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Discussion

Winter Weather!

Its icing/snow in Nashville. It started about 3am and is to continue throughout the day. I most likely could get to work safely. Getting home would be a different story. There are already wrecks everywhere. My patients mom does not work and she is ok with us using our best judgment. The problem is, I feel guilty for staying home. I was in the military and that instilled a strong work ethic. I NEVER miss work. What do you guys do in this type of situation? Thanks for any input and stay safe everyone!

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    If Nashville is an area where it doesn't snow much, then your plowing/salting will be iffy. I don't mind digging out but I HATE when it's up in the air about how you are going to get home. I usually go in but IMHO the people that call out are not thought of poorly and you won't get sympathy if you wreck your car. I would call out.

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    • Experts

    If you wreck your car, you will be unable to work until you can replace the car. The agency will not go with you to the repair shop or car dealer to pay for your car. Nor will they visit your injured self in the hospital. So call in if you feel it is not prudent to drive in this weather. There is a clause in the client's contract that states they are responsible for patient care in the case that the agency can not provide a nurse. You have no reason to feel guilty if the agency can not replace you for the shift. Or you can go to work prepared to spend the night, with the client's permission.

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    • Author

    Thank you! caliotter3! That helped a lot! I enjoy your posts!

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    • Experts

    I once was out of work for a very, very long time when my beat-up car gave up the ghost and I had no money for transportation. Few home health nurses can make public transportation work for their jobs and usually they have to keep that fact a secret from their employers.

    I once spent the night at my client's house because I could not move my car at all. The car in front was parked against my front bumper, and the car behind, was parked against my rear bumper. I was unable to contact the police and doubt they would have helped me anyway. Client was gracious, I just hung out with the night nurse all night.

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    Sweety, stay home!!!! What good will you be to anyone if you are hurt, car messed up, or slide into someone else and hurt them...No one will even remember if you dont show today. I worked in retailhealth and they could care less if you die getting to work, just replace you and move on.

    Take care of you then take care of others...I am in Nashville also, thank God I am on sabbatical right now.

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    If my client is nearby and I'd be travelling mostly major roads which would be plowed and salted, I go. I live in the NE where snow is a fact of life and we all know how to drive in it if it's a run-of-the-mill snow event. Ice is extremely unsafe and unpredictible so I won't go out in freezing rain or an icestorm. Rule of thumb for me- if it's questionable and the cost of my collision deductible is higher than the amount I'd make on that shift, I stay home. Most families do understand.

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    22.00 dollars per hour is nothing compared to my life. Stay home, it's not like we get regular vacations like others nurses receive working st a hospital or clinic.

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    This is a decision that each nurse has to make for themselves.

    I'm in Michigan and have been driving on winter roads for 30 years -- I go to work no matter what. I may have to leave an extra hour early in order to get there on time, and it may take me an extra hour to get home the next day, but that's the price of living in a northern state. (I drive 60+ miles one-way to get to my current case.)

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    If you wreck your car, you will be unable to work until you can replace the car. The agency will not go with you to the repair shop or car dealer to pay for your car. Nor will they visit your injured self in the hospital. So call in if you feel it is not prudent to drive in this weather. There is a clause in the client's contract that states they are responsible for patient care in the case that the agency can not provide a nurse. You have no reason to feel guilty if the agency can not replace you for the shift. Or you can go to work prepared to spend the night, with the client's permission.

    I thought like you did but i did not know Pdn are considered essential personnel.

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    I thought like you did but i did not know Pdn are considered essential personnel.

    Not always. It depends on patient priority level assigned. A level 3 basic care case with two competent caregivers negates essential personnel status of the nurse. Just like a nurse working in a podiatry office or outpatient ambulatory elective surgical center would not be declared essential personnel.

    Cases with priority 1/2 I have a letter signed by management naming me as essential personnel complete with management contact information should there be questions from authority. In addition I am not mandated to drive, since most storms have warning as long as I give notice to my main agency transportation to/from the case is arranged by management.

    Yes I work for a good agency that values their skilled nurses as much as client satisfaction

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    • Experts

    My first home health agency had a staffing coordinator who impressed upon me that lack of transportation was no excuse for not going to work. She said I had to pay for my own cab if necessary! Apparently they had a problem with nurses and home health aides calling off because their cars 'would not start'. I was assigned to a case where I had two options to travel the 20 miles or so to get to the client. During a bad storm, both roads into that area were closed due to flooding. I called the agency when I heard the news on the radio and they did not like it. I suppose they expected me to hire a helicopter and parachute in to the client's house. Any other day the agencies will staff a case with the closest residing nurse and I will go without work, even though I am quite willing to drive the distance, unless the roads are flooded and impassable.

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