snow bound NURSES !

LPN1974, LPN · Feb 26, 2006

Pay them. They came in. They should be paid around the clock.

Even if they have to lay down and sleep, they should be paid around the clock. That's my opinion.

We've had the same problem at my job.

We have several nurses who drive in to work, about 35-45 miles one way everyday.

If they come in and stay, they are snowbound. They should get compensation for coming in and being there.

They could have stayed at the house, saying that the roads were too treacherous.

Arkansas doesn't get all that much snow, but when we do get a snow or ice storm, it can be bad, because we are just not used to it, or prepared for it here. Alot of people just go and stay at work until things improve.

And my job says we HAVE to be there....we are critical care personnel, so we can't get out of it like the secretaries, and some other non essential staff can. And IMHO, if they're gonna tell you, that you HAVE to travel bad roads to be there to keep your job, then they should compensate.

JMHO. Personally, I've never had to stay, I live a short distance from work and I've always been able to make it home, but people who drive long distances opt to stay because they are told they have to cover their shift when it comes up.

rjflyn, ASN, RN · Feb 26, 2006

A couple of the hospitals in the midwest I have worked dont take the "I am snowed in" excuse from nurses that live locally. They had staff with and hospital owned 4x4 vehicles that would go pick them up and take them home as well. They had policys written to the effect that if you called off in this circumstance that you would be written up and it placed in you personell file. You were expected to have day care arranged if you had children, in a couple cases- ie bad storms the kids came to the hospital.

As far as the staff that lived further away- ie of which I was in both cases all they asked was at least an attempt to make it in or they would get creative with the schedule- ie the typical winter storm for example made it difficult for one or two shifts to make it in so they would try to get the local night shift staff to come in for days or second shift, the day shift staff that could not make it at 7 were told to try to make it at 3 ect ect.

Rj

Gompers, BSN, RN · Feb 26, 2006

My father's hospital offers rooms (either empty patient rooms or doctor call rooms) to nurses who agree to stay during blizzards. They are given 8 hour shifts off to sleep and shower, then go back to work again. They give them some cafeteria vouchers for meals. As a result, during the winter many of the nurses (usually the ones without children at home) have bags packed either in their cars or lockers that have extra scrubs, socks, underwear, and toiletries.

It usually ends up being overtime for them, so they get more money anyways. Most of them don't actually ask for more than that, because honestly, during a blizzard, they'd much rather stay at the hospital, have a safe place to sleep, free meals, and not have to drive in the snow.

If my hospital did that, I'd jump at it. I'd much rather hang out at the hospital and make extra money than to risk my life driving in the Midwest snow. Then again, I love my job, so I wouldn't mind working 16 hours, getting 8 off to sleep, then doing another 16...

StNeotser, ASN, RN · Feb 26, 2006

We had a nasty snowstorm in Boulder CO in 2003. I had a regular sedan car and although I wasn't scheduled for the three days it was hard to get about I did pick up a double shift because they offered to pick me up and bring me home in a 4x4. I only lived about two miles from work at that time.

Some of the people that lived in Denver were stuck there but they had a whole unit of about 16 beds where people could sleep if needed.

Trauma Columnist · Feb 26, 2006

I work in the midwest also and the hospital policy is that you make it in. Nowadays, with weather forecasting pretty reliable and available well in advance, there are few excuses to miss work due to weather. I live 15 miles from where I work. I know the weather can be brutal in the winter so I bought an AWD vehicle.

However, I guess just pre-planning would be my best piece of advice. I would also have the rules clearly stated in writing in the employes handbook.