The Jan 2015 winter storm

[anon456]

I live in an area that does not get big storms and I've never had to make choices of driving in hazardous conditions to get to or from work. Or, being stuck at work for way past the time you are supposed to go home, but you can't abandon your patients. At some point you have to sleep, right? Do you get sleep breaks? How long and where do you sleep? How does nurse/patient ratio remain safe if half the nurses are sleeping?

I would be interested in hearing your stories as this storm develops, or hearing other stories from past storms. I'm fascinated by this stuff.

[Alnitak7]

When I worked....the hospital would have cots we could sleep in during breaks, provide meals, and access to showers, etc. It's not that bad.

Not all places are this considerate so watch out. You might want to check this out before the storm hits.

[Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN]

A few years ago while working at an SNF we had a bad snowstorm. I worked 7-3:30 with one other RN on my floor, and we stayed a double because everyone who even tried to come to work got stuck. For a while it looked like we might have to stay for the night shift too, but then our replacement was able to come in. This was on a weekend so there were no management staff there (let alone nursing management who could help us with resident care.) But before when we thought we might be there all night, we decided that we would take 2-hour shifts with one working 2 hours while the other one napped in an empty room. Would that have been perfect-world safe, of course not... but you kind of go into survival mode where you do what you have to do, prioritize the most important nursing interventions, and let go of the rest.

Once last year I knew we had a storm coming, so I rented a hotel room a few blocks away from my work. That way I didn't have to worry about the dangerous roads.

nursemaple2--speaking for myself here, but my husband was able to take over childcare during both of these times. When the first snowstorm happened we had 3 kids; last year we had 5. If I were a single mom I guess I would have had to call someone and ask for help, at least in situations like the 1st where I was stuck at work. That was a day that even if we'd been able to leave, it was safer for me to stay put rather than drive in treacherous conditions. Now if I were at home anticipating a storm and there was nobody I had at the ready, then I would have called off work. My colleagues and patients are important, but just like I can't abandon them while on the job, I can't abandon my kids while I'm home.

[imintrouble, BSN, RN]

I've never been scheduled during a time when the storm was so bad we couldn't get in and out.

My facility has never been faced with a situation that warranted housing staff for nursing coverage. I don't know if they'd rise to the occasion or not. They sometimes let nurses who live more than an hour away, who're on call, sleep in an empty room. But that's rare.

[kbrn2002, ADN, RN]

Have a go bag ready at all times in the winter. Not just for work reasons, but safety reasons. I have been stuck at work as long as three days, though admittedly that's rare. We have a group on employees with big 4 wheel drive trucks that volunteer to drive staff back and forth if needed. The big, bad stuck for 3 days storm we were considered "essential staff" by the local government and the police actually provided transport on snowmobiles for those that lived close enough.

While at work we worked 16 on, 8 off. The 16 on was straight time the first 8 and OT the rest [pretty standard], the 8 off we were paid "on call" wage since we were in the building. Food was provided for all meals, there were cots set up in the therapy department and if you didn't mind bunking in with a resident we were welcome to grab a empty bed if your temporary room mate didn't object.

I live in area famous for winter weather, amazingly enough weather call outs are pretty rare. Staff somehow manages to show up.

[markkuss]

For all the inpatient staff at my hospital- If we are scheduled to work and there is a predicted major snowstorm, we are expected to sleep over the night before (for dayshift) or get there in the morning or prior to it getting bad and nap at the hospital (for nightshift). If we are back the next day or night, its a given that we will just sleep there.

Call outs for snow/weather are not tolerated.

Now! If we are done our shift and dont have to be back, you better believe every single person attempts to make it home so they dont have to sleep there unnecessarily!!!

Administrators usually are there with food (or at least hot chocolate/coffee) thanking us for coming to work which is always appreciated.

What if you are a single parent, or have dependants to take care off at home can't afford to spend an extra night before just available shift next day?

[Samanthamarsee]

It is illegal to work over 16 hours straight, and after working 16 hours you must have 8 hrs rest before returning to work. I would be careful because violating this could result in disciplinary action from the bon.

[Samanthamarsee]

If hospitals expect this from employees then they should have an emergency daycare facility on campus. Just because I am a nurse doesnt mean I cannot have a family and a life outside of work. Just another reason why so many nurses are burnt out so early on.

[SarahMaria, MSN, RN]

It is illegal to work over 16 hours straight, and after working 16 hours you must have 8 hrs rest before returning to work. I would be careful because violating this could result in disciplinary action from the bon.

I have worked 20 hour shifts, with 4 hours off in between and I work for the state.

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

It is illegal to work over 16 hours straight, and after working 16 hours you must have 8 hrs rest before returning to work. I would be careful because violating this could result in disciplinary action from the bon.

Perhaps in your state. Not all states have the same laws. Plus, even states with those laws may have exemptions for state of emergency scenarios. Which was the case for many states with this storm.