Snow stories

CapeCodMermaid, RN · Feb 5, 2014

I was the ADON...lived a mile and a half from the facility. Freak overnight snowstorm dumped more than 3 feet of snow (this was Cape Cod where the chamber of commerce tells you it never snows). I was called on a Saturday to see if I could come in. Someone came to pick me up...I had to wade through drifts up to my waist. I was at the facility for 39 hours. I didn't sleep. I did drink gallons of coffee. The only bad time...the town called me to tell me a tree had fallen across the road so between that and the snow, rescue was not able to come to the facility and we were on our own. I had a unit full of short term rehab patients about 9 of whom had just been admitted s/p quadruple by pass. We made it through and even managed to watch a bit of football.

My DON thought she should come in even though people were told to stay off the roads. She got within 3 miles of the building but was stopped by the local police and escorted to the police station. We teased her for months...Jailbait Judy!

bethann2727 · Feb 5, 2014

39 hours....Wow! That's a real long time!

I worked 80 hours last week covering my shifts and filling in for those who

bethann2727 · Feb 5, 2014

...those who couldn't get to work due to weather. No neat stories though.

Ruby Vee, BSN · Feb 5, 2014

I've only been snowed in at work once -- it was more like a slumber party than anything I've experienced since Junior High! There were three new grads who just started on the unit that day, and they were having an absolute ball. Twelve hours working, twelve hours "resting." They put all of the ICU nurses in pre-op holding . . . . Those who lived close managed to walk home, but for the first time ever, I don't live close to work.

Years ago (OK, decades ago) when I lived in Boston, we had one of those really heavy snowstorms that dumps a ton of snow and then the sun comes out and sparkles off the snow . . . beautiful! I got out my cross country skis and skied to work. People were out in front of their homes, shoveling snow as I skied down the middle of the street. Everyone called out greetings as I went by. It was almost magical. Another time, in Spokane I lived a mile from the hospital -- but it was a mile straight up a hill. I skied to work, and by the time my shift was over the streets had been cleared enough that the city buses were running again. The bus driver was NOT enthusiastic about the idea of my bringing my skis on the bus!

bethann2727 · Feb 7, 2014

Skiing to work! I love it!

I live close enough to walk to work now...is very freeing to know you can enjoy the sights and sleep at home :)

CapeCodMermaid, RN · Feb 7, 2014

When I was in nursing school, I lived in the dorm which was a block away from the hospital I was training at. In the winter, we'd pray for several feet of snow....not so we could stay home but so the hospital would call us when the 'real' nurses couldn't get into work. We'd get to do many many things we weren't usually able/allowed to do.

bethann2727 · Feb 8, 2014

Funny how we pray to do new skills then when mastered we pray we won't need to do them lol

casi, ASN, RN · Feb 10, 2014

I live in MN so weather really isn't considered a valid excuse to call in. Our department of transportation is really good about keeping roads clear enough that people can get where they need to be, even if it's very slowly. You however do get a couple of call-ins and a lot of late staff.

A few winters ago I was working in TCU in one of the outlying suburbs and we had a few overnight storms that dumped 2-3ft of snow on us. One of these storms I actually had to call in because the freeway I took to work was actually closed (very very very rare in the metro area). The other storm I managed to have to send two residents to the ER in. It was AWFUL. Did all I could to keep them stable so I didn't have to send them out in near blizzard weather, but it wasn't possible. Thankfully there was a small hospital within a couple of miles from us. It wasn't either patient's primary hospital, but it was where EMS could take them for treatment.

I am so thankful for EMS. Especially when they have to work in dangerous weather.

Hoosier_RN, MSN · Feb 10, 2014

:)I just ordered an airbed for those occasions when I need to stay over. I work in LTC, 12 hr shifts at noc, very nice private pay facility that has empty rooms for just in case. I live a good distance away, thought it would be a good investment, as they only have very thin twin mattresses on the floors in those rooms

RN&mom · Feb 15, 2014

A CNA at my facility said they all got stuck at the facility for 4 days several yrs ago during a huge ice storm! Glad I wants there...

lauriepat, ASN, RN · Feb 15, 2014

Just this last week we got a foot of snow...i live in virginia.

Staff and management stayed overnight in the residents' theatre.

Some staff stayed from wednesday-friday! Kitchen staff stayed as well.

One big sleepover lol