In the true spirit of Christmas, Olivia Sabnal offered to work Christmas Day so her co-worker could spend the day with family.
The registered nurse at Victoria General Hospital will be spending Christmas Day, Dec. 25, working in the emergency room from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
B次元官网网址淭his is my fourth Christmas I am working,B次元官网网址� said Sabnal.
This year she wasnB次元官网网址檛 scheduled to work on the holiday, but offered to because she doesnB次元官网网址檛 have any children and her family is in the Philippines.
Her husband has promised to bring her some turkey though.
B次元官网网址淢ost golf courses offer free golf on Christmas so my husband will spend the day golfing,B次元官网网址� Sabnal said. B次元官网网址淚f I wasnB次元官网网址檛 working IB次元官网网址檇 be golfing too.B次元官网网址�
Working at the hospital on Christmas is always a very busy day and Sabnal is preparing herself for a very long day.
Each year starting Dec. 20 until New YearB次元官网网址檚 Day the ER gets pretty busy, recalls Sabnal.
B次元官网网址淔or the whole year itB次元官网网址檚 the busiest time here,B次元官网网址� Sabnal said. B次元官网网址淚t never fails itB次元官网网址檚 always packed.B次元官网网址�
Often people arrive at the ER expecting to be in-and-out, but with all other clinics in the city closed, the hospital becomes very busy.
The ER is fully staffed ready to care for people in need, but Sabnal wants people to know the most serious cases are handled first.
B次元官网网址淭he most difficult cases are people who donB次元官网网址檛 have family and come in when they are really sick. We also get people who are away from family and have mental health issues. The suicide rates are high,B次元官网网址� said the nurse adding heart attacks, strokes and overdoses are also common on Christmas.
Sometimes babies are brought to the ER with upset stomachs after being fed foods such as mash potatoes before they are ready to consume them.
B次元官网网址淣ew YearB次元官网网址檚 is more mechanical with cuts, burns and falls,B次元官网网址� she added. B次元官网网址淭his is a time of year when people are really sick, itB次元官网网址檚 good if you wait until the 28th or after to see a doctor. If you are able to complain about the wait you are not sick enough to be here.B次元官网网址�
