Working Holidays? 5 Ways to Make It Work for You

Holidays are fine, its the day after that suck in the ER. Ill gladly work a holiday as long as I dont work the next day.

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This does that mean we have to be that annoyingly cheerful person who sometimes seems a little out of touch with the reality around them

Whenever someone is like this, I usually think they need to get off their high horse and stop acting like everybody needs to be as cheerful as themselves.

I don't believe you or I have to be a grouch, but don't expect me to be overly excited to work.

The last holiday (non-federal) I agreed/was nicely forced to work, I was told, it will be fun! The first issue was we were horribly understaffed that day. The second issue was that there was going to be a party with families throughout the day. Not that that's a bad thing, but just makes the unit a whole lot more busy and families will most definitely be showing up and needing assistance, hence more work.

The glimmer of hope this was going to be "fun" was that there were multiple volunteers from the unit to come host and run the party, assist families/siblings, etc. Well, ONE volunteer showed up. ONE. In an already short-staffed unit, the working few of us were being called to hand out candy and participate in crafts with families who were arriving. Excuse me? I already have 2 more patients than I should, and now you are calling me to entertain? Needless to say, the day was anything but fun and I was not happy. Anyone who acted like that, I probably would have wanted to punch.

So sure, if I have a quiet, nice assignment all day during a holiday, I can be as happy as I am any other day. But I won't be extra cheerful because I'm at work, I would still rather be somewhere else, everyone would.

I recommend making a list of 10 things you are grateful for related to your job. For example- co-workers, patients, payday. I find it is difficult to down when you live in gratitude.

itsybitsy said:

Whenever someone is like this, I usually think they need to get off their high horse and stop acting like everybody needs to be as cheerful as themselves.

I don't believe you or I have to be a grouch, but don't expect me to be overly excited to work.

The last holiday (non-federal) I agreed/was nicely forced to work, I was told, it will be fun! The first issue was we were horribly understaffed that day. The second issue was that there was going to be a party with families throughout the day. Not that that's a bad thing, but just makes the unit a whole lot more busy and families will most definitely be showing up and needing assistance, hence more work.

The glimmer of hope this was going to be "fun" was that there were multiple volunteers from the unit to come host and run the party, assist families/siblings, etc. Well, ONE volunteer showed up. ONE. In an already short-staffed unit, the working few of us were being called to hand out candy and participate in crafts with families who were arriving. Excuse me? I already have 2 more patients than I should, and now you are calling me to entertain? Needless to say, the day was anything but fun and I was not happy. Anyone who acted like that, I probably would have wanted to punch.

So sure, if I have a quiet, nice assignment all day during a holiday, I can be as happy as I am any other day. But I won't be extra cheerful because I'm at work, I would still rather be somewhere else, everyone would.

It sounds like a very "not fun" day. Thanks for sharing your experience. It might be helpful to managers or others who may consider planning special activities on an already full day.

I agree that having a positive attitude makes a huge difference in how we handle working the holidays. Yes, it stinks to work the holidays, but it stinks for our patients and their families to have to spend holidays in the hospital too. Reminding myself of this helps me have a better attitude about it. Also, while I hate being away from my family on the holidays (especially Christmas), holidays at work can actually be fun. There is typically a more relaxed atmosphere with no management there and there's always food! If nothing else, at least nurses know how to throw a good potluck!

RNtoNNP said:

holidays at work can actually be fun. There is typically a more relaxed atmosphere with no management there and there's always food! If nothing else, at least nurses know how to throw a good potluck!

Amen to that! Glad to know I'm not the only one who occasionally enjoys working holidays. Maybe it's because I'm single without family nearby, but I enjoy spending the holidays goofing around with my coworkers while getting paid double time to do it. This year we're having an ugly Christmas sweater party, complete with prizes for the ugliest sweater. I'm busting out a nurse-themed Christmas sweater that my grandma (also a nurse) bequeathed to me, complete with an embroidered/knit syringe and band-aid. It's pretty ugly, lol.

