Most people count down to the holidays with travel plans, matching pajamas, and a fridge full of casseroles.
Healthcare workers? We’re counting IV bags, checking vitals, and trying to remember if it’s Thursday or Christmas Eve. And, you know what? It’s okay — because our version of the holidays comes with a special kind of magic.
I remember my first year out of nursing school thinking, I really have to work on Christmas? I don’t get to see my mom and dad, eat ham, and open gifts? What a terrible thing!
When Your Holiday “Outfit” Is Scrubs
While the rest of the world slips into ugly sweaters, we’re rocking badge reels and compression socks. Sure, we may not get to attend the cookie exchange, but we do get to enjoy the unit potluck that mysteriously leans 90% toward desserts and 10% toward someone’s famous crockpot concoction.
Healthcare holiday fashion tip: if it has glitter, it is not PPE-approved.
We Don’t Get Holidays Off… But We Do Get Meaning
Yes, we show up when the world slows down. Yes, we miss dinners, morning presents, and sometimes entire celebrations. But we do get the honor of being there for people when they need us most. While others celebrate with family, we’re caring for someone else’s. We’re holding hands, offering reassurance, warming blankets, easing pain, and bringing comfort during moments that aren’t always joyful but are always meaningful. There’s something profoundly human about that.
Little Moments of Magic in the Unit
Healthcare workers know a secret: holidays in hospitals, clinics, and long-term care facilities come with their own brand of joy.
- A patient who hasn’t smiled in days suddenly chuckles at your light-up badge.
- A coworker brings in homemade treats that taste suspiciously like “I made this at 2 AM, please validate me.”
- A family thanks you for being the person watching over their loved one so they can briefly go home and rest.
- Someone starts singing off-key carols, but no one stops them because spirits are high, and hearing is selective.
These tiny sparks make the day feel warm, even if the weather outside is… also warm (looking at you, West Coast).
We’re Not Missing Out — We’re Making Memories
Every healthcare worker who has ever worked a holiday knows this truth: the shift becomes its own celebration.
We laugh.
We cry.
We support each other.
We share snacks like a well-organized emotional support army.
And somewhere between the chaos and the calm, we find gratitude. Because at the end of the day, we’re part of something bigger, something that doesn’t pause for holidays, and something that needs heart 365 days a year.
How Leadership Can Support Healthcare Workers During the Holidays
Working through the holidays isn’t easy, and leadership plays a crucial role in turning those challenging shifts into experiences that feel supported, valued, and human. Great healthcare leaders don’t just staff a schedule, they show up, too — with presence, empathy, and actions that truly matter.
Here’s how leadership can elevate the experience:
- Be Present and Visible
Nothing boosts morale like seeing leaders rounding on units, checking in with staff, and simply saying, “I’m here with you.” A short conversation, a smile, or a genuine thank-you can change the tone of an entire shift.
- Acknowledge the Sacrifice
Not just with a mass email but with personalized, heartfelt gratitude. Call people by name. Recognize what they’re giving up. Honor the humanity behind the badge.
- Build Fair and Flexible Holiday Scheduling
Honor employee preferences when possible, rotate major holidays equitably, and offer opportunities to swap, adjust, or request creative schedules. Fairness matters — and staff remember it.
- Celebrate Thoughtfully
Leadership-driven gestures go a long way:
- Catered meals or warm drinks
- Gift cards or small tokens of appreciation
- A decorated break room that feels inviting
- Holiday “comfort carts” with snacks, self-care supplies, or handwritten notes
These aren’t “perks”—they’re reminders that staff are seen and appreciated.
- Protect Breaks and Well-Being
Support staff in taking actual breaks, stepping away to breathe, and tending to their own needs during long holiday shifts. A rested healthcare worker is safer and happier.
- Foster a Culture of Care
Leaders set the tone. A culture grounded in respect, psychological safety, teamwork, and compassion makes holiday shifts feel less like sacrifices and more like shared purpose. When leaders support their teams well, working the holidays becomes not just manageable but meaningful.
Our Work Is a Gift — Even on the Holidays
As healthcare professionals, we don’t always get holidays off, and that can be hard. But we also get the privilege of showing compassion, skill, humanity, and courage in moments when people are vulnerable. That’s not just work, that’s purpose.
So, to every healthcare worker who keeps the world turning while others sleep, celebrate, or travel: thank you. You are the heartbeat of the holidays, and the world shines a little brighter because you show up.
And that, my friends, is the magic I learned my very first Christmas working as a nurse. For the next several years, I volunteered to work Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. I didn’t have children at home, and I loved making my patients and families smile while providing the best care possible — and singing Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer off-key!
