Introducing… an employee health nurse

Jennifer Marcaccio is a senior nurse in Employee Health Services (EHS), which supports HHS staff across all sites. Her career began in 1974 in our ICU and recovery unit at Hamilton General Hospital. She also spent time overseas in Abu Dhabi working in an outpatient clinic, which led her to her passion for employee health.

What do you love most about your role?

I love the unpredictability of my role. It has its challenges but also makes for an interesting workday. As employee health nurses, our role is multi-faceted. I often learn as much from responding to employees’ questions and concerns, as they do from me. From first aid, to workplace injuries, to managing outbreaks, employees in crisis and those with substance use disorders, there is never a dull moment.

What do you find challenging?

Because of the diversity of the role, planning your day is difficult. We often receive competing priorities from many stakeholders, which can be challenging because each one has its own level of urgency. When you add our day-to-day activities to the mix, it can be a bit chaotic. Luckily, we occasionally have some quieter days.

From first aid to workplace injuries to managing outbreaks, there is never a dull moment.

Describe a typical day

Our team provides first aid, counseling, follow-up on workplace injuries and illnesses, pre-placement interviews and clearance for people to begin work at HHS.

During the flu season, we’ll administer the flu vaccine to our staff and physicians at our hospitals. We also organize mobile, off-site clinics for other sites within HHS as well as our affiliates. We then liaise with public health to report our overall compliance.

Tell us about your most gratifying experience at HHS

There are many gratifying experiences in my work, but I cherish the times when someone takes the time to thank me personally. When a staff member or physician gives me some positive feedback about one of our nurses, I absolutely love to share that with the rest of the team.

What’s one thing people would be surprised to learn about your role?

I’d like to compare my role at HHS to an iceberg. The work done behind the scenes is about five times the amount of work visible to our staff. Our goal is to provide professional, efficient and caring service. Hopefully that is the experience for the employee.

Flu shots are available at HHS drugstores for patients, visitors and staff. Employees of Hamilton Health Sciences can also visit any EHS office during regular office hours. No appointment necessary.