before the storm made driving dangerous. I didn't have the choice to "look out for number one," because some staff chose not to make the effort that I did.
I wasn't necessarily referring to you personally, rather, to all nurses who lack consideration for their coworkers.
Sorry you missed that I was being sarcastic when referring to my cats. I even noted it to make that plain.
Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
It's an Internet forum and people will portray themselves in any light. With that being said, I refuse to believe people are going to travel to work in a raging blizzard out of a sense of duty. Let's be real here. We're not super men or women. I'm not taking any chances at being swept off the road because I have to make it to work. Yes, I have worked 36 and 48 hour shifts (20 hours of work/4 hours of rest cycles as per my hospital's policy) through hurricanes and blizzards because the next shift couldn't or didn't come into work. And that's okay. Because if a nurse on my unit was swept off the road because they had to drive through "white out" conditions (as a previous poster mentioned) just to make it to work, I would feel devastated.
I never had to do that, because I got there ahead of the blizzard.
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
This will be highly unpopular but here goes anyway. I worked night shift and I did not go in if the roads were not cleared. I also live in an area that is unprepared for snow. Does that mean someone else had to stay? Maybe but too bad I have stayed many times for hurricanes that came through when others couldn't come in. My 4 kids need their mom and I am not risking driving in severe weather and not being here for them. I don't care about other people's opinions because they do not pay my bills or take care of my family.
You're right, it's an unpopular opinion.
If you choose to have children AND work in a position where you're essential personnel, you need to have a plan for weather emergencies. This "I have kids and they need their Mom" business doesn't really fly. Or are you one of those who believes that people without kids should pick up all your slack?
I noted the sarcasm and reused it. We special snowflakes don't want anyone left out, lol. I have done my share of staying over too when others "couldn't" get there. It is what it is. If I'm there and it snows that's one thing. If I have to leave my house in order to be Joan of Arc for a conglomerate who cares nothing for employees....not so much. Sorry not sorry.
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
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.
For those who use the above excuse, let me give you a tip....your family and friends are just as important to you as mine are to me.
Nursing is a team sport....it takes a village to care for all of those patients.....we need to be good team players.
I had thought about the weekends and holidays, too, and didn't put it in my post. I get weary of that as well -- and with some folks, it starts as soon as the "plus" sign shows up on the pregnancy test!
I never had to do that, because I got there ahead of the blizzard.
And that's YOU. However, you can't expect everyone to be all "Well, gee it's going to be a blizzard, let me plan ahead and leave for work 20 hours in advance." So getting back to the OP. If you need to call out, call out. Yes, someone will stay late. But we all have had to stay late at one point because someone couldn't come in. This time, it just happened to be you. And that's okay.
Palliative Care, DNP
781 Posts
You are correct and I would never say your family doesn't mean as much to you as mine does to me. I worked my weekends and holidays no problem. Everyone makes decisions based on needs in their lives. I can live with mine and it doesn't matter if someone else doesn't agree. I can sleep just fine at night. That's what it comes down to really. People need to stop asking what should I do and make decisions for themselves. It is called being an adult.