Weather Policy

Nurses General Nursing

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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?

Specializes in Emergency Room, Trauma ICU.
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.[/quote']

I didn't agree with your statement and your response was rude, indicating you only wanted to hear from people in agreement with you. Nothing I said was snarky. I just don't think nurses should call out for weather, especially if they live in a place where this happens every year. It puts the pts in danger as well as your coworkers. Sorry you don't see it that way.

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Specializes in Emergency Room, Trauma ICU.
Then does your hospital not hire nurses that would be a fantastic fit or addition to the hospital simply because of their commute time?

They could care less about their commute time. They let them know that even in the winter storms I the sierra mountains they are expected to come into work. Doesn't matter that their commute is an hour in perfect weather. They were hired for a job and need to show up for that job.

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I've only had to call out twice for snow and that was because I couldn't get out of my neighborhood. Today was the second time. A couple things I find interesting about this thread, though, is the judgmental posts by some. One of the arguments is if you choose to live in an area known for bad weather, you should make it to work. With the economy being what it is, some posters may not have had a choice and when they relocated to take their job they may have been more concerned with paying their bills than whether it was going to snow this year.

Another point was made that if you drive slow you can make it in safely. Not necessarily. A few years back I went into a ditch a block from my house. I didn't even have time to pick up speed. AND I'm watching the news now where a snow plow (of all things) just tipped over, so I seriously doubt being experienced is always going to mean you're safer.

Now, it's one thing to habitually call out due to weather and it's another to use common sense and know you can endanger yourself or someone else by being on the road. OR you just can't get out of your yard. I live in VA, so I don't see the need to buy a SUV for the 2 times in 4 years I've had to call out. As for having someone in a truck from work picking you up, I've seen how some of those folks drive. No thanks!

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And what do you guys do when there's a flu epidemic and most of the staff (including you) is sick? Show up anyway and let the rest of the staff and patients catch it? There are exceptions to every rule. Personally, if someone can't drive in good weather, I'm not sure I want them on the road in the bad. Nurse or not.

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Specializes in Med Surg.

My hospital has a fair policy. You can call out for weather, but it counts against you as an occurrence, just like calling in sick. If you're going to call out for snow, you'd better be prepared to come in sick later or risk getting written up or fired. It's the employee's choice.

I don't understand taking a job where you know it's 24-7, where patients aren't just escorted out with a "good luck, see when the roads are clear" jaunt wave and then be upset that your employer (gasp) expects you to be at your scheduled shift. Get a hotel room. Make some kind of plan. We don't get huge amounts of snow where I live, but I always pack a bag if I'm working when it's expected. So far I've been able to get home (I love my Suburu), but a hotel is always an option. The ability to plan ahead should be required to be a nurse.

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Specializes in CICU.

Not sure if I should weigh in...

I too, live in the Midwest, and yes, winter arrives every year. This year has been the worst winter in about 20 years. I live close, and have been able to get back and forth with relatively little trouble. For the most part, my unit has made it work. As an aside, I have simply given up on clearing all but the first 20 feet of my driveway, and the mailman is on his own as far as the ice in the yard. If he stops delivering to my house, I don't blame him.

We have a no fault absence policy, so I call off if I think I must (for whatever reason). The consequences are spelled out in policy, and I weigh those against the possible consequences of going in anyway (worsening illness, spreading my funk, not being an effective nurse, wrecking my car.)

While I do think one should be reasonable and do what they can to get to work (go early, make trades, get a hotel if you live far out, etc.), ultimately, it is the hospitals responsibility to staff the hospital. My responsibility is to work my schedule within the bounds of policy (for absences).

Threads like this, to me, smack of a guilty conscience - justified or not. If one is a nurse, then one is also an adult. Make a decision to go to work or stay home based on your situation / needs (understanding that there may be consequences either way). You are not going to get a free pass from your guilt on messages boards like this.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.

I either go in late, or, if it's going to be bad, pack for intentions of staying over and stay over. That's how I've been doing this since 2000.

I don't let anyone guilt me to come in; I decide whether I go in, or not.

In my area they are suspending bus service at 10 am...I would be pretty much SOL because I take public transportation; so either someone is picking me up or I'll be home, or if I had to work, I would e at work and prepared to stay over.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, NICU.

