Too much snow! Getting to work late again.

PMFB-RN, RN · Feb 10, 2014

I have zero sympathy for people who choose not to come to work because of snow. I have a 3 hour commute across Wisconsin into Minnesota and have never missed a day of work because of snow or bad weather. I get annoyed when I have to work extra hard to cover for people who couldn't make it in from 6 miles away. I mean this is the upper Midwest, Nobody should be surprised when we get a foot of snow followed by -30 bellow zero. All it takes is proper preparation. Were I a nurse manager I would consider people who decide not to come in because of deep snow to be no shows. However since the nurse managers don't seem to be any better at getting to work in the snow than anyone else I guess they can't do that, but I would.

HappyWife77, BSN, RN · Feb 10, 2014

When there are 4 foot snow drifts and higher for over 20 miles of country roads from 30-55mph squals lasting for more than sixteen hours. I missed my shift. I felt horrible....because call outs bite! The night nurse has to stay till 11 to cover. But seriously I have an intelligent 4 wheel drive that always makes it. Our facilities have a few rooms with mattresses on the floors...grab your own linens and shower...and clean up after yourselves, you can stay over if needed so we have staffing.

Ginger's Mom, MSN, RN · Feb 10, 2014

Snow tires are illegal in my state, I use to use them religiously until outlawed, 4wheel drive for me.

whichone'spink, BSN, RN · Feb 11, 2014

On one bad snow storm, my street was not plowed until 2 days after the storm. I had to trek through waist deep snow to a cleared street to catch a taxi.

BSNbeauty, BSN, RN · Feb 11, 2014

I do have sympathy for people who have to drive in the snow. #1 If I get into an accident and harm myself or others what good would I be to my patients? I have been in an accident while driving to work and I ended up not being able to work the whole shift because of it.

#2- My employer refuses to transport nurses, staff is not allowed to stay at work the night before a storm, neither will the hospital pay for hotel accommendations. If my job did any of these things then I'd have no problem going on the night before a storm.

Thankfully, I'm now married and my Father in Law who owns a truck lives down the street. Therefore, if it gets really bad out my husband will be able to borrow the truck and I'll have a ride to and from work.

I have zero sympathy for people who choose not to come to work because of snow. I have a 3 hour commute across Wisconsin into Minnesota and have never missed a day of work because of snow or bad weather. I get annoyed when I have to work extra hard to cover for people who couldn't make it in from 6 miles away. I mean this is the upper Midwest, Nobody should be surprised when we get a foot of snow followed by -30 bellow zero. All it takes is proper preparation. Were I a nurse manager I would consider people who decide not to come in because of deep snow to be no shows. However since the nurse managers don't seem to be any better at getting to work in the snow than anyone else I guess they can't do that, but I would.

PMFB-RN, RN · Feb 11, 2014

I do have sympathy for people who have to drive in the snow. #1 If I get into an accident and harm myself or others what good would I be to my patients?

Snow is a fact of life in these parts. Either make accomadations to deal with it, or take a job where it doesn't matter if you show up or not, or relocate to an area where snow is not an issue. Your not much good to your patients if you decide not to come to work either.

#2- My employer refuses to transport nurses, staff is not allowed to stay at work the night before a storm, neither will the hospital pay for hotel accommendations. If my job did any of these things then I'd have no problem going on the night before a storm.
Thankfully, I'm now married and my Father in Law who owns a truck lives down the street. Therefore, if it gets really bad out my husband will be able to borrow the truck and I'll have a ride to and from work.

Good plan. I drive a Toyota 4x4 truck well equiped for winter travel. I have aggresive snow tires, winch, shovel, 300# of barn lime for traction, and other grear. I can usually get myself out of a ditch or snow bank. In addition to my cell phone I have a CB and VHF radio if I need to call for help. I am also prepared with food propane heater, sleeping bags, and outdoor winter clothes, to spend up to 3 days in my truck if nessesary. Though that has not happend.

canigraduate · Feb 11, 2014

Snow is a fact of life in these parts. Either make accomadations to deal with it, or take a job where it doesn't matter if you show up or not, or relocate to an area where snow is not an issue. Your not much good to your patients if you decide not to come to work either.
Good plan. I drive a Toyota 4x4 truck well equiped for winter travel. I have aggresive snow tires, winch, shovel, 300# of barn lime for traction, and other grear. I can usually get myself out of a ditch or snow bank. In addition to my cell phone I have a CB and VHF radio if I need to call for help. I am also prepared with food propane heater, sleeping bags, and outdoor winter clothes, to spend up to 3 days in my truck if nessesary. Though that has not happend.

