The Wild, Impressive, and Very Nurse Ways Nurses Got Through This Week’s Snowstorm
- While the rest of the country faced an epic snowstorm that left many people hunkered down at home, nurses braved the weather to get to work.
- Some nurses slept at their hospitals or faced mandatory overtime to cover call-ins.
- Other nurses shared the creative ways they got to work or took to social media to find humor in the (freezing) situation.
While the rest of the country hunkered down for the snowstorm of the century, nurses were doing what they always do: steeling themselves to care of others, no matter the weather.
Some nurses prepared to sleep at their hospitals or face mandates because of coworker call-ins, while others got a little...creative in how they got to work through the snow, ice, and cold. Here's a look at the real life ways nurses survived the snowstorm.
Through Humor
A few nurses took to laughing about the dire journey to work required of healthcare workers, because really, when the rest of the world gets to sit cozily in front of a fire while you head off to work, what else can you do?
The bright side is that some hospitals helped incentivize some of those nurses working through the storm with extra pay.
Thanks to Their Dads
A common theme on social media was the plethora of healthcare worker dads who stepped up to the plate, shoveling snow, clearing off cars, and in some cases, driving their healthcare worker children to work on the icy roads.
I mean, if I could get someone to drive me around in a snowstorm, I absolutely would, so good for them.
fhfh
Source: Instagram
Thanks to Helpful Volunteers
In Arkansas, oncology nurse and founder of the Nurses Lounge of Central Arkansas Asha Taylor, organized a volunteer transportation effort to help healthcare workers get to and from work.
The Nurses' Lounge typically focuses on supporting nurses' well-being with networking and relaxation events, but during the winter weather, the group shifted to ensuring that nurses did not have to stress about the fear of being written up or disciplined for being late due to the weather.
By the end of the three days of snow, the group ended up with 29 volunteers who successfully transported 250 healthcare workers. What an incredible show of support!
“I have had several people reach back out to me, letting me know that you saved my job,” Taylor told a local news outlet.
Sliding to Work on a Scooter
Smith told a local news outlet the scooter allowed her to just "hop off" to avoid injury. And perhaps the best part of this whole story? She borrowed the bright pink scooter from her five-year-old niece.
They Formed 'Snow Sleepovers'
While some hospitals made official snow plans and created makeshift places for nurses and healthcare workers to stay over, at smaller facilities or units, some nurses took matters into their own hands.
For instance, a group of obstetrical nurses at Ascension St. Thomas in Tennessee booked hotel rooms just a block away from the hospital and proceeded to walk back and forth to work to ensure their OB unit stayed staffed.
When asked if she would brave the weather and back-to-back shifts again, Lindsey Greene, RN, replied:
"Absolutely. No question. This is what we are called to do. Everyone in the group wanted to be with their families last weekend, but we just made a good time out of it.”
By Sleeping at the Hospital
Influencer and labor and delivery nurse Jen Hamilton also stayed at her hospital overnight, documenting the not-always-fun experience with her typical brand of down-to-earth humor.
With a snowstorm raging outside and the power flickering on and off in the hospital while she tried to sleep on a cot, Hamilton concluded that the cold-weather life is "not for me."
View this post on Instagram
Through Heros
Nurses are sometimes called 'healthcare heroes,' but let's be honest: nurses are just regular humans who struggle getting to work in a snowstorm just like anyone else. And in Kentucky, 'Camp Hero' stepped in to play the hero role instead, by providing free transportation for healthcare workers.
The founder and director of Camp Hero Rocco Besednjak explained that his wife was a healthcare worker who still had to work during inclement weather, so he was inspired to start the transportation service. They organize an app called 'SnowRide' that covers requests and books the ride.
Three snow-ready trucks were fully booked ahead of the storm, ready to transport 150 workers.
“It allows healthcare workers to get to work safely,” Besednjak told his local news outlet. “And probably the best part about it, I love the conversation with everyone. A lot of people really enjoy riding in the truck.”
With Their Own Personal Snow Plows
When a newborn infant became critically ill in Ohio, the transport team called for backup to help: the Ohio Department of Transportation, which provided them with their own personal snowplowing service to get to the sick baby, stabilize the infant, and transport him to the hospital.
"There is no way we would have been able to do that without Joe ," a nurse on the transport team commented.
With Gratitude for a Good Team
Staying at a hospital, trudging through the snow, or bunking up at a hotel may not be everyone's idea of a good time, but some nurses also took to social media to share that, through it all, the snowstorm was a good reminder of the value of working with a supportive team.
"After this weekend, I will never ever be sad about missing a snow day at home." wrote one NICU nurse. "Snow days will now bring memories of this weekend. The weekend that reminded me of how incredibly blessed I am to be a nurse and how I got to play a very small supporting role amongst the best nurses and staff - who show up for their patients and families even when it's not the most convenient choice."
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