There is no denying the many benefits that come with working in healthcare. Job security is sound, the pay is good and the work can make you feel satisfied and accomplished. While there are many positives, the medical field also has some drawbacks. Sickness doesn’t take vacations or holidays, which makes working in healthcare harder to navigate than the usual job. Nurses and other healthcare workers are often expected to work a rotating schedule of nights, weekends and even holidays. Spending the holidays away from your family is not ideal for anyone, but it’s an unfortunate reality. Despite the obvious negatives of working a holiday, there are often some positive aspects that come with holiday work. Here are five benefits of working on a holiday in the medical field.
More opportunity.
Use this as an opportunity to stand apart from the crowd. Stepping up to the plate and working a holiday shift when others can’t can be extremely beneficial. Its shows that you are willing to go the extra mile, there will be opportunities to network with physicians and co-workers and it can give you extra influence when requesting time off in the future.
Intimate atmosphere.
Because it is a holiday, the atmosphere is usually quieter and sometimes more peaceful. Use this time to build a strong bond with your co-workers and do a little more for your patients. During the holidays there is a different feeling in the air, people are a little nicer and there is a more jovial environment. On a typical day it is easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle and overlook the opportunities to extend extra kindness. When things slow down a bit there is some wiggle room to make patients feel the love and care that pushed you to healthcare in the first place. Especially on a holiday, when patients may be feeling lonely, medical workers now have the opportunity to step in and connect.
Better pay.
The most obvious benefit to working on a holiday is the pay. Though policies can vary, most medical centers offer overtime, or even double-time time to their employees who work on the holidays. There are often other financial incentives as well such extra paid time off or bonuses.
Increased job and personal satisfaction.
As a healthcare worker, you know that with any shift you work, you are helping others. This is especially true during the holidays. Not only are you helping to relieve your busy coworkers, you can make a patient feel extra special during a tough time. Typically patients are extremely appreciative of the medical staff that are working on a holiday. Patients would like to be home with their families on the holiday as well, so a smiling face and positive attitude from staff can make a huge difference.
Good food.
Whether you work at a school, an office or a medical facility, holiday treats are always a hot commodity. Cookies, coffee, cakes and chocolates are never in short supply during the holidays. Patients’ family members often bring treats as a thank you and make the day a bit more festive. Most medical facilities will make it a point to provide food and other treats for employees working the holiday shift.
Like any career, working in the medical field can have its disadvantages. Working the occasional holiday shift will usually be considered one of them, but there are some benefits. Surviving a holiday shift isn’t all that bad, and there are many other rewards that make it worthwhile.
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