Jogan Health provided this article.

The holiday season can be an especially joyous and memorable time. But, nurse shortages aside, it can also be challenging as a travel nurse.

Living a few miles or a few states away from family can be difficult when everyone around you is decking the halls. But you don’t have to settle for the holiday blues. Here are a few tips for traveling nurses to enjoy the holiday season — even if you’re on assignment.

How to Balance Travel Nurse Duties During the Holiday Season

Schedule your placements around holiday functions.

This may be a no-brainer, but it’s worth the consideration: schedule your assignments with the holidays in mind, if possible. Very few professions have the luxury of scheduling when and where they want to work. However, as a travel nurse, you get this liberty.

Travel nurse agencies and healthcare staffing companies may offer flexible assignments. Proactively communicate your holiday preferences to your agency so they can plan accordingly and find a placement that fits your needs.

Plan a remote holiday get-together.

While you might be hundreds or thousands of miles away from your closest loved ones, you can still feel like you’re two feet apart. Technology — video calls, text messages, etc. – can help you connect and participate in holiday activities from afar.

Here are a few ideas to bring your loved ones closer:

Video call into your family dinner
Cook a family favorite together over Facetime.
Host a holiday-themed game night.

Dust off your video camera and set your calendar — don’t forget to account for differing time zones! — and haul out the holly.

Celebrate the holiday season during downtime.

Healthcare providers are essential professionals, so don’t be surprised if you are required to work on Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s, or other holidays. But just because you clock in on December 25 or the fourth Thursday in November doesn’t mean you can’t partake in the festivities.

Celebrating before or after the designated holiday does not delegitimize the meaning or excitement of gathering with friends and family. And, if you want to look out for your healthcare provider friends and family who face the same situation, throw a holiday bash of your own.

Embrace the local culture.

Family traditions aside, you have the unique opportunity to experience the local culture — take advantage of this time!

Every state, city, and town has its own traditions and celebrations that can make spending the holiday season a fun adventure.

Don’t believe us? Here are a few unique holiday traditions from around the United States:

Alexandria, Virginia, hosts Water-skiing Santa, an annual parade of water-skiing Christmas characters.
Newport Beach in California holds a five-night precession Christmas Boat Parade where more than 100 illuminated boats decorate the coast.
Las Vegas, Nevada, organizes the annual Great Santa Run, where hundreds of Santas take to the strip to show their holiday cheer.
New York, New York, holds its famous Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Practice self-care

Like so many, the holiday season can be stressful for travel nurses — whether it be the disappointment of missing a family tradition or the loneliness of spending the holidays in a new environment.

Proactively plan and prioritize a self-care routine that supports your wellness during this time. Join support groups, seek counseling, or plan holiday-centric activities that you can enjoy solo.

Conclusion

Being a travel nurse is an exciting but challenging feat. And just because you’re on assignment doesn’t mean you can’t still enjoy the holiday season. Plan accordingly and turn your “Bah, humbug” into “Have a holly jolly holiday” this holiday season.

Our job board is a great place to search for your next travel nurse assignment. We have you covered with our housing page if housing is an issue. You can search for what you are looking for.

If you are a new travel nurse or looking into becoming a travel nurse:

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Happy Thanksgiving Gypsies! The holiday season makes us very busy and sometimes we forget what the holidays are about. Some of you may be working, traveling, or lucky enough to spend time with your family. No matter the location, there’s always room to share some gratitude towards co-workers, family, and even strangers! Take a minute out of your day to show some gratitude this Thanksgiving and holiday season ahead of us.

Below are some ways you can express gratitude:

1.) Get them a treat.

Everyone loves getting a delicious treat, whether it’s sweet or savory. Getting someone something from the cafe down the road or a bakery in the city is a sure way to show someone you care while filling their belly with something delightful.

2.) Give out compliments

No extra money this holiday season? No problem! The best things in life are free and compliments are unlimited. Make it a point to compliment everyone you see today!

3.) Volunteer for an unpleasant tasks

Whether you’re at work or home with family, there is always that duty you hope you don’t get picked for. Instead of avoiding the task and hoping someone else will take care of it, jump right in and get your hands dirty. Most likely no one else wants to do it either, but I am sure it will make someone’s day!

4.) Give a hug or smile at someone

Another free thing to give out is a hug or a smile. Both are simple and again FREE! You never know what someone is going through and sometimes that’s all it takes to make someone feel special again or turn around their day.

5.) Thank you notes

With today’s technology, it’s easier to send someone a message in a variety of different ways but the impact of a handwritten thank you note is a sure way to warm some hearts and make a lasting impression.

6.) Random act of kindness

As a travel nurse, you travel all over the United States, and maybe even the world, meeting thousands of people. Take a moment and do one random act of kindness. This can be paying for a person’s drink order that is behind you at the coffee shop, holding the door open for someone, or even working in a soup kitchen, providing someone less fortunate a meal.

7.) Donate to charity or volunteer your time

There are endless charities that are in need of any kind of monetary donation for education or research on issues or diseases that are actively affecting our nation and/or our world that need desperate attention. Remember, every little bit helps.

8.) Tip well

Whether you’re out to dinner, getting your hair done, or paying for valet; if someone does an outstanding job, tip more than you usually do. Most people absolutely drained around the holiday season and that extra cash in their pocket might make their day and will make work a little more bearable.

9.) Say you’re sorry.

Whatever the situation may be, sometimes there is no better way of showing gratitude than righting your wrongs. If there has been a major disagreement with a co-worker in your workplace or perhaps a family member and you haven’t been able to see eye-to-eye, maybe it’s time to take the high road and apologize. In a lot of circumstances, we fail to see past our minor differences and should work towards a more positive relationship or partnership, making strides for a better future for all.

10.) Catch someone doing something right

Nobody’s perfect and a lot of us feel like we fail more than we win most days. If you see a stranger doing something positive, wherever you’re at, let them know how great of a job they’re doing! Not only will you be encouraged to do better for those around you, but it will inspire them to keep spreading positivity wherever they go. We’re all in this together!

Whether you’re with family or away on an assignment, there is always time to express gratitude to those around you. Take these 10 tips and try to use it this Thanksgiving and holiday season. Gratitude is contagious, and you won’t want to wear a mask and gloves around it. Be sure to pass along the holiday cheer this year!

Holiday Season

How to Balance Travel Nurse Duties During the Holiday Season

How to Balance Travel Nurse Duties During the Holiday Season