The every year Snow thread

Do they have a sleep room and facilities for you to shower and dress...if so I would just take the stress off myself and stay there....if not book a room

We're expected to get 8-12 inches on Friday and another 8-12 inches on Saturday. Hoping those estimates change before the weekend (they've been changing for the past couple days). No clue how I'm getting in Saturday morning and doubt I'd be allowed to leave once I get in anyway.

Closest hotel is 1.5 miles (which beats the 5 miles from my house). It would cost more than I would take home in a shift though. Maybe if a group of us got together and split the cost. We'll have to see what happens.

All the hospitals I ever worked at always opened some kind of "emergency center" for snow storms and staff that is expected to work in am can come in before and stay overnight or stay after the shift and stay overnight. They usually set up something and all I had to do was call the supervisor or number and make a reservation. Sometimes you share a room and have a patient bed, sometimes it is some kind of pull out thing, one time I slept on a stretcher. I also worked for other employers like acute dialysis and they would just book hotel rooms close to the place of work and pay for it.

Having said that - when my children were little I did not always stay overnight after a shift when I thought it was ok to drive but I am also an experienced winter driver. My advice is to check with your employer in terms of accommodations. In addition it is good to have certain things in your car in case you hit unexpected winter weather, need to pull over in winter or what not. I have a large box with lid for my trunk that contains stuff like emergency food, hat,gloves, extra socks, and so on. I usually toss a sleeping bag in the car because I like that better as opposed to blankets and some water when I go. In addition I make sure I have a full gas tank and, some sand or melt, some mats I can use in case I get stuck with the car, a small shovel and large broom.

I always drive carefully, plan for extra travel time. There were times I had to pull over because there was sudden icing and I had to wait for a sander to drive through. One time I had to wait on the side of the road for something like 3 hours - that is when you are glad you have a sleeping bag ....

Nooooooooooooooooooo! Not the Snow Thread!

I feel for you. I remember those days so well and I get anxiety every time there's a snow storm even though I don't need to go into work now...I can work from home if necessary. Going into work in adverse weather is one of the most anxiety-inducing things for me and it was one of the reasons why I went non-clinical. I find that the best stress-reducer is to plan ahead, and as long as you have someone at home to take care of the kids and pets, then make arrangements to stay. It's not worth battling through that weather and risking your life. Pack a bag and some snacks and pretend you're at a sleepover party.

Snow sucks. I have never had an employer make ANY accommodations for their employees (except of course the managers who do not provide ANY hands on patient care - they would get hotel rooms). I have only called off once due to bad weather, and that was when we had an unexpected lake effect snow band show up and dump over 3 feet of snow. My car could not get out past our driveway. That was several years ago. Typically it is the below zero temps that keep people from coming in due to cars not starting. Either way I try to be understanding. No one wants to risk their life for their job, and sometimes you have to make that call. Just don't make it a habit and I have no issue.

Yep, lived in the Chicago area all my life, and this has been pretty much every employer's response to a big snow.

Fortunately, I now live 10 minutes from work, and since all my patients are at one facility, I know they're reasonably safe if for some reason I can't make it in.

I went PRN at the beginning of the month (handed in a resignation letter, DON begged me to stay on PRN instead) so I just looked at the weather forecast for the month and planned my 2 required shifts accordingly. NO way am I ever driving to work in snow/ice. I care about my own life and safety more than I care about patients, sorry not sorry.

I live 25 miles from work. This weekend is my weekend to work (of course, lol). I'll be heading in Friday and will plan to stay all weekend. The stress of driving in the snow is worse than just sucking it up and getting to the unit before the storm. Granted, with no small kids at home, my hubby can handle the shoveling. We will probably all be in cots in the conference room...yay....at least my employer will feed us if we stay over! :)

This happens every year, last year the worst (live in Mass and got the record 8 feet of snow) and each storm I was scheduled.

My options

Employer did provide a bed to sleep in. However my facility is not somewhere I would want to sleep.

Stay with a Co worker that lives near by. Do not be afraid to ask, no one want to drive in this and no one wants to be mandated be a use of a no show. Ask a Co worker that lives close a d car pool, even if you don't know them. Could be great bonding.

And of course the hotel room which is not cost effective. However you could take the family a d make it a mini adventure lol