Holidays in the hospital remind us that medicine is not only about technique, but about presence. When everything else stops, what remains is the patient’s real need and the most authentic meaning of our work: being there!
My daughter's boyfriend's grandfather has been in the hospital for 5 days now with the flu, and I shared this with the lad and he greatly appreciated it.
Rachel, thank you so much for sharing this. I am a Lactation Specialist RN and have always felt llike my work has a special sacredness to it- witnessing new life and mothering and having the opportunity to encourage during this time. But I hadn't really thought about holidays being holy days and I love the way you expressed it:As a child, I was taught that holidays mean Holy Days, and that to be holy means to be set apart. On these setapart days, everything feels sharper: joy and grief, love and loss, hope and fear. All of it is more acute. More profound. More human.
That is why I have never left the hospital on a holiday with regret. Because medicine, too, is sacred. To walk with someone through the most human experiences—life, illness, and death—is a calling set apart. To share this calling with our colleagues and our patients on a sacred day is an extraordinary privilege.
I always saw taking call on a holiday as special. It was the most deliberate act of doing my job. A New Year’s Eve of caring for multiple trauma patients not knowing who will come through the doors next: a gunshot wound, pedestrian versus auto or a homeless dude run over by a train while sleeping on the track. You and your team were it. It was also a time to linger a bit longer with patients while on rounds in order to share a holiday greeting or story. Each of us apologizing for having to be there. Meeting family members who came to visit their “incarcerated” loved ones only deepened the sense of privilege. It was sharing a time when no one really wanted to be there, as the author points out, that made it special along with the crooked tiny Christmas tree in the call room and walking the dark and quiet halls at night until the next 911 trauma page came.
I retired 4 yrs ago after 32 yr career IM/hospital medicine. Dec 24,25 and 26 were typically good days for doctoring. then everything became crushingly busy as those who delayed seeking needed care from the previous 3 days showed up in ER, urgent care, offices usually much sicker because of their hesitance to “ruin” everyone’s Xmas. So I tried my best to avoid Dec 27,28 as workdays
Rachel, I couldn't agree more. I have been fortunate to celebrate holidays at home the last 20 years, as I have been a school nurse. But the first 20 years of my career, I volunteered to work holidays, for the very reasons you stated. Some of my most poignant work memories occured on the holidays. More than once, I would slip in to midnight mass still in my scrubs - no one minded.
I also came to realize that the holiday can be any day you choose, it does not have to be limited to a day on the calendar. It is wonderful to be albe to recognize the sacred in the everyday occurances of life.
As my children have grown, with families of their own - I did not want to make their lives more stressful by having to choose which family to spend the holiday with. We have implemmented a novel approach ~ and made a new tradition. We celebrate "Thanksmas". We choose a weekend between Thanksgiving and Christmas, for our "family" celebration. It has several advantages, including (1) No one is rushed (2) no one has to worry about overeating yet again (our meals are fairly simple), and (3) the kids get a gift to enjoy before the deluge of gifts they enevitably get on Christmas. Similarly, we celebrate "Easter" on Palm Sunday. When the "real" holiday comes around, my husband and I are free to visit our children, or volunteer to serve others. It works well.
I have always advised my young nurse friends to volunteer to work the holiday. Besides, as everyone knows, the "day after" is when you get slammed!
This is excellent writing on several levels. It's beautiful to read, with undeniable logic as well as emotional appeal for probably everyone who has worked in the hospital over a holiday. But the greatest impact for me was realizing that I would not have thought to write this, and yet I found myself agreeing immediately with everything the author said. Well done.
I just got off my shift in our CVICU. I spent my day with friends and coworkers I care for. We had a pot luck and helped each other spread a little cheer to our patients. I always tell my family and friends outside of healthcare not to feel sorry for me when i work holidays. I get to go home after my shift is over. My patients do not. Santa comes a little early or little late. In the grand scheme of things that's a small matter. I do work that matters, that makes a difference. I am blessed. Merry Christmas and happy New Year.
Beautiful sentiment. When my wife worked as a floor nurse (she's a nursing instructor now),she often had to work holidays. It was a sacrifice not only for her but for us. But it was one we were glad to make. I think she shares your sentiment.
What a beautiful article. Thank you for writing, and sharing!
Holidays in the hospital remind us that medicine is not only about technique, but about presence. When everything else stops, what remains is the patient’s real need and the most authentic meaning of our work: being there!
