Weather Policy

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Does your hospital have a weather policy? If so, is it lenient? Do you ever feel like you have really sacrificed your safety to make it into work out of guilt?

Is it possible for you to stay at a co-workers house who lives less than 10 min from the hospital? Or could you rent a motel/hotel room close to the hospital so that you had a safe, local place to go after you finish your shift? If the storm isn't supposed to hit until 9 hours into your shift, you shouldn't have a problem getting TO work, you just have to figure out a safe place to go AFTER work (until your next shift if the following day, or until the storm passes/roads are cleared and you can safely drive home).

Specializes in Emergency Room, Trauma ICU.
I dont where youre from but some areas are extremely difficult/impossible to travel without access to major roads. Add in 2 feet of snow, and zero visibility and its a major issue. Hospitals should make plans and procedures to make the experience safe and optimal for their employees. Bad weather complications cant be completely be avoided, but some hospitals do an incredibly half assed job making things far worse than they need to be[/quote']

I lived and worked in the Tahoe area where we routinely have horrible snow conditions and people have to travel an hour in normal conditions. When we hire people they specifically ask about their transportation because it is unacceptable to call in due to weather.

Sent from my iPhone using allnurses.com

Interesting points. I ask because tomorrow's forecast is predicted about 14" of snow. And I reside about 90 minutes door-to-door from my hospital. I also drive a 4-door sedan.

And my hospital has made it abundantly clear that weather is NOT an acceptable call-out excuse.

That's why ..when you call in.. you say you're ill. It's not the only time they make nurses lie.

Specializes in Med/Surg/ICU/Stepdown.
So you only want responses that agree with you? Got it. Good luck with that. Sent from my iPhone using allnurses.com

No, not at all. I asked a statement about weather policies, stated mine, and shared an issue. I didn't belittle, berate, or negate anyone else's opinion. I understand the nature of the job. I chose it. I was just wondering how others fared in the same condition.

But since you feel the need to take it some place snarky it wasn't intended to go, you do that, and I'll kindly be done reading your responses.

Specializes in Med/Surg/ICU/Stepdown.
I dont where youre from but some areas are extremely difficult/impossible to travel without access to major roads. Add in 2 feet of snow, and zero visibility and its a major issue. Hospitals should make plans and procedures to make the experience safe and optimal for their employees. Bad weather complications cant be completely be avoided, but some hospitals do an incredibly half assed job making things far worse than they need to be[/quote']

I agree! I think weather accommodations go a long way in lessening calls outs due to weather. Especially for employees that do travel a considerable difference.

Specializes in Med/Surg/ICU/Stepdown.
Is it possible for you to stay at a co-workers house who lives less than 10 min from the hospital? Or could you rent a motel/hotel room close to the hospital so that you had a safe local place to go after you finish your shift? If the storm isn't supposed to hit until 9 hours into your shift, you shouldn't have a problem getting TO work, you just have to figure out a safe place to go AFTER work (until your next shift if the following day, or until the storm passes/roads are cleared and you can safely drive home).[/quote']

I suppose those are viable options, though I disagree I should have to pay for a hotel room on my dime simply because my hospital has a "zero tolerance" call out on weather emergencies.

As for a co-worker's house, not a bad idea until you factor in whether or not they have room, are they in town or outskirts (accessibility of their house), and given the fact that I have class in the AM about 90 minutes from the county where I work. It's just a mess!

Specializes in Med/Surg/ICU/Stepdown.
I lived and worked in the Tahoe area where we routinely have horrible snow conditions and people have to travel an hour in normal conditions. When we hire people they specifically ask about their transportation because it is unacceptable to call in due to weather. Sent from my iPhone using allnurses.com

Then does your hospital not hire nurses that would be a fantastic fit or addition to the hospital simply because of their commute time?

Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
Yeah my area is expecting significant snowfall tomorrow and I'm schedule for night shift. Nobody has posted anything about inclement weather accommodations. Hate to put any blame on management, but if I was in charge I would post in advance the facility's policy on inclement weather and potential need for emergency transportation of "essential personnel." Instead we'll be expected to either brave the weather or cowardly state our fear of driving I suppose.

Our manager always posts the inclement weather policy when a snowstorm is predicted. AND she is proactive in nailing down places for us to sleep before and during a weather event. They're not always spacious, private or even comfortable, but she tries.

