Snow Days....

Mulan · Jan 13, 2011

Reminds me of the time a hurricane was expected (didn't arrive).

Staff was supposed to come in and bring enough food and bottled water with them for 72 hours.

I figure if they want people there for 72 hours they can at least provide the food and water.

I think the younger generation that does not put the job ahead of their life has it right.

As opposed to the old martyr, the patient always comes first way of thinking.

I was that way once, but not anymore.

What do you get for it?

As someone else said, work your fingers to the bone and what do you get, bony fingers.

elkpark · Jan 13, 2011

I think the younger generation that does not put the job ahead of their life has it right.
As opposed to the old martyr, the patient always comes first way of thinking.
I was that way once, but not anymore.
What do you get for it?

Ummmm, continued employment???

Mulan · Jan 13, 2011

Ummmm, continued employment???

Hasn't been a problem.

canigraduate · Jan 14, 2011

Just came back in and read all the posts following my earlier one. I'll admit, "nag" was strong, and I apologize, but I was hot when I read all the posts that were so negative to the OP.

Unless you live in a southern state, it's really hard to understand the physical impossibility of driving in the ice/snow (usually ice). It's terrifying and very dangerous. We don't have the resources available to the northern states that get a lot of snow. Just like Kansas doesn't prepare for hurricanes, y'know?

And I don't mind staying late to cover another shift. I've done it many times when census has been up. But I don't find it necessary to risk my life to get to work. I don't work in any capacity that is remotely life-saving, so it just isn't that important to me. When I become a nurse and it actually matters on a life-and-death level, then I may have a different attitude. Right now, I would rather stay on for a double than have a coworker risk their life.

I'm not saying that preparation and common sense aren't good things, I think they're wonderful. I personally was very prepared. I'm just saying sometimes no amount of preparation is going to help you, especially in rural areas.

We had close to an inch-thick sheet of solid ice on most secondary roads on Tuesday morning. I didn't leave the house except to walk the dogs and I busted my tail twice doing that. I still have ice a quarter of an inch thick around my house. And we didn't get it that bad where I am compared to surrounding counties.

Hopefully I've offered a little perspective on the difficulties southern states have so you can better understand where the OP is coming from.

linearthinker, DNP, RN · Jan 15, 2011

Reminds me of the time a hurricane was expected (didn't arrive).
Staff was supposed to come in and bring enough food and bottled water with them for 72 hours.
I figure if they want people there for 72 hours they can at least provide the food and water.
I think the younger generation that does not put the job ahead of their life has it right.
As opposed to the old martyr, the patient always comes first way of thinking.
I was that way once, but not anymore.
What do you get for it?
As someone else said, work your fingers to the bone and what do you get, bony fingers.

There is a disconnect someplace, b/c this does not represent my attitude at all. I'm not a martyr. I'm an adult, and a professional. I keep my commitments, and I expect others to do the same. To tell the truth, the patients are irrelevant to the equation. It is a matter of personal honor. If I tell you something, you know it to be true, and that includes where I'm going to be when. I think people who know me value that character trait, and I'm proud to demonstrate it consistently and to have a reputation that reflects such.

pseudonym87 · Mar 21, 2018

There are varying opinions in the nursing profession regarding snow days and nurse safety and I would like to address them here. As a nurse, we have an obligation to our patients. As a human, we have an obligation to our selves and our families. Sometimes it can be tricky to find a happy medium.

To those nurses who have the opinion of, "you must make it in to work at all costs and be prepared to eat whatever that is availability and sleep on the floor if need be and stay at the hospital for however long is necessary," I respectfully disagree with you.

If it is expected from my employer for me to come to work earlier than my scheduled time, then they must pay me by regular hourly pay for the time they want me to come in early, provide accommodations (and no a cot is unacceptable), provide hot healthy food and not just fried chicken wings, provide a place to shower, and they should pay me time and a half for any hours worked past my scheduled shift if I am mandated due to an internal disaster code being activated.

As nurses, our obligation to our patients begin as soon we are endorsed their car. Any other opinion is simply a "cult" mentality that nursing administration has cultivated among nurses. Administrators know that most nurses will do anything and they leave nurses to judge, fight, and quarrel amongst one another when the real issue here is with management.

The hospital is also aware of the weather issues ahead of time. Why not book a bunch of hotel rooms in advance? Why not hire an agency to cover gaps? Yes- as nurses our responsibility to our patients is while we are caring for them. But the responsibility of 24/7/365 operation of a BUSINESS is the responsibility of the employer.

Many will disagree with me and many will quietly agree with me. I love my patients and I'll give them my everything with they are under my care. My safety is always and will always remain my number one priority.

Ruby Vee, BSN · Mar 21, 2018

There are varying opinions in the nursing profession regarding snow days and nurse safety and I would like to address them here. As a nurse, we have an obligation to our patients. As a human, we have an obligation to our selves and our families. Sometimes it can be tricky to find a happy medium.
To those nurses who have the opinion of, "you must make it in to work at all costs and be prepared to eat whatever that is availability and sleep on the floor if need be and stay at the hospital for however long is necessary," I respectfully disagree with you.
If it is expected from my employer for me to come to work earlier than my scheduled time, then they must pay me by regular hourly pay for the time they want me to come in early, provide accommodations (and no a cot is unacceptable), provide hot healthy food and not just fried chicken wings, provide a place to shower, and they should pay me time and a half for any hours worked past my scheduled shift if I am mandated due to an internal disaster code being activated.
As nurses, our obligation to our patients begin as soon we are endorsed their car. Any other opinion is simply a "cult" mentality that nursing administration has cultivated among nurses. Administrators know that most nurses will do anything and they leave nurses to judge, fight, and quarrel amongst one another when the real issue here is with management.
The hospital is also aware of the weather issues ahead of time. Why not book a bunch of hotel rooms in advance? Why not hire an agency to cover gaps? Yes- as nurses our responsibility to our patients is while we are caring for them. But the responsibility of 24/7/365 operation of a BUSINESS is the responsibility of the employer.
Many will disagree with me and many will quietly agree with me. I love my patients and I'll give them my everything with they are under my care. My safety is always and will always remain my number one priority.

You resurrected a seven year old thread to complain about the expectation that you show up for work when expected even if it's snowing?