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2K views 23 replies 17 participants last post by  erinalexmom 
#1 ·
Ok I am a home health nurse. Our county and the next are now under snow emergencies. They say only emergency vehicles. But I have a client who is a quadrapeligic. Well if I dont go there he doesnt eat and no one lets his dog out and so I am going for sure. No matter what. But here is the problem. If I get pulled over I have no way to prove what I am and where I am going (we have no company ID's, which is dumb I know but not my decision) I could carry my nursing license with me. Do you think that would work? Or anyone have any other ideas?
 
#2 ·
God bless you for going anyway!!! I would go and take your nursing license and show it to them if you get stopped and explain the situation. And if they give you a ticket anyway; I'd go to court. If you were to have to go to court could you get any proof to take to prove the situation? If not how about taking a picture of your patient with todays newspaper and date showing. Don't know if this would work or if its something ok to do, just trying to help

Could you call the police station and ask them about the situation before you leave. Could they possibly deny you to go considering the situation. This was an after thought after I typed the top paragraph
 
#3 ·
I'm doubting anyone would be making that story up. If they really cared they could follow you, for your own safety, and verify for themselves.
 
#4 ·
Not sure what to suggest but you should have some kind of paperwork on you to prove why you are on the road. Do you work for a agency ? Or privately ?

My hubby works for a highway dept, and they had to take a course that gave them a special id piece of paperwork that in a emergency with roads closed, that they can drive and be able to get to work. If stopped, they just show that certificate to any law officer and can then proceed to their destination.
 
#5 ·
Under circumstances like that, wouldn't an EMC or police officer go to his home instead?

((that's just assuming that you couldn't))

??

Be safe.
 
#6 ·
A snow emergency with roads shut down means just that.
Emergency and medical people are normally allowed on the road, but should have some kind of proof on them.

Years ago, when the hubby worked for a factory that made fire trucks, it was in the next county over. About 14 miles one way. Our county was shut down for a snow emergency. The other county was not shut down, and the factory expected people to come into work. I forget now if the hubby went to work or not that day. I will have to ask him tomorrow.
 
#7 ·
A copy of your nursing license would be plenty. If they refuse to let you travel please take out your phone and dial 911 and send them to your patient's home as he will need assistance. And by all means, do this in front of the officer that won't let you travel.

Good luck and be safe.
 
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#8 ·
I work for an agency but they dont give us an ID badge. This annoys me to no end I can tell you because of situations like this. They make it hard on us workers.I'm sure I could get some kind of paperwork/documents if I get called into court. I also might call the police station. These are all really good ideas :) thank you! Some of my clients are a "choice" this one is definitly not. He is only out of a nursing home because of myself and the other staff that work with him. Its a very rewarding job for sure. I feel very blessed to care for him because he has such a positive additude toward life and always has a smile and kind word for me. I think I have problems and then I realize he can stay so upbeat in such circumstances and I know that my problems are small in comparrison and I try to improve my additude :) I am a much better person for knowing this man :)
 
#13 ·
What a good person you are - bet you are really good at your job because it comes from your heart. Be careful out there and let us know what happens.
 
#14 ·
I work for a home health agency...I'm not an RN, "just" a CNA, but I'm shocked your company doesn't provide ID badges. I've never heard of that before. It seems you would need something to identify yourself, especially to patients with dementia.

I agree with the other posters, I'd carry your nursing license and if you were pulled over, I'd call the office and let them speak to the officer. Maybe then the agency will finally see the errors of their ways. ;) Good luck tomorrow.
 
#15 ·
You're a sweetheart. Drive safe.
 
#16 ·
I'm in the same circumstance right now. Non-emergency travel is 'forbidden' and carries a $5000 fine. Who cares? I went anyway, otherwise my patient's mom ( a single parent) would be on-duty with her ventilator dependent baby AND the baby's twin brother for 36 hours straight with no sleep.
When I get pulled over, I tell them they are welcome to follow me and verify.
PS - You will NOT get a police escort- they are waaaaayyyy too busy for that!! :)
 
#17 ·
Well I made it!!! :) No issues at all. :) ...right Mcd about the possiblity of the officer being a girl sorry! Missourimom you are not "just" a CNA I was a CNA for a long time before becoming a nurse and you are so valuable to both the clients and nurses that no place could run without you! I'm not an RN anyway, Im an LPN (Likes to Play Nurse LOL) I agree with how dumb the agency is for the ID thing because I worry that one of our clients could get robbed, thinking its someone from the agency and let them in! So scarey!!!!
Thanks for all the compliments but really I honestly get much more from my career than I ever give :) I love what I do! :)
 
#18 ·
Mary, I totally know what you mean. I have one client whose mother is totally overwhelmed right now with all the responsibility of a new baby and a special needs child. Even though I am not supposed to I do a little extra for this mom ;) If a load of her laundry "accidentally" makes it into the machine while I am on shift well, crazy stuff happens right?LOL
 
#19 ·
I remembered the April Fools Day we got hit with a surprise blizzard. I was visiting my now ex-hubby, and lived about 40 mins. away. Because of the snow, I couldn't make it all the way home and ended up having to drive around from parking lots and coffee shops to keep warm.

Because I was always on the move, it turned in to me being the ONLY worker that was able to see patients because I was the only one not stuck in a driveway with 3 feet of snow ON the cars.

The patients had to be on-the-road triaged because I could not go everywhere and we needed to make sure that the ones in real medical need were seen, then the home-bounds low on food if I could get to them.

Long story short, I did get pulled over a few times, I had to pull the paperwork out of my supply bag, I must have looked convincing in my messy hair and wrinkled scrubs :lol: they all told me to drive safely. There are times that you MUST be out there.

It's not always the safest ride, but it IS the necessary one!
 
#20 ·
Exactly Lady V! It was never a choice for me about going or not, because it was no choice at all. These people have home health care for a reason. If they didnt NEED us our career wouldnt even exist. I have been through alot over the years in this career but when you realize the quality of life that our service provides it makes it all worth it :)......of course, dont ask me that when I forgot my lunch and my first client of the day poops on my scrubs! LOL
 
#23 ·
I am a HHC RN -but i do skilled nursing visits not hourly skilled care . ( ie visits after hospitalizations for med teaching - wound care follow up post surgeries etc )

when we admit someone we have to have a name of someone who will take responsibilty for that person in case of snow etc .

so i am pretty lucky that if we have bad weather i dont have to run out for vents or TF etc -

I am shocked that you have no ID badges also - what is the rationale for that ? many places esp senior apt complexes wont let me in unless i have one.

Plus its good advertising in a way too .

Way to go for those of you who do go out !! Warms my heart to know there are still alot of nurses out there doing it for the right reason.
 
#24 ·
Mom, I know its so dumb about the ID badges. I could tell you storis about the stupidity of my company for days! For example the time that I took a vacation told them I would be gone to another state for 4 days, they called me and asked me to work 3 of those 4 days! What part of vacation dont you understand? That is just one on a long list of ways the company annoys me but the clients are awsome so I put up with the office staff.
 
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