Christmas with Patient

[caregiver10]

To me Christmas is a time I celebrate the love and gift from God through Christ. I know many of us do not have this opportunity due to one illness or the other. but we can still take the beauty of Christmas to them, by stopping by to a patient sick bed wisper to them Merry Christmas!! and give them any gift you may have, no matter how small its, it may go a long way to put a smile in their face.

As a caregiver, we are the last group our patient look forward to for some love. And i know we can do it. so lets go out there and the Christmas with our patient as we work our way through Christmas.

Merry Merry Christmas to You All !!!!

[LaxNP, DNP]

This may sound crazy, but some of the best christmas memories are working in the peds ICU. The kids are so excited, it really brings back what its all about. Santa would come in and interupt the rounds, the attending would role his eyes, but even he couldn't help but enjoy it.

[headinsandRN]

OP thanks for this reminder

[Guest717236]

Patients love having you around on Christmas and other holidays.

You are a bright spot in their day, and so appreciated.

And the love , care , and respect you get from them is a gift.

[raebabelvn, LVN]

I am SO excited for Christmas with my patient! I work a peds private duty case, and the little boy always ALWAYS brings a smile to my face. The parents are amazing, and Christian to boot! Which is a blessing for me :)

Remember the Reason for the season!!! )

[LouisVRN, RN]

I work adult med/surg. I always work Christmas Eve - there's nothing better than discharging a patient at 3am after his last dose of antibiotics so he can be the big Christmas surprise for his family! :redbeathe:

[Zookeeper3]

interesting, in my ICU, my patients are so diverse that I can't assume anyone is Christian. While many non-Christians celebrate this holiday, I'd never assume my patient does unless they or family tells me otherwise. unless the patient or family initiated a "merry christmas", or ask for a "celebration" I'd not infringe on their own belief system assuming it was mine.

Strange how some of us bring our own religion to work, I leave mine at home where I think my Christianity belongs. I don't mix religion at work, never. and for the OP, bringing small presents to work for the patients? Seriously? I think not. We have never in our units mixed our own personal religion with our patients because there are way too many times a year of celebration to include them all..... so you bring presents for all the other religious holidays or just your own? Too much pushing my own beliefs for my comfort as I've stated.

I support every patients religious preferences, at the time of their choosing, not my own at work... a slippery mess IMHO.

[elkpark]

and for the OP, bringing small presents to work for the patients? Seriously? I think not.

ITA. I hope the OP is referring to giving "gifts" in some metaphorical sense, not actually giving gifts to her/his clients. Big boundary issue ...

I also agree completely with your comments about not bringing one's religion to work.

[EowynRN]

Zookeeper - ITA. I'm wondering if people who only celebrate Christmas bring stuff on Hanukkah for their Jewish patients? And how awkward for the atheist patients (16% of the US is atheist). Maybe you could check charts and see religious preferences, but it seems too complicated and unfair. I would just wish someone a Merry Christmas if I knew they celebrated when I was on my shift, and do my best to help them get better as soon as possible.

[happy2learn]

I work at a large hospital and I interact with patients and families. I only say Merry Christmas if they say it first. I do celebrate Christmas, but I also don't assume everyone else does. I can't say the same about some of my coworkers though. The funny thing is, I used to work for a large retail company and about 5 years ago, we stopped saying Merry Christmas and switched to Happy Holidays. I have gotten so used to this, that I never blurt out Merry Christmas anymore. I only respond to it.