1. Bring the celebration to work
You are not the only one stuck at the hospital. Your colleagues and patients are there too. Organize a potluck, put up decorations at the station, and pull patients into crafts if their condition allows and they want to. A unit full of baked cakes, home-cooked meals, and a few boxes of pizza can turn the day around.
2. Send gifts home
If you cannot be at the dinner table, send something so your family knows you were thinking of them. Share with coworkers too. It does not have to be grand: a note, a favorite cup of coffee, a card to lift a patient's mood.
3. Set aside time for family
A shift runs 8 to 12 hours, which leaves room to celebrate before or after. Your family will not mind shifting the date as long as you are there for it. Many nurses end up with a double celebration, lunch before the shift and a late night after.
4. Stay appreciative
It is easy to feel angry, but your mood affects the care you give and rubs off on your coworkers. Reset your thinking instead. Be glad you have a job, and that you get to impact this many lives doing it. The work is hard and it is worth it.
5. Do not overindulge
A bad mood plus a station full of treats is a setup for stress eating. Save the second serving for later. On a busy shift, the last thing you want is bloating or stomach cramps.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do nurses have to work holidays?
Often, yes. Hospitals and nursing facilities run around the clock, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that nurses in these settings may work nights, weekends, and holidays, and may be on call.
Do nurses get paid extra for working a holiday?
Sometimes, but it is not guaranteed by law. Under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act, private employers are not required to pay premium or holiday pay for hours worked on a holiday, so any differential comes from your employer or contract (U.S. Department of Labor).
How long is a holiday nursing shift?
Most run 8 to 12 hours, which leaves room to celebrate with family before or after. Plenty of nurses end up with a double celebration, one meal before the shift and a late one after.
How do you keep morale up on a holiday shift?
Bring the celebration to the unit, stay appreciative, and watch your mood, since it rubs off on patients and coworkers. Small touches like a potluck or decorated station do more for a floor than waiting for the clock to run out.