Winter wonderlands, gift exchanges, and gingerbread houses are just a few celebrations people look forward to throughout the holidays. Spending meaningful time with friends and family is another benefit of the holidays. However, what happens when you work as a nurse or another healthcare professional?
Many nurses sacrifice family time and holiday customs to care for their patients. In addition, longer shifts, staff shortages, and an increased number of patients can make the holidays difficult and even isolating for nurses. One way healthcare facilities can beat the holiday blues is to express a bit (or a lot) of thanks to their nursing staff.
With that in mind, here are some simple nurse appreciation gifts and other ideas for healthcare facilities looking to recognize the contributions and dedication of their nursing staff.
But First, Why Is Nurse Appreciation Important?
Nursing is considered one of the most demanding occupations. Long shifts, caring for sick patients, and witnessing loss can all add to the stress and complexity of a professional nursing position. On top of that, the emotional toll of caring for sick or injured individuals during a time meant for celebration—a.k.a the holidays—can also be overwhelming. At the same time, many nurses find their jobs meaningful because of the difference they can make in the lives of others.
Since nurses often sacrifice their needs to care for others, honoring and valuing nurses’ work can help boost their morale. As the new year gets closer, read on for ways healthcare leaders can recognize nurses' contributions and their critical role in patient care.
Host a Holiday Party at the Healthcare Facility
Healthcare facilities are frequently understaffed during the holidays. That’s because, around November and December, seasonal viruses such as the flu and injuries relating to holiday activities can lead to more admissions and trips to emergency rooms (ERs). To keep nurse retention and spirits high, some healthcare facilities may host a holiday party to raise nursing staff morale. Hosting various festive holiday activities can also help break the ice among nursing colleagues. Activities can include anything from holiday movie trivia to door-decorating contests. Also, setting up a buffet table in the break room where every clinician can contribute their favorite dish is a great way to spread holiday cheer around the facility.
Encourage Time Off
Since the holidays are often the busiest time of the year for patient visits, healthcare facilities must be realistic about staffing shortages. For this reason, many nurses don’t have the luxury of staying home during the holidays. Holiday upticks in patients also mean schedule managers should ensure safe patient-to-nurse ratios by providing enough nurses on shift at any time. There are some ways, however, that healthcare facilities can organize time off so clinicians can spend time with their families. This organization could include planning all nursing shifts well before the holidays and implementing a fair holiday scheduling system. It can also help to possibly prioritize requests by senior staff and, if needed, contract per diem nurses to fill gaps in coverage.
Offering Holiday Incentives
Think of gifts, bonuses, catered lunches, and spa packages. One way hospital administrators and nurse managers can show nurse appreciation is by offering monetary bonuses or rewards to nurses willing to work on major holidays. Depending on a hospital’s policy, this could include offering bonuses to nursing staff as a holiday supplemental wage incentive. However, there are plenty of other creative ways to show nursing staff appreciation, such as gift baskets, online nurse discounts, or gift cards. Here’s a look at some of the best nursing appreciation gifts:
- Spa package or spa box: Gift your nursing staff a day at the spa or put together a spa box full of candles, balms, and other calming products that encourage nurses to take some time to relax while off work.
- Supermarket gift cards: Find out where your nursing staff likes to shop or buy groceries and hand out unique gift cards accordingly. For nurses who love coffee, consider providing a gift card to a local coffee shop and snazz it up by gifting it in a holiday coffee mug.
- Gift baskets: Baskets full of goodies are excellent and creative nursing appreciation gifts because they can be easily tailored to a nurse’s preferences. For instance, a nurse manager may arrange gift baskets filled with candies and treats for nurses who love sweets. Or a basket full of nibbles, like pretzels and peanuts, could be gifted to nursing staff.
- Christmas gift ideas for nursing staff: Neutral holiday gifts are always a safe bet when deciding what gifts to give nursing staff. However, for nurses who celebrate Christmas, nursing managers may choose to come up with a few Christmas gift ideas for nursing staff that directly relate to “’tis the season” themes. These nurse appreciation gifts could include holiday mugs, hot cocoa, fuzzy slippers, etc.
Say Thank You on Social Media
If a healthcare facility has a social media presence, nurse managers can spotlight nurses by featuring a “nurse of the week” and recognizing their accomplishments online. Here’s how to create a social media spotlight online for employees:
- Start by selecting a nurse to highlight.
- Gather their achievements, job responsibilities, skills, and interests.
- Craft a post listing their job title and most significant contributions.
- Add a few “interests” and hidden talents to make the post funny and engaging.
- Include a picture of the nurse and tag them in the post.
- Share the post on your healthcare facility’s social media profiles and encourage other nurses to engage with the post by liking, commenting, and sharing.
This type of social media sharing may help foster better holiday morale and help nursing staff stay upbeat and motivated when the holiday madness begins.
Go Ahead, Spoil Your Nurses
Spread cheer and appreciation this holiday season by spoiling your nursing staff. After all, nurses are some of the hardest-working individuals, and their dedication to serving others day in and day out should be recognized. Just a few small gestures can make all the difference when showing nursing staff they are valued.
Also, remember that many nurses want to be home with their families during the holidays. Therefore, the greatest gift a facility can give a nurse is a day or two off. Ensure your facility has enough nurses to cover staffing requirements, and consider hiring per diem nurses to provide coverage where needed. Happy nurses plus adequate staffing will equal a happy holiday.
Show nurses your appreciation by maintaining adequate nurse-to-patient ratios throughout the holidays. Download Nursa today to find the per diem clinicians your facility needs.
