7 Tips to Survive Your First Working Holiday in Nursing

• Many new nurses struggle to balance a working holiday with their other, more festive plans. Here are some tips to navigate this situation for the first time.  
• Most facilities have a rotating schedule for working the holidays, designed to ensure fairness and equal distribution of holiday shifts among all staff members. This system is in place to make sure everyone gets a chance to spend some holidays with their loved ones.  
• It’s natural to feel frustrated and stressed about missing holiday events with loved ones. It’s important to remember that you’re not alone in this. Many others, including first responders and patients, miss these special moments. Your dedication and sacrifice are deeply appreciated.  

Becoming a new nurse is an exciting accomplishment, and along with that accomplishment come several new responsibilities, including working some holiday shifts.

Many new nurses struggle with the realization they will have to spend some holidays away from their families, and the last thing they want to do is put on their scrubs and go to work while their families are celebrating. However, there are some positives to working during the holidays, which I will discuss later.

Unless you’re employed at a clinic that only operates during the day and is closed on holidays, you’ll likely be required to work at least a few holidays yearly. Most facilities have some rotating schedule, so one year, you may be required to work Thanksgiving and get Christmas off, while the following year, you may have Thanksgiving off and work Christmas. Of course, this rotation usually includes all major holidays. If you’re new to nursing, consider the some tips below to make it through your first holidays as a nurse.   

1. Plan in Advance for Holiday Scheduling Changes

Co-workers will appreciate your proactive approach to scheduling, as it shows responsibility and consideration. If you want a specific holiday off, look into your facility’s policy on holiday swaps to see if you can switch holidays with another nurse. 

In my experience, many nurses are usually willing to switch holidays with you, especially if you return the favor. If you can form this relationship with a few co-workers, holiday scheduling will be less stressful. I was lucky enough to find a co-worker who always wanted to have Christmas Day off, and they were willing to work Thanksgiving for me since this is my favorite holiday. So keep in mind those co-workers do exist.   

2. Plan Your Working Holiday Schedule Wisely

Be mindful of the other shifts you’re scheduled for the week of the holiday you’re working. It’s essential that you aren’t biting off more than you can chew and putting yourself at risk for burnout and exhaustion. This is especially important when considering swapping holidays with other nurses; evaluate how it works with your current schedule before committing to anything. It’s excellent to do favors for each other as nurses, but it’s just as essential to ensure your nursing care doesn’t lack because of it. You always want to be able to provide high-quality care to your patients.

3. Know How to Get in Touch with Leadership

Nurse managers often take, or get, the holidays off. So they will likely not be at the facility for easy access in an emergency. Ask your manager who the nurse manager contacts for emergencies during your work holiday. For these reasons, nurse managers usually have an on-call schedule rotation they follow. Make sure you keep the contact information easily accessible during the holiday you are working.   

4. Ask for Help and Minimize Commitments

Most people already have holiday traditions and routines, which can quickly become disrupted once you begin your career in nursing. If you have a particular holiday off but are working many days leading up to that holiday, don’t be afraid to ask family and friends for help. If you usually do a lot of cooking, planning, gift shopping, or hosting, spread those tasks out among other family members to take some of the stress off yourself and reduce burnout. Remember that you don’t have to give up everything, but having help will make the holidays more enjoyable and allow you to be present with your loved ones.  

5. Be Prepared That Family and Friends Might Not Understand

Family and friends not in the healthcare field may not understand the demands expected of you as a nurse. You must communicate with family and friends far in advance if you can’t make it on a specific holiday due to your work schedule. This will allow them to plan accordingly or offer an alternative day to celebrate when you can make it. If they become upset, explain that all nurses must work at least some holidays each year without exception, and this is a requirement to keep your position. Most family members and friends understand once this is explained. 

6. Focus on the Working Holiday Incentives

I mentioned above that there are positives to working the holidays. One perk is overtime or incentive pay. Another perk often offered at the facilities is a free meal for each shift working that holiday. Lastly, if you work in long-term care, there are usually holiday activities planned at the facility throughout the day, mainly to keep residents in good spirits and entertained. Many of these activities are fun for staff, and many nurses enjoy working the holiday to participate in these events with their residents. 

7. Remember, Others are Missing the Holidays as well

Healthcare workers are not the only ones missing holidays with their loved ones. Dispatchers, police officers, firefighters, and restaurant and gas station workers work holidays too. Remembering this will help you cope with working the holidays since you are not alone. It will also help to remember you are taking care of others and helping make their holiday more unique, which is very rewarding. 

The Bottom Line

Working your first holidays as a new nurse can be stressful and may not be fun all the time, but you can make it less dreadful by being prepared and trying to focus on the positives as much as possible. After adjusting to your new career, you may even enjoy working during the holidays. 

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