DiversityNursing Blog

For many people, Thanksgiving is a day of gathering, slowing down, and sharing gratitude. But for thousands of Nurses, it’s another kind of service day, a time to show up, care deeply, and be present for patients who need them most. Working on Thanksgiving isn’t always easy, but it carries a unique meaning that only Nurses truly understand.

Whether this is your first holiday shift or your fifteenth, here’s a little appreciation, encouragement, and guidance to help you make the most of the day.

🧡 Remember the “Why” Behind the Work

While the rest of the world settles into celebration, you’re providing stability, safety, and comfort to people who may be spending the holiday in a hospital bed. That’s no small thing.

Many patients feel vulnerable or lonely this time of year, and your presence can help them feel less alone. Even the smallest acts, a warm blanket, an extra moment of listening, a genuine smile, can mean more than you realize.

Sometimes, the most meaningful gratitude comes from the quiet moments no one else sees.

🦃 Bring the Spirit of Thanksgiving to Work

Even on shift, there are ways to honor the holiday:

• Start the day with a gratitude intention

• Share a festive treat or potluck dish with your team

• Write small thank-you notes to coworkers

• Add a subtle autumn touch to the unit (per facility rules!)

• Share a moment of reflection during handoff

These tiny traditions help the day feel special and they strengthen the bonds that make Nurse teams feel like family.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Stay Connected to Your Loved Ones

If you’re missing a holiday gathering, remember: Thanksgiving can be celebrated anytime.
Try:

• Quick FaceTime calls during break

• Asking family to save you a plate

• Planning a “Thanksgiving redo” on your next day off

• Creating your own tradition; breakfast Thanksgiving, takeout Thanksgiving, cozy movie-night Thanksgiving

Your holiday isn’t lost, just postponed.

🫶Take Care of Yourself During the Shift

Holiday shifts can be mentally and emotionally heavy. Make space for yourself, too.

• Eat a real meal, even if it’s not turkey

• Drink water and something fall flavored

• Take a few grounding breaths between patient rooms

• Step outside for 2 minutes of fresh air

• Give yourself permission to feel whatever comes up; gratitude, exhaustion, pride, or even frustration

You’re human, and Nursing on a holiday is hard work.

🌟 Celebrate the Impact You’re Making

Working on Thanksgiving is a sacrifice, but it’s also a gift.
A gift of service.
A gift of compassion.
A gift of presence.

While many people give thanks around a table, you’re giving thanks through action; supporting patients and families who are facing some of their toughest moments.

Please know this: You are seen. You are appreciated. And your work matters deeply. We are thankful for YOU.

Thanksgiving may look different for Nurses, but its heart remains the same: gratitude, connection, and caring for one another.

If you’re working this holiday, thank you for being the steady, skilled, compassionate presence your patients rely on.

You make a profound difference, not just on Thanksgiving, but every single day.

Being a Nurse means you will most likely have to spend a holiday or two a year working a shift. It can be disappointing to forego your holiday traditions and festivities with your loved ones to head to work instead.

Although having to work the holidays can be difficult, it is important to remember that your presence can make a huge difference in the lives of your patients. Follow this holiday survival guide to continue spreading holiday cheer, even if you must spend the holiday in your scrubs.

Put Your Mental Health First

Nurses have a physically and emotionally exhausting job, and the emotional toll can become especially hard during the holidays. It is important to prioritize your mental health, especially during the holiday season. Set time aside to recharge before, during, and after your shift by taking a short walk, a bubble bath, or reading a good book.

Prioritizing your mental health while working the holidays will set you up to enjoy celebrations in your personal life.

Find Ways To Celebrate the Holidays at Work

Just because you must work the holidays, it doesn't mean you can't celebrate them. One of the best ways to spread the holiday spirit and enjoy your time at work is to bring the celebration into your shift.

Consider organizing a holiday party at work where everyone brings a dish to share, wear holiday accessories or scrubs, or even plan a Secret Santa with your coworkers. Although working the holidays can sometimes feel like a drag, these simple holiday traditions can make all the difference.

Think About Your Patients

If you are disappointed to be spending the holidays working and away from your family, odds are your patients are feeling the same way, maybe even worse. Be cheerful when interacting with your patients and tell them they are not alone.

You could decorate patient rooms to spread holiday cheer or help them call or Facetime their loved ones to help lift their spirits. A great way to uplift your mood is to boost the mood of others, and a little extra holiday cheer can make a huge difference in the lives of our patients.

Stay Connected to Friends and Loved Ones

It can be challenging to work the holidays instead of spending time with your friends and family, but staying connected the best way you can is essential. If possible, arrange with your loved ones to move your usual holiday traditions to a different day so you can attend. This way, you can still enjoy time together celebrating the holidays. Because at the end of the day, all that matters is time spent with loved ones, even if you celebrate the holiday on a different day.

If you work as a travel Nurse and distance is a struggle when trying to stay connected, arrange for a virtual celebration so that you can stay connected despite the physical distance.  

