Medical Edge Recruitment provided this article.

Written by: Bri Davie, Northeast Region Team Lead at Medical Edge Recruitment

If you are like most people, the holidays are probably your favorite part of the year. When you think of Christmas, Hanukkah, or Kwanza, a few terms such as family, giving, joy, or gratitude may come to mind. These holidays may make you more homesick while on a travel assignment, even more than usual.

If you feel this way, you are not alone, but there are ways to deal with getting through an assignment while away from home. See the tips below on ways to cope while working on a travel assignment away from home during the holidays.

Celebrate Your Holiday Before the Official Date

This may be a little unconventional, but what matters most is having your family with you and creating memories. If that means opening Christmas presents on the 15^th instead of the 25^th because you start your assignment on the 20^th, then so be it. Enjoy watching the kids jump for joy at the surprise of the newest video game, enjoy the eggnog, and watch a Christmas classic. It is the time spent with family that matters more than the actual date celebrated.

Bring Symbols of Your Holiday with You

Bringing a little piece of home with you while out on the road brings a warm feeling of security that helps you push through missing your family and loved ones. Bringing a symbol of your special holiday will assist you in the same manner. That means if Kwanzaa is your holiday of choice, maybe bring along a Kinara (candle holder) and Mishumaa Saba (seven candles). You could also bring red, green, and black scrubs (if allowed) or objects to represent the symbolic colors. This is a small way to keep your traditions alive even while traveling.

Bring Your Family’s Favorite Holiday Movie

Is there a movie you and your family must watch this time of year, every year? Whatever movie brings joy to you and is about or mentions your celebrated holiday, make sure you pack the DVD in your bag or add it to your stream service watch list, such as Netflix. For those who celebrate Hanukkah, if you enjoy musicals, consider “Fiddler on the Roof.” If you are a comedy fan, consider Adam Sandler’s “Eight Crazy Nights.” Either way, movies are a great way to keep you entertained and joyful through laughter.

Allow your Family to Visit

This tip is a bit on the expensive side, especially depending on the size of your family and the location of your assignment. At the same time, how often are you able to enjoy a Holiday vacation with your family away from home? Seeing your family during the holidays will reduce your homesickness, allow your family to understand why you love to travel, and create new holiday memories. Keep in mind it is not often that you can request many days off, if any, around this time. That is usually reserved for nurses on staff, so if you go this route, be mindful of the days your family will visit and plan accordingly.

Take a Break in December

You are probably thinking that taking a break in December is not a way to help you cope with missing the holidays with your family. You are right. But, if the holidays are extremely important to you and spending time without your family during this time is too much to fathom, consider December the one month that is reserved for you and your loved ones. Hustle your way responsibly all year that way; you can enjoy your family stress-free.

These are just a few affordable tips that you can use to enjoy the holidays while on assignment and away from loved ones. But remember, you could always schedule your contracts all year and take an extended break in December to create new memories. What are ways you cope with working during the holiday season?

Looking For an Agency Who Understands Your Needs?

Medical Edge Recruitment is the premier travel nursing recruitment agency specializing in providing top talent to clients in the healthcare industry. We connect clinical and allied providers to their ideal opportunities, focusing on building long-lasting relationships through honesty and transparency. In travel nursing, bigger does not always mean better. While we have an extensive network of job opportunities, our experienced team is dedicated to making your personalized provider experience our priority. There are a lot of moving parts in getting set up for a new assignment, but we take care of all the details along the way. Adventure awaits; let Medical Edge Recruitment show you where to go next!

We hope you found this article on working through the holidays helpful. Do you have any tips for other travelers who may be working through the holidays? Comment them below.

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There are a lot of discussions currently going on about holiday work. I thought I would put together a quick list of some of the major issues surrounding the holidays

Q: I am scheduled for ALL of the holidays during my travel nurse contract.

A: As a traveler, we are generally scheduled when the facility has it’s highest needs. This includes the holidays. It’s important to discuss this with both the agency as well as the facility in the facility interview. If you do not want to work holidays, this should be clearly discussed and written out clearly in your contract with the facility. Some hospitals will want you to work all, some will not let you work (too expensive) and even others will schedule you just like the staff and allow you to work every other or to pick one. Clear communications are KEY!

Unfortunately, if you didn’t request days off over the holidays; you will be expected to work whatever the facility schedules you for. Always make sure to request time off for any important dates!

Working the Holiday? find out how to make it a great shift!

Q: I’m looking to start my {first} or {next} contract right after the holidays. Will this be difficult?

A: There are two parts to this question. For the experienced traveler that is seeking a start date during the first week of January, this will be a bit easier for you than it will be for the inexperienced traveler. I will warn you however that this is never recommended. Many travelers intentionally schedule their contracts to end before the holidays and are seeking new contracts right after the first of the year. Due to this, there is generally an influx of post-holiday travelers available. What this means is that the supply is greater at this time and you may have more difficulty securing a position. What I recommend is that you hold off and plan to start mid-late January. You will leverage your negotiating power by choosing a start-date after the post-holiday rush.

For the new or in-experienced traveler, I do NOT recommend attempting to find your first contract immediately following the holidays. When a hospital has an influx of available travelers, they are going to generally choose an experienced traveler over one that is inexperienced. Wait until late January or even early February to increase your options and optimize your negotiating power.

Q: My recruiter just told me they can’t bill differently for the holidays so I will not get overtime/holiday pay.

A: Any overtime or holiday pay should be detailed in your contract. Along this same line, it’s important to know what your agency has approved as an official ‘holiday’ date for this particular hospital. Make sure to ask in your preliminary negotiations. The actual date/hours that are considered a ‘holiday’ will vary from agency to agency and facility to facility.

Q: I’m scheduled to work the day before and the day after the holiday. Now I’ll be sitting alone during the actual holiday. What can I do to not feel so lonely?

A: Why not organize a carry-in for your co-workers? Bring a great dessert or treat into work and share the holiday with them. Better yet, find out if you can bring something in for the patients! There are also a lot of places that you can volunteer with homeless meals and such. If there are other travelers in your area, have a ‘Gypsy Thanksgiving’ and invite them over or out to dinner. Buy a box of cookies or cupcakes and go out and hand them out to all of the hospital units. There are so many things that you can do to give someone else a simple smile on Thanksgiving. Whatever you do…do not sit home alone!! Another thought is to set up skype, Facebook Live, or Facetime and join your family via video for the holiday! With today’s technology, this is pretty simple to do.

5 Ways to shift your mood happy

Even though so many people depend on nurses during the holidays, it may not make you feel all that joyous when you are on your feet for a holiday shift. What’s more, travel nurses are often away from family and friends and have a work schedule that prevents that trip home for a brief reunion. Here are some ideas that might make that holiday shift a little easier to endure:

4.) Be positive:

If you obsess with being sad or even angry over your schedule, you are destined to feel that way and project that attitude on others. Suppose you find blessings and joy to focus on (your health, family, employment, and a paycheck, even the weather); you are bound to feel better. And, everyone looks better with a smile.

5.) Reward yourself:

It might be tough to get through your shift when others enjoy a home-cooked meal, so plan a treat for yourself after the holiday shift. Give yourself something to look forward to; a spa day, dinner out, extra class at the gym, or even decadent chocolate.

Finished the travel nursing guide and are ready to look for an assignment?

Working the Holidays

Working Through the Holidays