Roughly 1 in 4 Americans will be working on Thanksgiving, Christmas or New Years, and hospital employees are a big part of this group. We all know the downsides of working on a holiday, but there are a few positives to keep in mind as well. Are you scheduled to work Thanksgiving shift this year? If so our blog is for you!

Make a real difference

While most RNs, CNAs, and techs don’t choose to work Thanksgiving shift, it’s a guarantee that their patients didn’t choose to be there either! Healthcare providers who offer comfort, support, or even a shared laugh have the chance to brighten a patient’s day.  Also, spending that extra minute or sharing that extra smile may just leave you with the best Thanksgiving gift of all – the boost of self-esteem and increased well-being that comes with helping others.

Holiday pay

Helping others is awesome – and probably one of the reasons you got into healthcare in the first place – but getting paid a little extra to do your job doesn’t hurt either! Most hospitals pay time and a half for working a holiday. Some hospitals even pay two times an employee’s base pay. Combine this with applicable shift differentials and your next paycheck will give you a reason to smile.

No Traffic = Short Commute

For hospital employees in major cities this is a big one! Long commutes are a top reason that people look for a new job. A break from the daily grind of a long commute is a win-win. Enjoy a few extra minutes with your coffee, hit the snooze button, or appreciate a long shower. Whatever you do, take full advantage of the gift of time. You might just volunteer to work Thanksgiving shift next year!

Food, food…and more food

We saved this one for last because who doesn’t love to talk about food on Thanksgiving? Nurses are notorious for holiday shift potlucks, but if your department doesn’t do this, most hospital cafeterias offer a traditional Thanksgiving dinner for free. Some restaurants and fast food chains even offer free coffee or food to healthcare professionals working on Thanksgiving.
Although it is not ideal, if you do work the Thanksgiving shift, try to focus on the positive aspects. If you find yourself with some downtime at the nurse’s station, make sure you check out SourceLync. Their DailyLync will help you escape the madness and enjoy hospital industry news, tips, trick, humor and patient inspired stories.
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