I don't think calling off due to weather is acceptable. Think about your coworkers who've made the effort to get to work. It isn't right for them to have to stay overnight or many hours after their shift has ended because you refused to go to work. And besides you knew going into nursing that you would be expected to get to work rain or shine.

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Specializes in CCM, PHN.

I grew up and lived most of my life in northern Minnesota.

I was a CNA/HHA through most of my teens, 20s & through nursing school. I worked in LTCs/SNFs and in ICU. I also did home visits for an HH agency. Not one time, in YEARS of healthcare employment, did I ever NOT make it to work because of weather, and in northern MN, winter is no joke. In many rural areas and on Indian reservations there are no municipal services like plowing or salting. I drove beater 4x4s, and somehow always made it in to take care of my little residents and patients.

During the epic Halloween Storm of 1991, that dumped 4 feet of snow on MN in one day, I was living in Minneapolis. The entire city shut down. I threw some PJs and granola bars in a backpack, strapped on my cross country skis and skiied to my $7/hr CNA job across town. I have a photo somewhere of 2 pairs of skis sticking out of a snowdrift in front of the nursing home. 4 employees made it in that day for a 60 bed facility, 2 nurses & 2 CNAs. My charge nurse also skiied in, one CNA had a 4x4 and the other nurse walked 8 blocks. It was hilarious trying to figure out all the industrial kitchen equipment, trying to make something to feed our residents. I think we managed to make scrambled eggs and oatmeal. Lots of residents stayed in bed. We all stayed overnight. We managed to make med pass and toilet everyone. The power miraculously stayed on. One more CNA came in and the one with the 4x4 went to pick up the cook. I stayed over 3 shifts and napped in one of the day rooms. I got paid (what I thought at the time) buku bucks in OT. We kinda had fun. I got a ride home when snow got plowed. No one died. Everything worked out just fine. http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/1991_Halloween_blizzard

I don't get all this bawling and histrionics about weather. If you choose health care and choose to live in an area where there is a chance of bad weather, you do what you gotta do to take care of your patients and residents, and keep your job. Driving in snow isn't THAT scary. People in northern states do it all the time with piece of crap vehicles and don't complain. Or get some CC skis! It's fun to learn and great exercise.

Buck up, buttercups! Quit being such babies about weather - and GET TO WORK.

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Specializes in family practice and school nursing.

Where I live in the "snow belt" a foot of snow is common.. already happened about 5 times this winter .Hospitals have no special plan for bad weather.. if you are scheduled you show up..or call out "sick". The only time I didn't make it in.. we had 4 feet of snow in 24 hrs! Now though I work in a school and if it's bad we get a snow day.. problem solved!

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Specializes in Med/Surg/ICU/Stepdown.
Not sure if I should weigh in... I too live in the Midwest, and yes, winter arrives every year. This year has been the worst winter in about 20 years. I live close, and have been able to get back and forth with relatively little trouble. For the most part, my unit has made it work. As an aside, I have simply given up on clearing all but the first 20 feet of my driveway, and the mailman is on his own as far as the ice in the yard. If he stops delivering to my house, I don't blame him. We have a no fault absence policy, so I call off if I think I must (for whatever reason). The consequences are spelled out in policy, and I weigh those against the possible consequences of going in anyway (worsening illness, spreading my funk, not being an effective nurse, wrecking my car.) While I do think one should be reasonable and do what they can to get to work (go early, make trades, get a hotel if you live far out, etc.), ultimately, it is the hospitals responsibility to staff the hospital. My responsibility is to work my schedule within the bounds of policy (for absences). Threads like this, to me, smack of a guilty conscience - justified or not. If one is a nurse, then one is also an adult. Make a decision to go to work or stay home based on your situation / needs (understanding that there may be consequences either way). You are not going to get a free pass from your guilt on messages boards like this.[/quote']

It wasn't and it isn't anything more than my looking for the opinion of others on their policies. My hospital is developing one now and I was curious. I have no guilty conscience. I made it to work today. The drive home is another story. If it's not safe to go, it's not safe to go. Period. And I would have no problem making that call either way.

Don't insinuate I'm asking secondary to a "guilty conscience." I assure you, I'm not.

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Specializes in CICU.
Do you ever feel like you have really sacrificed your safety to make it into work out of guilt?

I rarely insinuate anything. I say/write what I mean. Simply trying to address the points in the thread. No need to assume that it was a personal attack.

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