Snow- at what point do you call out?

[EMSnut45]

I am a new grad, and my first day off of orientation is tomorrow... and we are set to get 2+ feet of snow in an area that only sees that much snow once every 15 or so years. While I've been in the healthcare setting for quite some time, I've never experienced a snow quite like this during my career. I understand my responsibility to work, but I also want to keep in mind my safety out on the roads (I have a 35 mile drive to the hospital). At what point do you decide that you just can't make it into work? Do you always attempt to make it in, or do you look out the window and make that decision?

Disclaimer: I am a team player, and understand that if I call out, that means our unit runs short. I'm interested in hearing when to draw the line.

[MNRN2009]

Wow, I am surprised at how many hospitals/facilities would actually fire an employee for not risking their life to get to work in dangerous weather. I called and talked to my manager the other week prior to an impending blizzard to clarify the policy regarding "road calls". She said it was up to the discretion of the employee and if they felt it was unsafe to drive, they could call in. It would not be held against them. As I said in a previous post, there are plenty of nurses that live closer to the hospital and are almost always willing to pick up extra shifts. OT isn't something that is handed out frequently. If I were to call the police to get me to work (60 miles one way) in the middle of a blizzard, I'm pretty sure they would laugh at me. I did make it to work ahead of the storm, but the following day there were a total of 20 road calls. Most of the employees that made it in worked a double and none of them complained one bit. I stuck around and picked up a shift the following night only because the hospital paid for my hotel room.

[nursel56]

I would think that in EMS the possibility of injury or death is very much higher than it is for the average nurse, it's perfectly understandable that safety first for the provider is the number one condition that must be met. The nurses who work in Emergency or Psych think more like EMS-- the common thread being likelihood of injury. In fact there is something of a dust-up in another thread- regarding using the taser on combative psychiatric patients.

It seems that some of the replies here along the line of, "they can cover for me because they live closer" or "they can go in because they don't have kids and I do" Sorry, but it isn't you who should be deciding that. Perhaps I am not understanding that correctly, but it bugs me just as the "you don't have kids so you should work on Christmas" mentality. Other nurses didn't have any choice about whether or not you should have a family, it isn't fair to make them change their lives as a consequence of that.

[Scrubby]

Interesting discussion.

I agree that nurses should not have to risk their lives driving to work. Yes I guess you could leave early etc but there are times when you have very little warning.

Surely in areas where snow is likely the hospital should have a contingency plan such as accommodation, meals, even some sort of childcare facility.

[Perpetual Student]

I'll only call in if the roads are all closed. I've got a 4WD truck and love driving in snow & ice, though.

[Katie5]

Sometimes you do what needs to be done. Having your team members work short is never a pleasant thing to do and should be avoided as much as possible.

But again, what exactly is a TEAM, if one gets apprehensive, not so much( I suspect) at the thought of letting your team members work lshort as much as the thought of what they( your team) members would say.

A team is not only a team in good times, but also a team in bad times. So if a person calls in with a truly genuine reason for not showing up, pls cut that person some slack!

What good would that person be to you, if injured?This is this the winter period, a season for unexpected weather, admin. knows this and should also have an emergency plan of action for unforseen. We run drills all the time, shouldn't we also have a drill for this.

Most of what I keep reading is about making your TEAM work short. I'd absolutely hate that-no one needs to pick up more slack than they've already got but if worse comes to worse and that be the case, then let's swallow our tongues and just plan do it.

[Wsmith16, ADN, BSN]

Pat,

That's my mentality. I have been in EMS for 8 years now, and am having a difficult time adjusting to the "nursing" way of thinking-- patient is #1 and nurse is #2.

EMSnut

The "nursing way of thinking-patient is number #1, patient's family #2, Nursing administration #3, nurses #4. We lways put ourselves dead last. It's outrageous.

[Emergency RN]

sometimes, even tracked armored military vehicles become bogged down and frozen in heavy snow (anyone who's had military experience can attest to that). so even if a nurse wanted to get there, it may be so bad that it is beyond his or her control, no matter the degree of dedication and desire.

i find that new nurses or new drivers have the most problems in this regard. this seem much more to do with their inexperience and is seldom about a lack of dedication or professionalism. these neophytes just haven't been trained to respond in conditions such as this. frankly, they rather flounder about until someone gives them direction. in essence, if hospitals want their nurses to show up, these sorts of "i don't know what to do" issues should have been addressed hospital wide, well before the storm hit. in fact, hospitals (especially those in northern rural areas) should undertake winter staff preparedness as an annual ritual beginning in the fall.

that staffing needs fall victim to impassable roads, inclement weather, or inadequate scheduling is as much about poor administrative management as it is about nursing professionalism and dedication. bottom line here really is, that hospitals have to do more to ensure that they have the staff to carry on their mission. if this means providing better training in the logistics of personal travel during severe weather conditions for their staff, then do so if the nurses are expected to be there when the storm hits.

just admonishing a nurse that "it's your job to be here" is fruitlessly idiotic. they already know that; rather they just don't know how to go about it, and their employer isn't being of any help in that regard.

[dcampbell]

1) So from many of the above threads, I am hearing that we should have 4WD vehicles? Some people cannot afford these type of vehicles, not to mention the extra gas required and the impact on the enviroment.

2) If on the way to work, one is injured (in a car wreck or just walking down their driveway) on the way to work, are they covered by workman's comp? Will the hospital pay for your damaged car? Increased insurance rates?

3) If a hospital will fire someone for not coming in to work during a blizzard, do you think that the hospital will REALLY stand by them if they are injured coming in to work? Will you lose your job if you are unable to work anymore due to an injury?

I would like the hospital to put --in writing-- that they will cover you for doing "whatever you need to do" to get to work.

[litbitblack, ASN, RN]

I am NOT making any comment about anyone. I am simply stating what employers where I live tell employees. Simple truth, as the OP lives and works in my area and is not familiar with employer practices here. Employers here do not consider their actions punitive. We live and work in a "right to work state", therefore, NO reason necessary for separation on either side's part. However, the employee needs to give proper notice unlike the employer. AGAIN, I am not saying this is right or wrong, just stating the facts.

ACtually no an employee does not have to give notice. Its a right to work state. works both ways

[litbitblack, ASN, RN]

And, Its a job. Not your life. If its not safe to go, don't go. Do you think that place is going to be there for you when you do have an accident and everything else that goes along with it including the bill. Nope they will want there money. Do yourself a favor and if its too bad, you don't feel safe driving in it or have no exp. then call in.

[Straydandelion]

I only remember calling in once. Driving to work being extra cautious, I stopped at a redlight and instead of actually stopping, slid half-way into the middle of it. Being a fairly long distance still to go and having passed two wrecks on the way, I decided making it to work that day wasn't going to happen.

[pca_85]

This thread is NOT getting me in the mood for the coming months That said, I called off due to a blizzard once....supervisor belittled me and insisted on coming to pick me up.....made it three blocks and turned around, said the roads are too bad, but she'd still like me to come in. For the record, I didn't. I'm also 75 minutes away from my school, but luckily, its near a bunch of hotels.....so that'll be my plan if it storms badly-hotels. Ohio gets hit bad, but I feel for the people who get even more snow. May will be here before we know it, right?