Splurge on a Gift for Yourself

One of the perks of working the holidays is holiday pay or bonuses. If you are working during the holidays and find yourself with a little extra cash in your pocket, consider buying yourself a gift to celebrate your hard work. Nurses put so much of their time and energy into caring for their patients. You deserve to celebrate your hard work with something special.

Prioritize your Rest to Combat Fatigue

The key to success in surviving the holidays is remembering the basics of self-care, and this includes prioritizing your rest. Caring for yourself and getting enough sleep between your holiday shifts is essential to combat the physical and emotional fatigue that comes with working a busy holiday shift. Establish a relaxing bedtime routine to help unwind and reset your mind for a good night's sleep.

Maintain Boundaries

We all know, the holiday season is a busy time of year. It can be challenging for Nurses who work off shifts to coordinate attending specific gatherings, especially when it seems like there is a gathering planned every day of the week.

 It is important to set clear boundaries between your work and personal life. When you are off-duty, focus on relaxing and enjoying the time with your loved ones and not overcommitting to social events if you need the time to recharge between your busy holiday work shifts.  

Balancing work and your personal life can be challenging, and the holidays are no different. The best way to survive the holidays is to plan appropriately and prioritize self-care so you can enjoy the season and continue to take great care of your patients.

Many people look forward to the holidays, however it can be a stressful time for Nurses working through the holiday season and missing festivities. Here are several tips to help make working through the holidays a little brighter.

Holiday Feast

Take time during a shift to fuel up with some yummy foods. Have everyone bring in their favorite meal or side dish, holiday treat, or order some take out. 

Work Fun

Organize a secret Santa with your unit or you may also consider planning a holiday party outside of your work setting. It’s nice to take the time out to blow off steam and enjoy your co-workers’ company. 

Decorate

With permission from your manager, decorate your work station, the hallways or even yourself with some holiday swag. Hang up paper pumpkins and turkeys. String twinkle lights and set up a holiday tree. Just be sure to be sensitive and inclusive of everyone’s holidays, not just your own. 

Celebrate On A Different Day

If you can't celebrate a holiday on the actual date, pick another day that works for your family or friends. Being with the people you love is what's important, no matter the date. 

Spread Holiday Cheer

This season is all about giving and as you know, giving makes you feel good. Try giving small gifts like scented hand sanitizers, cards, or decorative trinkets to your coworkers. Brighten patient's day with a note, little ornament, or holiday craft. 

Stay Connected

Make the most of your breaks during your shift. If able, FaceTime or Zoom with friends and family, follow their posts on social media, or ask someone to share videos of the holiday gatherings with you. Utilize available technology to stay as connected as possible. 

Silver Lining

Focus on the bright side, there may be benefits to working a holiday shift, such as extra pay or the next holiday off. You may also, hopefully, get to enjoy a slower work pace or less traffic during your commute.

Remember You're Important

Healthcare will always be 24/7 and someone must be there to care for patients. You're saving and changing lives by showing up to work. During the holidays that care can mean the world to a patient especially if their family or friends aren't able to visit or stay long. What you do as a Nurse is so important, don't you forget it! 

For many people, the holiday season is their favorite time of year, with excitement building for months. Spending time with family and friends, decorating, sharing laughs and getting in the holiday spirit means so much to so many. For these same reasons, this time of year can be the most difficult time to be in the hospital.

Fortunately, there are many ways to bring joy into hospitals during the holiday season.

Shriners Hospital Celebrates Holidays with Atrium Performance Series

The holiday season brings the gift of music to Shriners Hospitals for Children — Northern California, where singers and musicians volunteer their time and talent as part of the Atrium Performance Series. Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts, choirs, school bands, and local business groups perform in the hospital lobby to make spirits bright.

Gingerbread village event at Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital

Gingerbread houses were assembled and decorated by patients and guests in the lobby of Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital who layered them with white frosting roofs and assorted, colorful candies. Other houses were sent to patients on the units who could not come down for the event. Whenever a house was completed, Santa or one of his helpers placed it on a large display structure designed to evoke the shape of a Christmas tree. Patients got to take a Teddy bear and the book of their choice.

Akron Children's Hospital Holiday Tree Festival 2017

According to cleveland.com, there are 85,000 strings of lights at the festival at the John S. Knight Center. There are 140 trees, wreaths galore and holiday gifts all donated by an individual, group or business. Click Here to See Photos of all the trees!

Santa takes a helicopter to UVM Medical Center Children’s Hospital

Santa made a trip to visit kids at the University of Vermont Medical Center Children’s Hospital. According to the Burlington Free Press, No reindeer were used for this pre-holiday visit. Santa Claus hovered in a helicopter at the hospital entrance, waving to the children gathered on a balcony inside.

There are plenty of ways to bring holiday cheer to your facilities halls. Here are a few ideas:

• Have a family member bring in a LED menorah or a small tree to make it feel more like home.
• Light up a hospital room with a simple strand of lights.
• Play some classic Holiday music.
  
• Watch a Christmas movie.
• Share thank you notes and holiday cards.
• Bring Holiday desserts and treats.
• Open some presents with loved ones and staff members.

 If you have other ideas or tips to celebrating the holidays in a hospital, please comment below! Happy Holidays!