Well said. Thank you
My daughter's boyfriend's grandfather has been in the hospital for 5 days now with the flu, and I shared this with the lad and he greatly appreciated it.
Beautifully written! ❤️ this.
Thanks for this. I agree, but am still a sad resident who wants nothing more than to be with her family this week.
Rachel, thank you so much for sharing this. I am a Lactation Specialist RN and have always felt llike my work has a special sacredness to it- witnessing new life and mothering and having the opportunity to encourage during this time. But I hadn't really thought about holidays being holy days and I love the way you expressed it:As a child, I was taught that holidays mean Holy Days, and that to be holy means to be set apart. On these setapart days, everything feels sharper: joy and grief, love and loss, hope and fear. All of it is more acute. More profound. More human.
That is why I have never left the hospital on a holiday with regret. Because medicine, too, is sacred. To walk with someone through the most human experiences—life, illness, and death—is a calling set apart. To share this calling with our colleagues and our patients on a sacred day is an extraordinary privilege.
Even in the hospital. Even on a holiday.
Especially in the hospital.
Especially on a holiday.
I always saw taking call on a holiday as special. It was the most deliberate act of doing my job. A New Year’s Eve of caring for multiple trauma patients not knowing who will come through the doors next: a gunshot wound, pedestrian versus auto or a homeless dude run over by a train while sleeping on the track. You and your team were it. It was also a time to linger a bit longer with patients while on rounds in order to share a holiday greeting or story. Each of us apologizing for having to be there. Meeting family members who came to visit their “incarcerated” loved ones only deepened the sense of privilege. It was sharing a time when no one really wanted to be there, as the author points out, that made it special along with the crooked tiny Christmas tree in the call room and walking the dark and quiet halls at night until the next 911 trauma page came.
Bless you and Merry Christmas!
I retired 4 yrs ago after 32 yr career IM/hospital medicine. Dec 24,25 and 26 were typically good days for doctoring. then everything became crushingly busy as those who delayed seeking needed care from the previous 3 days showed up in ER, urgent care, offices usually much sicker because of their hesitance to “ruin” everyone’s Xmas. So I tried my best to avoid Dec 27,28 as workdays
Rachel, I couldn't agree more. I have been fortunate to celebrate holidays at home the last 20 years, as I have been a school nurse. But the first 20 years of my career, I volunteered to work holidays, for the very reasons you stated. Some of my most poignant work memories occured on the holidays. More than once, I would slip in to midnight mass still in my scrubs - no one minded.
I also came to realize that the holiday can be any day you choose, it does not have to be limited to a day on the calendar. It is wonderful to be albe to recognize the sacred in the everyday occurances of life.
As my children have grown, with families of their own - I did not want to make their lives more stressful by having to choose which family to spend the holiday with. We have implemmented a novel approach ~ and made a new tradition. We celebrate "Thanksmas". We choose a weekend between Thanksgiving and Christmas, for our "family" celebration. It has several advantages, including (1) No one is rushed (2) no one has to worry about overeating yet again (our meals are fairly simple), and (3) the kids get a gift to enjoy before the deluge of gifts they enevitably get on Christmas. Similarly, we celebrate "Easter" on Palm Sunday. When the "real" holiday comes around, my husband and I are free to visit our children, or volunteer to serve others. It works well.
I have always advised my young nurse friends to volunteer to work the holiday. Besides, as everyone knows, the "day after" is when you get slammed!
This is excellent writing on several levels. It's beautiful to read, with undeniable logic as well as emotional appeal for probably everyone who has worked in the hospital over a holiday. But the greatest impact for me was realizing that I would not have thought to write this, and yet I found myself agreeing immediately with everything the author said. Well done.
Beautiful!
I just got off my shift in our CVICU. I spent my day with friends and coworkers I care for. We had a pot luck and helped each other spread a little cheer to our patients. I always tell my family and friends outside of healthcare not to feel sorry for me when i work holidays. I get to go home after my shift is over. My patients do not. Santa comes a little early or little late. In the grand scheme of things that's a small matter. I do work that matters, that makes a difference. I am blessed. Merry Christmas and happy New Year.
That's very kind of you. Thank you. I love my job.
Beautiful sentiment. When my wife worked as a floor nurse (she's a nursing instructor now),she often had to work holidays. It was a sacrifice not only for her but for us. But it was one we were glad to make. I think she shares your sentiment.
Exactly!