Snow- at what point do you call out?

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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.

Specializes in RN, BSN, CHDN.

I am enjoying this thread. I have just moved from AZ to OH so from heat to the freeze. I have stressed about being snowed in because I live in a very rural area and am 31miles-41miles (depending on which route I take) away from work. So the snow came and I have to say I have been very impressed with the service the road gritters/plowers have provided to the area. So up to now not getting to work has not been an issue.

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Specializes in CT ICU, OR, Orthopedic.

When I worked in the OR, and I noticed that the patients always make it in! Even for the elective stuff. So I figure if they can, so can I. I drive 42 miles to work. The distance can not be an excuse... Why are you working so far? I guess if it's the only hospital around, then it's a good excuse, but not likely. If you've ever been the nurse stuck there bc there is no one to relieve you, you'd be sure to make it in. Someone has to be there. It's not just working short, it's stranding your coworkers, and making them work 24 hour shifts. Then drive 2 hours home. They have family's too. They have kids, and pets to get home to. Just MHO...

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Specializes in Mostly geri :).
I am enjoying this thread. I have just moved from AZ to OH so from heat to the freeze. I have stressed about being snowed in because I live in a very rural area and am 31miles-41miles (depending on which route I take) away from work. So the snow came and I have to say I have been very impressed with the service the road gritters/plowers have provided to the area. So up to now not getting to work has not been an issue.

Welcome to Ohio, I'm right by the lake, so I know its a hard adjustment:bowingpur

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Specializes in Cath Lab, ICU's, Pediatric Critical Care.

Wow, what a variety of responses!

I live up in a small mountain community, 50 miles from my job. There is only one main highway road in and out. When the road is closed, we cannot get out. The gates on the entrance ramps are closed. There are only 2 or 3 main streets/roads in town that are plowed/salted. We're on our own as to getting down our block and out of our neighborhoods. Fortunately, our community does not get lots of snow or ice. I have missed work several times in the last 11 years when the main highway was closed. If they are opened later in the day, I try to make it down to work. Most people working at the hospital live in that city (down in a valley), and they don't have snow to deal with. So there is no emergency plan in place for 'snow call outs'.

I won't risk my life trying to get to work. I have a front wheel drive car, thought I can take one of our 4 wheel drive cars if needed. The hospital does not supply a room to sleep, or food, if i get stuck down in town as the staff who work there from the mountain communities are very small. However, I do plan ahead as I regularly take call for my job, so I do pack my suitcase!

The main highway is a main traffic road for truckers, so they do try to plow early on and keep it clear. Ice can sometimes be the main reason the road is closed.

We had a major pile up several years back due to fog. 70 cars westbound and 50+ cars eastbound, involving lots of trucks. One person was killed, and others badly injured. As others above stated, its the nuts out there that think they can still do the speed limit in the bad weather that make it dangerous for others.

Do what's safe for you and your family!:redbeathe

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To answer some of the questions posted, I work 60 kms away from work because I live in a rural area, there are no jobs available in the town I am closest to, so I work casual there, and casual at the job that is a half hour away. Winters here have been horrible the last 2 years, with the highway literally drifting shut and blocking traffic for at least a day more than once last winter. I live down 2 miles of gravel in an area where we not only get snow but extreme winds which drift the snow up to 14 feet high, drifting in my driveway, my approach and several spots before I hit a plowed road. We own 1 4wd, can't both take it to work, and drive opposite directions. I as a female am not comfortable driving alone when it is dangerous, up to -50 celsius windchill if you do get stranded and miles to walk to the nearest house on a reservation where the crime rate is so bad the police don't release info of half of what happens there.

When it happened here this year, the hospital staff were mentioned in the monthly "Outreach" magazine, but not the LTC staff who were also stuck, and it was mentioned that the Acute Care Manager did the scheduling of staff FROM HER HOME because she was stranded, and she was asking staff who lived further away and were just as snowed in to suck it up and come to work. We are offered lodging in the hospital if we get stuck there, and if it happened to me, I would work to fill the shifts. However, if I am stuck at home, I am not risking my neck or my vehicle to come in. The hospital will not pay for my vehicle repairs, I don't have ADD or LTD from them because I work casual, and they don't cover my meals. It just ends up being an expense to me, with very little gratitude from my employer. Too great a risk, and a year later what does it matter? No one remembers you for working all the weekends and holidays either.

I am not married to my job.

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By the way, I have been the nurse stuck at work due to someone else not making it in. I still do not go in if the drifts on the road are taller than my car!! Get real. It is different out in the country than it is in the metro areas!

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Specializes in CT ICU, OR, Orthopedic.
By the way, I have been the nurse stuck at work due to someone else not making it in. I still do not go in if the drifts on the road are taller than my car!! Get real. It is different out in the country than it is in the metro areas!

Yes this is true.... I live in Metro Detroit. I wasn't thinking about more rural areas, where the snow is 2 feet deep.

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Specializes in Med Surg.

After saying earlier that we don't get that much snow in Texas we had a foot dumped on us in about 6 hours on Chtistmas Eve. For those who say plan ahead; the forecast was for accumulations of up to a "couple of inches". Plan for that!

I missed no work during the weekend but if I had known then what I know now I would have called in the first night. People in these parts aren't used to this and there were stranded vehicles every few yards and the only people doing rescue operations were the VFDs. Had I gone off the road I could have been looking at a very long, cold night.

All that being said I would still prefer the snow and ice to having a tornado drop down about a half mile ahead of me like I did this past spring.

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Specializes in Mostly geri :).
After saying earlier that we don't get that much snow in Texas we had a foot dumped on us in about 6 hours on Chtistmas Eve. For those who say plan ahead; the forecast was for accumulations of up to a "couple of inches". Plan for that!

I missed no work during the weekend but if I had known then what I know now I would have called in the first night. People in these parts aren't used to this and there were stranded vehicles every few yards and the only people doing rescue operations were the VFDs. Had I gone off the road I could have been looking at a very long, cold night.

All that being said I would still prefer the snow and ice to having a tornado drop down about a half mile ahead of me like I did this past spring.

Wow, don't you love when the forecast underestimates how bad it will be? I think it's wise for people that aren't used to driving in the snow to stay off the roads, I wish they'd stay off the roads up here lol.

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Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
after saying earlier that we don't get that much snow in texas we had a foot dumped on us in about 6 hours on chtistmas eve. for those who say plan ahead; the forecast was for accumulations of up to a "couple of inches". plan for that!

i missed no work during the weekend but if i had known then what i know now i would have called in the first night. people in these parts aren't used to this and there were stranded vehicles every few yards and the only people doing rescue operations were the vfds. had i gone off the road i could have been looking at a very long, cold night.

all that being said i would still prefer the snow and ice to having a tornado drop down about a half mile ahead of me like i did this past spring.

me, too! the tornado thing is pretty scary! i had one chase me up the road once.

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Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.
me, too! the tornado thing is pretty scary! i had one chase me up the road once.

oh, nooooooo :eek: :eek: :eek: !!!! well, at least you get some warning with tornadoes. . now the earthquakes, where i live, can really mess with your outlook. no warning!!

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Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
oh, nooooooo :eek: :eek: :eek: !!!! well, at least you get some warning with tornadoes. . now the earthquakes, where i live, can really mess with your outlook. no warning!!

the tornado that chased me up the road was a direct result of me being young and stupid. there was warning; i didn't get it. but earthquakes scare the everlivin' **** out of me. i can live with snowstorms and tornadoes, but it seems as if the ground really ought to hold still!

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