St. Elizabeth Medical Center employees share experience of working on Christmas
By: Chelsea Rarrick
Updated: December 25, 2012
Jennifer D'onofrio has been a registered nurse for the past five years.
"It's a very rewarding job. One of my instructors once said it's one of the hardest jobs that you will ever love," she said.
Although Jennifer's job is a rewarding one, it also comes with the duty of working holidays.
She says at times it can be hard to be away from loved ones, but working on Christmas is a day to spend with her work family.
"We bring in food, we have our own feast and we make the best of it," she said.
Like Jennifer, Nora Rizzo, a housekeeper at St. Elizabeth Medical Center is no stranger to working holidays.
She has worked the last 14 Christmases.
"People are a lot friendlier," said Rizzo. "Even though you'd rather be at home they make it a little bit easier.....everybody can bring in food and we have lunch together, it's just a lot of fun."
And while heading to work on Christmas day and other holidays may seem different, D'onofrio says it's not much different than other days.
"It's like any other day pretty much for us when we come into work, and with our patients and their families, they are going through an even more difficult time, having a loved one ill at Christmas time. So all that we can do to put on a smile on our face and make it better for them," she said.
"It's a very rewarding job. One of my instructors once said it's one of the hardest jobs that you will ever love," she said.
Although Jennifer's job is a rewarding one, it also comes with the duty of working holidays.
She says at times it can be hard to be away from loved ones, but working on Christmas is a day to spend with her work family.
"We bring in food, we have our own feast and we make the best of it," she said.
Like Jennifer, Nora Rizzo, a housekeeper at St. Elizabeth Medical Center is no stranger to working holidays.
She has worked the last 14 Christmases.
"People are a lot friendlier," said Rizzo. "Even though you'd rather be at home they make it a little bit easier.....everybody can bring in food and we have lunch together, it's just a lot of fun."
And while heading to work on Christmas day and other holidays may seem different, D'onofrio says it's not much different than other days.
"It's like any other day pretty much for us when we come into work, and with our patients and their families, they are going through an even more difficult time, having a loved one ill at Christmas time. So all that we can do to put on a smile on our face and make it better for them," she said.
