For travel nurses, the holiday season can be both a rewarding and challenging time. While having the opportunity to explore new cities and increase your pay can help to make the season bright, being away from home and loved ones can also be difficult for travelers.
From creating a homey atmosphere in your travel housing to connecting with fellow travel nurses and local communities, there are plenty of ways to embrace the holiday spirit while being on the road. And with today’s technology, it’s easier than ever to keep in touch with loved ones at home, no matter where you are. So, if you’re feeling a little homesick during the holiday season, here are some tips to get in the spirit while travel nursing.
7 Ways to Enjoy the Holidays on Assignment
1. Get festive at work
One of the best ways to get into the holiday spirit is to celebrate with your nursing coworkers. If your facility doesn’t already have holiday traditions, start your own! Decorate the break room, have a potluck, or hold a department gift exchange.
Not only will celebrating with other nurses make you feel more festive, but it will also help you feel more connected with the permanent staff. And who knows – you might even make some new travel nursing friends in the process.
2. Preserve your holiday traditions
Just because you’re away from home doesn’t mean you have to give up your holiday traditions. If you can’t be with your loved ones for the holidays, try to recreate some of your favorites in your new location.
For example, if you usually have a big holiday dinner with your extended family, try hosting a Friendsgiving with other travel nurses in your area. Or you can bake your favorite holiday cookies and share them with your fellow nurses or ship them back to the family.
3. Decorate your living space
If you’re feeling homesick while travel nursing for the holidays, try decorating your living space to make it feel more festive. Bring out all of your holiday decorations, put up a holiday-themed wreath on your door, or even string up some holiday lights.
You can also get creative with your holiday decorating. If you don’t have a lot of space in your travel housing, try making a holiday-themed centerpiece for your dining table or coffee table.
4. Check out local events
One of the best ways to get into the holiday spirit as a travel nurse is to attend local events. From tree lighting ceremonies to holiday markets, there are usually plenty of festive activities happening in most communities during the season.
Do a little research online or ask your nursing coworkers to see what’s happening in your area. You might be surprised at how many fun events are happening right near you.
5. Host a virtual gift exchange
One of the best things about the holidays is exchanging gifts. If you can’t be with your friends for the holidays, why not host a Secret Santa virtually? We have plenty of holiday gift ideas for healthcare professionals!
Get everyone in your group to sign up for a platform like DrawNames or Elfster to make it easier. Then, each person will be randomly assigned another person in the group to buy for. You can set a spending limit and pick a day to get together virtually to open gifts.
6. Stay connected with loved ones
No matter how far away you are from your friends and family, it’s important to stay connected during the holidays. Video chat platforms like Skype and FaceTime make it easy to catch up with your favorite people, no matter where they are.
Video chat or phone calls can help you feel closer to your loved ones, but you can also exchange photos and messages through social media or even old-fashioned email. Keeping in touch during the holidays will make you feel right at home, even if you’re miles away.
7. Volunteer in the community
Another great way to get into the holiday spirit is to volunteer. There are usually plenty of opportunities to volunteer during the holidays, whether it’s helping gather donations or serving dinner at a local shelter.
Not only will volunteering make you feel good, but it will also give you a chance to meet new people in the area and help out your neighbors. Nothing feels better during the holidays than giving back!
Travel Nursing Jobs for the Holidays
Being a travel nurse doesn’t mean you have to skip the holiday season. There are plenty of ways to be festive and get in the spirit as well as keep in touch with loved ones and carry on traditions from afar.
If you’re ready for your next assignment, search our travel nursing jobs or reach out to our team to learn more about how to become a travel nurse.
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