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Hospital workers make most of holiday shifts
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Saturday, December 23, 2006 9:36 PM EST
Argus-Press photo by Anthony Cepak: Dietary technicians Emily Bates, left, and Maranda Bamber work at frosting some of the 48 dozen sugar cookies being prepared for the patients at Memorial Health Care.
Heart attacks, diabetes and emergency surgeries don't stop for holidays and neither do the nurses and other workers at Memorial Healthcare.
“At least I get to spend it with my second family,” said Sue Layne, one of the registered nurses who will be working the second floor of the hospital's north wing on Christmas. “A lot of times as co-workers we'll plan to bring in treats or have a meal together.”
Layne rotates between working Christmas and New Year's every year with the rest of the staff on the medical floor that handles patients ranging from adult pneumonia to various pediatric illnesses.
After working at Memorial for seven years, Layne said, she has learned to read the patients she treats during the holidays as beliefs and emotions during the season vary.
“It's a big emotional holiday and people can be really happy or depressed or just hate Christmas and you have to respect that,” she said. “We really have to be extremely sensitive and let them lead you.”
From praying to caroling with patients, Layne said she is always willing to try to make her patients' day a little brighter.
While her patients may enjoy the additional company, Layne said she gains a connection through the sharing of the holidays with them both personally and professionally. Sharing her holiday traditions and hearing about theirs allows trust to build, she said.
“It's rewarding just knowing you may have made a tiny little difference,” she said.
Up one floor and in the south wing Sue Hottois, 63, will also be working Christmas Day. With a 12-hour shift starting at 7 a.m. Hottois said the surgical floor is usually a bit quieter than normal with doctors sending as many patients home to be with their families as they can.
With fewer patients on the floor, Hottois said the staff is allowed extra time to spend with those who have to stay.
“You have more time to get to know more about them and see if they are down and just ask how their day is,” Hottois said. “It's always an advantage but we always try to give the best care we can.”
Although the nurses may have the opportunity to spend one-on-one time with the patients, they are not the only staff that will be working to bring a little holiday cheer to those spending Christmas in the hospital.
The kitchen staff prepares 48 dozen cookies and four turkeys for patients to have a special meal Christmas night.
“They get the whole works,” said Gloria Groves who has worked in the dietary department for 15 years. “At least if they are at the hospital they still get what they would have had at home.”
Ham, stuffing, potatoes and pies will also be offered to those on less restricted diets.
“Memorial staff is very dedicated to provide the best quality care but they do it with compassion,” said Business Development Manager Barb Holland.
Because she won't start work until the afternoon still will be able to spend Christmas morning with her four children, who range in age from 5 to 16 years old, and husband Jason.
Hottois said the traditional Christmas brunch she shares with her family will be moved to a Christmas Eve dinner. Although she would like to be home with her family on Christmas, Hottois said being at the hospital is also valuable.
“This is my reward as a nurse, just making a difference in someone's life or day - it doesn't even have to be a big thing,” she said.