As far as transportation, the last time I asked to be picked up (snow was 5-6 feet deep and I couldn't FIND my car to dig it out but was willing to ski to the main road to be picked up), the 4WD couldn't make it outside the city limits. I texted the charge nurse a picture of the parking area and the particular drift that I thought MIGHT be my car. He laughed and told me to pick a shift in the next 3-4 days that I could cover for someone who was stuck in the hospital during the duration. It was all good. That's the only time I've ever had to call off for weather -- and I've lived in the upper midwest, the northeast and the mountains of the northwest.

Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
I'm all for being prepared. But in this situation, you're asking someone to be prepared in a way they cannot. It'd be like telling me I *have* to have a truck with 4 wheel drive so I can make it in because I work in an area known to get the occasional snow storm. That seems ... unrealistic.

Especially given over 2/3 the staff live within 10 mins away.

I get it. You don't agree. I'm just looking to see if anyone else really gets that end of the stick as well.

You live in New York, right? You know it snows there, you chose to work in a hospital where patients need care 24/7/365. You knew that coming to work in bad weather came with the job, right? No one expects you to have a truck with 4 wheel drive. A well-maintained car with good tires and knowing how to drive in the snow is all you really need.

I grew up in the upper midwest, have lived in the mountains of the northwest and have never had or needed a truck with 4 wheel drive. Front wheel drive, a set of tire chains, a show shovel and a big bag of kitty litter is all I've ever needed. I do know how to drive in the snow, and anyone who lives in the snow belt should learn how to do so if they don't already know. And I'm careful. From what I see of the other drivers on the road, that's not so common.

I suppose those are viable options, though I disagree I should have to pay for a hotel room on my dime simply because my hospital has a "zero tolerance" call out on weather emergencies.

As for a co-worker's house, not a bad idea until you factor in whether or not they have room, are they in town or outskirts (accessibility of their house), and given the fact that I have class in the AM about 90 minutes from the county where I work. It's just a mess!

If the hospital absolutely does not have accommodation for nurses that may be stuck away from home, those are your options.

You might see if there is another nurse working in the hospital during your shift that also needs a place to stay and you can split the cost of the room. I'm also thinking more along the lines of a co-worker who works your unit and shift and would be getting off the same time as you. Even if they don't have an extra bedroom, if they have an air mattress, pull out bed in the couch, a 3 seater couch, etc to sleep on that might work in this situation also. It should be easier to get to a co-workers house than your own, even if they are located on the outskirts of town as long as the roads are plowed enough or you are capable of driving on them with chains. (I'm unfamiliar with driving in the snow, so I won't attempt to give advice there. I'm in a location that gets "storm watches" with less than 1/4" of rain!

As for class, I would rather miss a class due to the storm than miss work and face disciplinary action. Also, depending on the severity of the storm and the condition of the roads, etc. I would imagine that class would likely be cancelled as many schools have already closed due to the storms.

What it comes down to really is that "it is what it is" and "you gotta do what you gotta do". If that means that you feel it is best to call in sick for your shift, then do it. Personally, if I were not scheduled to work the shift the following day I would take the chance to stay local (hotel/motel/co-worker/etc) and see about the possibility of picking up an extra shift to get some OT. If you indeed had to rent a room for the night, you have then paid for the expense of the room, saved on gas money to/from work for a night and still made a little extra $$ in the process.

Just my .02

Specializes in adult psych, LTC/SNF, child psych.

So far I've had 4 nurses, a nurse orientee and 1 GNA call out. The Administrator is here early making calls to try and pick people up. One of my night nurses says there's no way that she's staying, but one of the nurses that called out is on her station and there's no way that her relief will take the whole floor. I'm likely staying (I'm the 11-7 supervisor), one of my other nurses is staying as well as a GNA. It's 5:50 am and I'm still waiting for more call-outs. I find it highly unlikely that I won't get at least 2 other nurses calling saying they can't get out their front door.

It's been snowing all night, since I got in at 2300. The other people volunteering to stay with me are all working tonight too. I live right down the street though, and at 1530, I *will* be walking home to sleep in my own bed and see my DH.

We have no mandation policy and no inclement weather policy as far as I knew before today, when the Administrator told me to sign a paper saying that this snow is a weather emergency drill. There's probably at least 6 inches of snow on the ground and there aren't any signs of it stopping. I think we've gotten more snow this year than in the past 2 or 3 years.

Specializes in Outpatient/Clinic, ClinDoc.

I live in upstate NY and we are expected to come to work no matter what. Our last 'foot of snow' storm a little while back was called a "storm" by upper management and not even worthy of a 'drive carefully'. :) And I don't even work inpatient! So yes, as a healthcare worker it's good to be prepared to make it in - even if you have to buy a Jeep like I did. :)

+ Add a Comment