"The schedule is posted," my friend told me. Her tone indicated that she was not happy about it. When the holidays roll around, special events multiply as family, friends and co-workers gather. Admittedly, it is a difficult time to be at work, feeling that we might be missing out. We look around and see others with jobs that are less demanding during the end of the year rush and we find ourselves doing some wishful thinking or struggling with a serious case of job envy.
How can we not just survive working the holidays but also thrive? What can we do to keep from becoming the complaining Grinch that steals the joy of the season from ourselves and others? How can we take the very best care of our patients even when it's not convenient for us personally? Here are some considerations:
Attitude matters
Every day we have a choice about how we will proceed and how we will view the events of the day. We don't get to control the events themselves, but we do control our reactions to them. When it comes to working on a day when we would strongly prefer to be off, we get to decide how to view that and whether to start out with a positive or negative perspective. 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, but being Debbie Downer never gains us friends or the admiration of others-even ourselves! Making a conscious decision not to complain can be helpful because it is a decision that can give us the boost we need to get through a tough working schedule.
See the opportunities
While is it never fun to be the one working on a holiday, it can also be a time when new perspectives open up. It may be a time for you to step up in leadership, to showcase your ability to stay upbeat on a difficult day, and to build team morale. Many times, holidays come with extra pay, a perk that makes the pain of being on duty less acute. Being understanding of leadership and their responsibilities can be a help to the entire work place. As part of the team, we simply do not know everything. We cannot know why we have to work when so-and-so "got the last holiday off, too." Sometimes it happens that way and because of confidentiality issues, we are not part of all that is behind the scenes in the decision making process. Allowing others the benefit of the doubt can take us from a place of bondage to resentment and anger and move us toward a brighter, lighter space where we are free to do the good job we know that we can.
Count the good stuff
Life is hard, and we all have problems, but it is almost always possible to find someone else who has troubles too, and often they are worse than our own. The fact is, if we are working, then we are not the patient! Being the one in the bed has to be harder than being in a caregiving position. Lee Iacocca once said, "The thing that lies at the foundation of positive change, the way I see it, is service to a fellow human being." Sometimes it is hard to look at the brighter side of things, but this is another area where we can improve with practice. Finding a way to count our blessings puts the brightness and energy back in our work and in our celebrations.
Plan alternative celebrations
We have friends that always celebrate Thanksgiving on the day after the official holiday. They contend that it makes it easier for everyone to gather and that the designation of a particular date is not that important to them. When they told me about their custom, I was surprised but quickly saw the profound wisdom of it all. Being willing to get together on an alternate day shows a great deal of selflessness and highlights what many holidays are all about -celebrating what is the best in all of us. While missing out on some the customary events of the holidays is definitely hard, work commitments can lead to creative changes that turn out to be keepers and turn into welcome traditions.
Professionalism shines when we put our patients first
It is during our times of greatest stress and disappointment that our professionalism as nurses has an chance to shine. It's never easy to put our best foot forward when we are not feeling it, but it is the hallmark of a true professional-being able to put our own wants and needs aside-at least during our shift-for the good of our patient. A professional nurse leaves the commentaries and complaints at home, caring for their patients to the very best of their ability, no matter what the day.
What helps you to find joy and contentment even when you have to work on a holiday? What suggestions do you have for other nurses as they face these challenges?
