5 Things to Embrace During the Holiday Shift

• Every nurse will have to work on the holiday shift at some point during their career, so try to look at the positives. 
• You’re able to connect more not only with your patients, but your coworkers, on the holiday shift. 
• Depending on your unit, the atmosphere during a holiday could be more relaxed. 

As the festive season unfolds, your role as a nurse takes on a unique significance, and your scrubs become a symbol of unwavering dedication. The idea of Christmas is different for everyone. Everyone has different traditions, memories, and expectations for the holiday season.

Being a nurse during the holidays is challenging because patients need care 24/7, so you’ll have to work on a holiday at some point in your career. As a result, you may miss special moments with family and friends, and December is typically a time for tradition and family. 

Making the Most of the Holiday Shift

Unfortunately, for us nurses, it’s also a time when hospitals anticipate an influx of illnesses from the flu and pneumonia, limiting vacation and time off for staff. Working holiday shifts can be challenging, but it doesn’t have to be negative. Here are some positives I have embraced when working a holiday shift.  

The pay is higher

The most apparent positive of working the holidays. No one can deny they enjoy earning a bigger paycheck! You can make a lot more money working on a holiday. Many hospitals offer incentives on top of the increased holiday pay, making the time you spend away from your family worth it. Who doesn’t love some extra cash to spend during the holidays? 

You’ll establish a good rapport

The extra money is great, but it’s about more than just earning potential. Whether you volunteered to work a holiday shift or not, your presence confirms that you’re a team player and a great nurse on the staff. Your choice to work on a holiday is also a valuable contribution to the health community. Most units take note of the holidays you work, keeping that in mind for the next holiday season and giving you precedence over which holidays you work the following year. 

Holiday shifts provide a different atmosphere

Now, depending on your unit, a holiday shift may be a relatively relaxed one. With the holiday vibes, the atmosphere feels more positive and inviting. It can be a break from the typical chaos of the hospital, allowing you to soak everything in, get to know your patients a little better, and spend some more quality time with your coworkers. It can also be a unique learning experience. While your shift may be calmer, you can gain invaluable hands-on experience that contributes to your development as a nurse.  

You can connect with your patients

Sadly enough, some hospital patients don’t have anyone to celebrate the holidays with other than the hospital staff. Nursing over the holidays provides us with a unique opportunity to play a significant role in our patients’ lives. Talk to them about their holiday traditions, memories, and stories. Spending a little extra time talking with our patients may be what they need this holiday season because, unlike you, they don’t get to go home when the shift ends. 

Connect more with your coworkers

Many units do something festive for the nurses who work on the holidays, such as a potluck meal, celebrating with a Secret Santa, or putting up holiday decorations and dressing up during the shift. I’ve always loved the potlucks my unit would put together, seeing everyone’s holiday food traditions. When you work a holiday shift, your coworkers become your family, and you create your own traditions. Working together on holiday creates a shared sense of unity and camaraderie among your team, fostering an environment that communicates well, works efficiently, and provides excellent patient care. 

The Bottom Line

Having to show up for work at 6 am on Christmas Day is no fun, and working the night shift in the ER on New Year’s Eve is no picnic. Some nurses may dread working the holidays, but there are some positives to gain, and holiday shifts can be some of the best shifts you’ll work. Working on a holiday doesn’t mean you will be at the hospital for 24 hours, so you still have the chance to find a way to celebrate with your family and friends. Be thankful this holiday season for your job, coworkers, and the opportunity to be a part of your patients’ lives. If you have to work on the holidays, do it with a grateful heart, compassion, and gratitude.

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