Are You a Nurse Working the Holiday Shift? Here’s 5 Reasons to Embrace It
While we embrace the notion that nurses are superheroes, we’re also like everybody else.
Most of us would like nothing more than to be home with family, eating delicious food, laughing at old stories and making new memories during the holidays.
But as nurses, we sometimes have to answer the call of duty while the rest of the world is enjoying their second plate of stuffing.
Well, that’s life sometimes.
It doesn’t mean that you can’t make the most of it and enjoy the truly awesome perks that come with working the holidays. So if you’re feeling a little down about missing out on the family festivities this year, here are a few things to keep in mind.
Typically, if you’re working on the holiday, you are making overtime pay, and that money can go a long way, especially during the holidays. As a way to look forward to working your holiday shift, plan what you’re going to do with the money ahead of time. Have you been meaning to knock out more debt? Do you want to get a pricey gift for someone? Have you been meaning to take a vacation somewhere? Write out what you want to do and schedule a reminder in your planner to spend or invest that money the way envisioned as soon as your money is deposited.
You can celebrate a holiday anytime you want! If you work during the normal dinner hours, why not organize an alternative with your family and friends, like a holiday breakfast? Or you can celebrate with a traditional meal the day before or after. Either way, you aren’t working a full 24 hours of the holiday, so there’s always an opportunity to catch some of the holiday fun.
You get to be there for patients who don’t get to be with family on the holidays either. There are so many people in the world who are separated from loved ones for one reason or another. Spend some time at work talking to them. You might get the opportunity to learn something amazing, share something amazing and connect with another person. You never know what kind of impact you can have someone and creating memories with a stranger can be just as powerful as spending time with the people you know.
This holiday could be a chance for you to prove yourself and pave the way for your next career goal. If your boss happens to be off for the holiday, it may be a chance to step up and take on some bigger responsibilities and learn or just show that you can do the job effectively. Be a team player and have a good attitude and you just might be a step closer to reaching your next professional goal.
Participate in your job’s potluck or suggest one for the holidays if your job isn’t hosting one. Having everyone bring in a dish and break bread together is always a great way to bond with your coworkers and feel included in holiday cheer.
At the end of the day, you have to keep in mind that a holiday is still just a day. It’s always what you make it. Decide that your holiday shift will be positive and meaningful. Focus on enjoying life in whatever circumstance you are. Enjoy the holiday season!