We've never had staffing issues on holidays in the units where I've worked, mainly because a) management intentionally overstaffs to prevent this precise problem, and b) nobody calls in sick because nobody wants to be 'that guy' who called in on a holiday. 9 times out of 10, we're giving away vacation hours at the last minute because we're overstaffed (aka the Holiday Lottery).

The bigger issue for us has actually been short-staffing on the days surrounding the holiday, since we don't intentionally overstaff, people don't feel as bad about calling in sick, and nobody wants to come in and pick up extra shifts at the last minute due to festivities and travel.

adventure_rn said:

Amen to that! Glad to know I'm not the only one who occasionally enjoys working holidays. Maybe it's because I'm single without family nearby, but I enjoy spending the holidays goofing around with my coworkers while getting paid double time to do it. This year we're having an ugly Christmas sweater party, complete with prizes for the ugliest sweater. I'm busting out a nurse-themed Christmas sweater that my grandma (also a nurse) bequeathed to me, complete with an embroidered/knit syringe and band-aid. It's pretty ugly, lol.

We've never had staffing issues on holidays in the units where I've worked, mainly because a) management intentionally overstaffs to prevent this precise problem, and b) nobody calls in sick because nobody wants to be 'that guy' who called in on a holiday. 9 times out of 10, we're giving away vacation hours at the last minute because we're overstaffed (aka the Holiday Lottery).

The bigger issue for us has actually been short-staffing on the days surrounding the holiday, since we don't intentionally overstaff, people don't feel as bad about calling in sick, and nobody wants to come in and pick up extra shifts at the last minute due to festivities and travel.

I like your creative spirit. The ugly sweater contest sounds like a fun time!

Joy

My Mom was a nurse so I was used to scheduling Holidays at home diferently from most kids, but I never felt deprived. We rocked around Mom's schedule.

As a Head Nurse, I always found out holiday preferences early and was always able to accomidate everyone at least every other year.

Later as a visiting nurse, I worked with a Jewish nurse and for 25 years we covered each other on all our holidays and vacations. She worked Christmas, I worked New Year's, she workred Easter I did Passover. Then I covered her for Yom Kippur while she covered me for Labor Day weekend. My favorite was covering her for Thanksgiving as she always cooked a feast to which my husband and I were invited. The most fun was always Nov. 4th as she had a grandaughter in NC with a birthday on the 3rd and my NY granddaughter's was on the 5th. On the 4th, I did the early morning patients and waited for her call to say she was getting on the plane to be home to do the afternoon visits. Then I got on my plane. We never missed a visit.

All these suggestions are awesome! I liked working the holidays. But as my children have grown up, I noticed that they missed a lot. There is no excitement to approaching, decorating, giving of gifts. Our holiday celebrations were always not on the holiday, 2 nurses, three military members there was never Christmas on 12/25. We have talked about it, I just regret as a single working mom how working all those holidays have affected my children and grandchildren.

Oh then add Mother's day!

lindahartford said:

My Mom was a nurse so I was used to scheduling Holidays at home diferently from most kids, but I never felt deprived. We rocked around Mom's schedule.

As a Head Nurse, I always found out holiday preferences early and was always able to accomidate everyone at least every other year.

Later as a visiting nurse, I worked with a Jewish nurse and for 25 years we covered each other on all our holidays and vacations. She worked Christmas, I worked New Year's, she workred Easter I did Passover. Then I covered her for Yom Kippur while she covered me for Labor Day weekend. My favorite was covering her for Thanksgiving as she always cooked a feast to which my husband and I were invited. The most fun was always Nov. 4th as she had a grandaughter in NC with a birthday on the 3rd and my NY granddaughter's was on the 5th. On the 4th, I did the early morning patients and waited for her call to say she was getting on the plane to be home to do the afternoon visits. Then I got on my plane. We never missed a visit.

I love your story! It shows so much love, respect, flexibility and honesty! Thank you for sharing with all of us. Joy

Thanks so much for your comment. We both have lots of good memories. It was fun to share them. Linda