As Duty Calls at Christmas, Nurses Keep the Decked Halls in Line

When Christmas comes around, you can feel it in the thickness of the air. The way it shifts to lovely and crisp, slowly brushing against your skin. It’s as if the world finally stops for a moment, allowing us to bask in every bit of magic of the holidays. But for healthcare workers, time waits for no one. Their duty calls, and unlike the rest of us, it doesn’t take a holiday.

The walls are white. The hallways are quiet. The wind is chilly as another day on the job begins on  Christmas morning. This is a scene that nurses have become familiar with as they spend their holidays workingaround the clock. What should be a special day to celebrate with loved ones turns into a typical day filled with their usual routines.

‘TIS THE SEASON… TO BE BUSY!

The most wonderful time of the year is fast approaching once again. To many, this means resetting and finally getting their well-deserved rest. Nurses, however, are constantly on the go because in such a high-pressure environment, the only predictable thing is unpredictability.

Emelita Barbosa has been a registered nurse since 1997, with the last seven years centered on the acute admission unit. Today, even after almost three decades in the field, Nurse Emelita continues to work on Christmas, not just driven by duty but also by her commitment to service. 

“A typical Christmas Day for a nurse at work is a blend of routine medical duties and efforts to inject festive cheer for patients and colleagues,” Nurse Emelita narrates, sharing how patient needs remain their number one priority just like any other day.

Whatever the occasion, be it Christmas or New Year's, a nurse’s responsibilities stay the same. From standing for hours and eventually losing track of time to caring for multiple patients while trying to put up a brave front, it has always been a personal sacrifice that nurses must make and accept as part of their job. 

Naturally, the hospital becomes a second home for most nurses. Its warmth may not be the same as the ones they hold close in their hearts, but eventually, they learn to embrace it even in its coldest corners. 

But apart from medical professionals, patients also have to endure spending their holidays away from home. This is when a nurse’s duty extends beyond medical care. 

“We also provide emotional support during Christmas by creating festive environments, actively listening, validating feelings, teaching coping skills, encouraging self-care, and normalizing holiday stress, all while building trust through empathy and therapeutic communication to make patients feel seen, heard, and less lonely during a challenging time,” Nurse Emelita says. 

Nurses are often the first to understand that Christmas can be tough when spent in the hospital. On the other hand, it is equally important to make a light and meaningful atmosphere. In Nurse Emelita’s unit, they keep the holiday spirit by wearing Christmas accessories over their scrubs or conducting fun competitions, which the patients can also appreciate and enjoy.

But no matter how many times the seasons change before their eyes, working shifts on Christmas never gets easier. The desire to be home will always be there, a feeling that many nurses carry wherever they may be. 

(NOT) HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS

The nights always seem longer during the holidays, and although it should be a joyous period, Nurse Emelita admits that loneliness still lingers, especially in the most silent moments. 

“I think that working on Christmas Day is always a unique experience that brings a lot of mixed emotions,” Nurse Emelita remarks. “On one hand, my heart aches a little to be away from my own family, missing the morning excitement and shared traditions.”

From the moment a nurse enters the medical service, adapting to distance becomes a necessary aspect of their life. Yet instead of letting negativity take over, Nurse Emelita finds ways to connect with her family on Christmas. 

“I focus on setting boundaries, practicing self-care, leveraging peer support, and adjusting celebrations to fit our schedule,” she expounds, noting that longing to be with loved ones is normal and acknowledging it is a first healthy step in managing stress.

Having a sense of “family” in the workplace also helps lessen the tension of working during the holidays. Nurses often confide in one another, and Nurse Emelita emphasized the importance of being supportive and empathetic to each other.

She recalls the time when their ward was short-staffed and extremely busy. By the end of the day, she and her colleagues had turned things around by sharing meals and even having a quick karaoke session in their break room.

“It wasn't about gifts—it was about supporting each other to ensure every patient felt cared for, making our challenging day feel like a supportive family gathering,” she expresses.

As a nurse with 28 years of experience, Nurse Emelita assures young, aspiring nurses who may spend their Christmas working that open and honest communication with family is the key. She adds, “[...] Create special moments at work, plan self-care rewards, and focus on your patients to find meaning in your sacrifice, turning it into a 'giving' experience for them, too.”

This festive season, Nurse Emelita hopes to brave its coldness through sheer determination once again. Within the white, quiet halls of the hospital, she continues to look forward—with her mission in mind and her loved ones in her heart.

And so, this Christmas, let us remember nurses more than ever as they stand on the frontline. Along with other medical staff and frontline workers, their days go on and on, even when the holiday air shifts and even when the whole world comes to a pause. Their unwavering service encompasses their deep commitment to duty and the oath they were willing to uphold in the years ahead.  

Article: Regina De Villa

Graphics: Ronalyn Hermosa