“I wanted to work at CHEO since I was a little girl,” exclaims Elizabeth Jones, or Lizzy, as family, friends and even CHEO kids call her.
“The first time I can remember coming to CHEO was for an ear infection when I was very young and I just liked being here because it didn’t feel like a hospital to me. I told my mom I was going to work here someday.” Lizzy’s childhood dream did come true. Today she works as a health-care aide caring for children and youth on CHEO’s pediatric medicine units.
Lizzy started out as a casual health-care aide and later transitioned to a full-time position. When she joined, she loved the flexibility of working casual and the ability to create her own schedule.
Just getting to spend time with kids is what brings Lizzy the most joy in her role. “I get to do all the fun stuff,” says Lizzy. “Like cuddling babies, helping with feedings, taking patients to their appointments, and assisting with bathing.” That’s not to say that there aren’t also tough moments, like holding kids while they have to get a needle or have a catheter inserted. But Lizzy understands the importance of this, “If it has to be done to help, then it has to be done to help.” That’s why she feels it’s so important to be calm and stay positive as a health-care aide.
Always with the kids and families in mind, she often wears funny themed headbands as a way to make people smile. “This is a hospital at the end of the day, but you still want to try to make families and patients feel like they’re not at a hospital.” For Lizzy it’s about making them feel as comfortable as possible for whatever time they’re here.
The camaraderie is also a big part of what Lizzy loves at CHEO. “Everyone is super welcoming and helpful,” she says. “During my first week when I was trying to figure out this hospital, I stopped in the hallway and someone who didn’t even work in my department walked me to where I needed to be.”
For anyone considering embarking on a role in pediatrics, Lizzy has these words of advice, “remember all the good that the hospital does for these kids and that you are doing something great by putting your career towards something wonderful.”
Just like many staff, Lizzy volunteers her personal time to give even more to CHEO. She’s organized a musical fundraiser and also came to CHEO at Christmastime on her days off to sing to the kids in isolation who couldn’t participate in other holiday activities.
At the end of the day, it’s about more than a job for Lizzy. “Getting to be one of the people who make kids feel happy and comfortable and not sick is so rewarding for me.”
