While travel nursing is a highly rewarding position, there's no denying that nurses may tend to feel lonely during the holidays if they're unable to get the time off work to visit their friends and families. However, that doesn't mean that they have to cease celebration. In fact, a Thanksgiving festivities in the hospital are a great way to lift the spirits of the patients as well. Here are a few ways to brighten up the hospital atmosphere for a holiday celebration:
The food
Hospital food doesn't have a reputation for being the most appetizing of dietary options, and dinner is most people's favorite thing about Thanksgiving. Rather than serving the same old dishes in the hospital cafeteria and to the patients, a common practice is to prepare turkey dishes. Becker's Hospital Review says that in addition to serving patients turkey dinners and pumpkin pie – complete with a note wishing them a happy Thanksgiving on their trays – BHR allows patient's guests to enjoy the meal too. The treat isn't limited to patients and their families, though. Hospital staff also gets to enjoy a turkey sandwich loaded with stuffing and cranberry sauce.
Let them socialize
While it's understandable that not everyone will be able to get up from their beds to socialize for Thanksgiving, throwing a large event for the hospital to attend or individual parties for each wing of the medical facility is a great way to cheer the patients up. While everyone loves Thanksgiving dinner, the social aspect of the holiday tends to be overshadowed. Many patients' families will be visiting for the holiday, but the patients who don't get visitors would probably appreciate the opportunity to mingle with other people and celebrate.
It's especially important to do something special for children who are in the hospital during the holidays, as they're likely feeling homesick. With parents who are probably running back and forth between home and their child, an opportunity to have some fun and enjoy a good meal at the hospital will ease their burden as well.
Decorate
Something as simple as hanging some decorations can really brighten to mood and make the hospital environment more pleasant. The great thing about Thanksgiving is that there are many ways you can do this. Use corn stalks and pumpkins to channel a harvest atmosphere in the hospital, or embrace the fact that November is the kickoff for the Christmas season and begin hanging holiday lights for the patients. For kids, you can even give them construction paper and scissors to decorate their room with paper snowflakes, or make decorations for the tree. While the hospital will never be like home for a patient, a travel nurse can make it feel as warm and homey as possible.