Ever work third shift? I did just long enough to know that I'm not built for it. But for some, it's the best shift, and for still others they have no choice.
Such is the case of health care professionals. Sick people are sick on third shift too, and the management team at Trinity Medical Center does something special at Christmas and other holidays to make sure the folks on the graveyard shift know they're appreciated.
here's tonight's Spirit of Alabama report.
It's late night at Trinity Medical Center. Traffic is no problem, and parking is a breeze. It's 11:19pm. The third shift has just come on duty to care for patients who must be cared for 24 hours a day.
On this night, folks who are usually just here in the day time come back to put on one dandy Christmas party for the night shift. It's just like the party that the day shift and second shift people enjoy, and Trinity wants to cover every shift... even the toughest one to cover.
"As you know the hospital never seems to close,” Trinity Medical Center CEO Keith Granger said. “We're open every hour of every day and during the holiday season we realize that we pull our people away from their families to serve our patients and serve our community."
They bring in the big guns, the best food folks around... and the food is great and plentiful.
Debra Richards is a night nursing supervisor.
"Generally, I think the staff is really happy to be here,” Richards said. “You know it's hard to be away from your families, but we try to make concessions and everybody has a little bit of time off to be with their family, but there are people that have to be taken care of 24 hours a day."
Even on his tight schedule, Santa was able to come by too. He says knowing who's been naughty or nice is a piece of cake.
"Well, at Trinity Medical Center, on the night shift, everybody's on the nice list, let me tell ya," Santa said.
Santa understands too how important these folks are.
"I really do because they're a bunch of dedicated individuals who stay up all night to render care to patients who need it, so they're the joy givers of the nighttime here," Santa said.
Everyone got a cool carrying bag as a gift. Even the nighttime security guys who patrol the property all night came by. Great food, Christmas music, and Santa Claus too. It’s a great way to start a work shift no matter what time of day it is.
"Well, this is a great time during the holiday season for us to honor and show appreciation to the outstanding staff that serves Trinity Medical Center throughout the entire year," Granger said.
It wasn't a long party. After all, the top priority was still on the floors above the party room. But for a little while, it was Christmas on the third shift.
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