OMG! I just moved from North Carolina to Michigan. I think I am going to model my own driving after this. After I trade in my Mini Cooper. I got stuck in 3 inches of snow trying to turn in my driveway. Luckily, it only takes 4 or 5 people to physically lift my car out of trouble!

IrishErin · Feb 11, 2014

I've been late to work before due to an ice storm, but definitely still made it! I think being in Canada we quickly get accustomed to winter driving after the second or third snowfall of the season. After all, we have snow more months of the year than not most of the time. Sad lol.

T-Bird78 · Feb 11, 2014

Yep! I am just south of you, in the Dallas/Fort Worth area of Texas, and 0.5 inches of snow accumulation is enough to shut down all commerce here. Meanwhile, people from the Northeast and upper Midwest would snicker at a mere 0.5 inches.
Look at what happened in Atlanta a couple of weeks ago. Two inches was enough to wreak havoc in a Southeastern city where nobody knows how to drive on snow or ice.

Okay, I have to defend my hometown--again. What happened two weeks ago was, in all honesty, a perfect storm. For one thing, it was forecasted to hit south of the city and a light dusting starting around 1:00 p.m. but it started at 10:00 much farther north. The few times it snows down here, it'll start snowing and people go home, the slushy snow on the road will freeze overnight and people stay home the next day. Two weeks ago, and I've lived here my entire life and have never seen this, the snow melted on the road and froze within an hour. They dismissed schools early and people left work early but the roads were a solid sheet of ice. It wasn't localized to one part of the metro Atlanta area, it was every road in every area. The DOT say they pretreated the roads but the initial snow washed the brine solution off the roads. NOBODY could drive in it because it wasn't 2" of snow, it was 1" of ICE. We do not have snow tires down here and snow chains aren't allowed. And regarding the last line, about "nobody knows how to drive on snow or ice" I'd like to point out that there are more people living in metro Atlanta that are from up north than those of us born and raised down here. My tires spun on the icy hills right next to my Michigan-raised husband's tires. Truckers were getting stuck in it, and they're trained to drive all over the country in every different scenario.

Sorry if it seems like I'm yelling, but I am so sick and tired of the stereotypes about my home and wanted to set the record straight. We only have snow/ice like this every 3-4 years. Metro Atlanta is a very hilly region which adds to the treacherous driving conditions with ice. We're under a winter weather advisory today and schools have already been called off and precautions are being made to avoid becoming the laughingstock of the country.

Biffbradford · Feb 11, 2014

Studded tires are illegal in most states (for ice), snow tires are not. If I was manager, I would say: "Where are you now? Okay, I'll come get you." then jump in my little Subaru and let them find take the bus home! :yes:

Ruby Vee, BSN · Feb 11, 2014

I do have sympathy for people who have to drive in the snow. #1 If I get into an accident and harm myself or others what good would I be to my patients? I have been in an accident while driving to work and I ended up not being able to work the whole shift because of it.
#2- My employer refuses to transport nurses, staff is not allowed to stay at work the night before a storm, neither will the hospital pay for hotel accommendations. If my job did any of these things then I'd have no problem going on the night before a storm.
Thankfully, I'm now married and my Father in Law who owns a truck lives down the street. Therefore, if it gets really bad out my husband will be able to borrow the truck and I'll have a ride to and from work.

You're no good to your patients if you decide not to come to work. Seriously, if you're going to live where snow is a fact of life and work someplace that operates 24/7/365 even in bad weather, you're going to have to deal with it. Get a four wheel drive, figure out someone brave enough to drive you to work in the snow, or whatever. Ski, take a snowmobile or rent your own danged hotel room. Why should the hospital have to pay for it?

Sheesh. If snow was such a BFD, why take the job in the snow belt? Why live in the snow belt?

Ruby Vee, BSN · Feb 11, 2014

Studded tires are illegal in most states (for ice), snow tires are not. If I was manager, I would say: "Where are you now? Okay, I'll come get you." then jump in my little Subaru and let them find take the bus home!

Managers have work to do, too. Seriously, someone who lives in the snow belt and works in an inpatient facility had better figure things out and get themselves to work in the snow. Or quit the job or leave the snow belt.