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?
Nurses give up a lot to care for patients during the holidays, from family dinners to long-standing traditions. The good news is that showing appreciation to nurses during the holidays doesn't have to be complicated or expensive. Often, the most meaningful gestures are the practical ones: a fair schedule, a hot meal on a night shift, or a thank-you note clearly written with a specific nurse in mind.
Why is nurse appreciation important?
Nursing is considered one of the most demanding occupations. Long shifts, caring for sick patients, injuries at work, 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.
How to show your appreciation for your nursing team during the holidays
Since nurses often sacrifice their needs to care for others, honoring and valuing nurses’ work can help boost their morale.
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.
1. Host a holiday party at your 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). Holiday parties can raise nursing staff morale and help colleagues connect outside the rush of patient care. The challenge is that nurses work around the clock, so a single 3 p.m. party will leave much of your team out.
Try hosting a few shorter gatherings at different times, or set up an open-house-style celebration in the break room that runs across shift change. That way, nurses coming on and going off shift can stop by, grab a plate, and say hello.
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.
2. Write personal thank-you notes
A handwritten note from a nurse manager or director of nursing costs nothing but a few minutes, and it's often the gesture nurses remember the longest. The key is to make each note specific. Rather than a generic message, mention a moment from the year, like how a nurse calmed a worried family, precepted a new graduate, or picked up extra shifts during a tough stretch.
Consider tucking notes into holiday cards or leaving them in mailboxes before a nurse's holiday shift.
3. Encourage staff to take time off, and make it possible
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 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.
4. Offer incentives for working holidays
Money isn't the only way to show appreciation, but it goes a long way when nurses are juggling holiday travel, gifts, and time away from family. Many facilities offer a holiday pay differential, such as time-and-a-half, for nurses who work major holidays. Whatever rate your facility chooses, announce it before holiday requests are due so nurses can factor it into their decisions. Some nurses may even volunteer for holiday shifts if the incentive is right.
If your facility gives year-end bonuses, consider paying them in early December instead of right before the new year. An earlier bonus can help with holiday expenses when nurses need it most.
Consistency matters, too. If a facility offers a holiday bonus one year and quietly drops it the next, nurses will notice. Build holiday incentives into the annual budget so they're something your team can count on.
5. Give thoughtful, inclusive gifts
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. Think of gifts, bonuses, catered lunches, and spa packages. 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.
Nurse appreciation gifts don't have to be extravagant to make nurses feel valued. What matters most is that they're thoughtful and work for everyone on your team.
6. Highlight your team publicly on social media (with permission)
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.
However, not every facility has the same budget for holiday recognition. Here's a quick look at how these ideas break down by cost:
Also, remember that many nurses simply 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. Needing to cover call-outs and PTO requests? Learn how facility managers can use Nursa to create compliant schedules in seconds, cover last-minute callouts, and give schedulers their time back.
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