The feast of Saint Patrick, more commonly known as St. Patrick’s Day, is observed annually on March 17th. And while St. Patrick's is now celebrated as a secular holiday—with parades, leprechauns, and all things green—its roots date back to the late 4th century when it commemorated the death of a patron saint of Ireland who brought Christianity to his people. Centuries later, the holiday transformed into a modern-day festival that often showcases tributes to Irish culture.
With that in mind, you don’t need to be Irish to join in on the festivities that come with St. Patrick’s Day. The truth is that many people across the globe celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, despite not having Irish heritage. And, if you happen to work in healthcare, St. Patrick’s Day can be a fantastic time to get festive and spread a little joy throughout your workplace.
Lucky for you, we have some great ways that nurses can get in on the St. Paddy’s Day spirit. Keep reading for a rainbow of activities below!
St. Patrick’s Day Nurse Activities
Working as a nurse on St. Patrick’s Day can be a wonderful time to take part in Irish-inspired activities while on shift. From surprising your coworkers with soda bread to decorating the nurse’s station with shamrocks and lucky charms, celebrating St. Patrick’s Day as a nurse can be a bundle of traditional Irish fun!
To get inspired this St. Patrick’s Day, check out the following St. Patrick’s Day nursing celebration ideas that pay tribute to this fun and spunky holiday:
Nursing St. Patrick’s Day Shirt
Showing up to your nursing shift with a peppy St. Patrick’s Day shirt is an excellent way to show your love for this holiday. And finding a festive nursing St. Patrick's Day shirt has never been easier. As a matter of fact, here are top picks for stylish nursing St. Patrick’s Day shirts:
- Women’s Shamrock Glitter Black T-Shirt: Let your Irish glitter glow with this super cute and comfy handmade shamrock black T.
- Shenanigans Coordinator T-Shirt: This hilarious T-shirt is perfect for St. Paddy’s Day celebrations and for nurses who want to make a fun and cheeky statement.
- St. Patrick’s Day Coffee Shirt: For nurses who love coffee, this peppy St. Patrick’s Day shirt will showcase not only your love for a good brew but also your love for St. Patrick’s Day.
St. Patrick’s Day Nursing Scrubs
If you are a nurse and have been scheduled to work on St. Patrick’s Day, go ahead and accessorize your nursing scrubs with a hint of St. Paddy’s Day charm. You can start by dressing up in vibrant green nursing scrubs or simply add St.-Patrick's-Day-themed charms to your scrubs uniform. If you are short on ideas on how to snazz up your nursing scrubs for St. Patrick's Day, check out the list below:
- St. Patrick’s Day Shamrock Pin Badge: Add some shine to your nursing scrubs with this simple but charming shamrock pin badge.
- St. Patrick’s Day Clay Earrings: Get festive and combine a pop of color with your day-to-day nursing scrubs with these adorable St.-Patrick’s-Day-themed clay earrings.
- Peel and Stick Nail Art Decals: Celebrate St. Patrick’s day right down to your fingertips with these clever and chic peel-and-stick nail art decals.
St. Patrick’s Day Nursing Crafts
Along with dressing the part, there are plenty of St. Patrick’s Day nursing crafts and games that can demonstrate your passion for St. Patrick’s Day. Here’s a list of easy but entertaining St. Patrick's Day games and crafts that will amuse everyone in the office (including patients!).
Decorating the Nurses’ Station
One of the easiest ways to put a smile on the face of everyone at work and spread some joy to patients is to decorate the nurses’ station with Irish-themed decor. We love construction paper cutouts of shamrocks, pots of gold, and rainbows. Furthermore, you can tailor your nurses’ station decor according to the specialty you work in, like this St. Paddy’s Day door decorating idea for nurses who work in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). If you are planning to decorate your nurses’ station for St. Patrick’s Day, you can browse through a few more fun ideas here.
Create a Scavenger Hunt for a Pot of Gold
If you are looking for a super fun way to engage your coworkers in St. Patrick’s Day festivities, why not create a scavenger hunt for a pot of gold? All you need to do is make a list of simple clues that will encourage your coworkers to beat the leprechaun to the end of the rainbow and score your own pot of gold! Of course, the pot of gold can be filled with sweet treats, chocolate coins, and anything else St. Paddy Day related. For ideas on St. Patrick’s Day scavenger clues, you can check out a list of ideas here and download printable forms.
St Patrick's Day Nursing Snacks
Get crafty and get cooking with a shamrock cookie bake-off. While a shamrock cookie St. Patrick's Day nursing recipe activity takes a bit of planning before the holiday arrives, it can be an awesome way to involve your colleagues in the spirit of St. Patrick's Day. All it requires is to ask a few nursing coworkers to bake a batch of St.-Patrick’s-Day-themed sugar cookies and bring them to work on the day of St. Patrick’s. Additionally, you can prepare a few St. Patrick’s Day nursing snacks like green popcorn or kiwi with green grapes for fruit skewers. Finally, organize all the festive St. Patrick's Day nursing snacks in the break room and revel in the flavors and cheer of St. Patrick’s Day.
Wear Green, and Don’t Get Pinched on St. Patrick’s Day
According to legend, if you don’t get festive and wear green on St. Patrick’s day, you are at risk of being pinched by a grumpy leprechaun. Therefore, it’s probably in your best interest to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with grace and enthusiasm. Plan a few of the St. Patrick's activities mentioned in this article, and you are on your way to collecting your full pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.
