Oh, how I remember this well: The wicked snowstorm that paralyzed many cities, year after year. I was driving my van to work as it slid on black ice and directed me down a hill towards a large church. I had no control and could only pray that I didn’t hit that large telephone pole. When my van finally came to a stop, I realized I had missed the telephone pole by 4 inches.
I knew that if I didn’t report to work, to the hospital, to the ICU, despite hazardous conditions, I would be written up for disciplinary action. Nurses are “essential personnel,” which means they are legally and contractually expected to report to duty, even during severe snowstorms. Hospitals enforce strict attendance policies to ensure patient safety remains a priority. In many states, employees can be legally disciplined or terminated for failing to report to work during a storm.
The disconnect between slogans and safety
The hospital systems that advertise “Excellence in care, excellence in medicine” seem to forget the basic safety, care, and compassion for their fellow nurses and other health care employees. I lived one hour away, and it was treacherous at times going to work and coming home. Sometimes driving 10 miles per hour, my one-hour drive easily became two hours.
Despite these conditions, we all received the threatening emails. If you don’t report to work, you will be written up, and this can lead to termination. Some hospitals offer “cots” in a large conference room, sleeping with at least 50 other employees. I am not sure what happened to hospital systems or caring for their own employees. What happened to compassion? What happened to safety?
So we slowly drove to work. Said our prayers hoping we would arrive to work safely, and come home safely to our small children and husbands. Some health care employees didn’t make it home though. Some met their death.
The silence from the top
Interesting enough, in my 46 years of being an RN, working surgery/PACU, emergency departments, behavioral health, and intensive care units, not once was there an extension of kindness from upper management. Never: “We have a team that will come and pick you up due to hazardous weather.”
Never forget: The CEOs of hospital systems, making millions in salary every year not including their bonus checks, not once have they ever offered us: “We have a team to pick you up.” Instead, sadly, it is threatening emails. Call-outs will be written up and potentially terminated.
Excellence in care. Excellence in medicine. The hypocrisy of it all.
Debbie Moore-Black is a nurse who blogs at The Critical Care Nurse.
