With the holidays around the corner, many nurses are gearing up to spread some cheer! But some might wonder, "Do nurses work holidays?" or better yet, "Do they earn more during the holidays?" How about travel nurses? Here’s a rundown of what you should know about nurse holiday pay, why some nurses choose to work holiday shifts, and how to line up your holiday travel assignment as early as possible.
> Looking for a holiday travel nursing assignment? Search open jobs here
Do Nurses Work Holidays?
The short is answer is yes, nurses usually work every day of the year in places like hospitals and nursing homes, where care is required 24/7. True, some settings like schools or research labs may be closed during the holidays. But in most cases, nurses do generally work on holidays.
However, that doesn’t mean that all nurses work every holiday. In some settings, holidays may be treated like any other day of the week — in other words, if you usually work Thursdays, you’ll probably be scheduled to work on Thanksgiving. You also may be able to volunteer for those shifts to earn a higher rate of pay.
Do Nurses Earn More on Holidays?
If you're a full-time nurse and already on the schedule to work the holidays, your pay typically stays the same. However, here's the exciting part—when urgent coverage is needed, you could potentially earn more than your regular rate. So, not only are you helping out, but it’s also a great opportunity to boost your earnings!
Specific pay rates will vary based on the employer, so always check with your manager or recruiter for the specific holiday pay rate for each assignment.
Do Travel Nurses Work Holidays?
Yes, travel nurses regularly work holiday shifts during the course of their assignments. In fact, that’s one of the core purposes of travel nurses — to fill urgent gaps where you're needed most. It can also depend on your agreed contract and schedule during assignment.
However, traveling during the holidays can also unlock unique adventures, new traditions, and sights you may not experience at home! And, as we also discussed in our recent guide to the benefits of travel nursing, that’s one of the things that some nurses find so satisfying about working travel jobs.
Do Per Diem and Travel Nurses Get Holiday Pay?
Travel nursing assignments sometimes offer a higher rate of pay on major holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas. However, because they're contract-based, they don’t provide the paid time off you might get from a full-time job. Instead, they may offer much higher rate of pay in general than a permanent job.
How Much Is Nurse Holiday Pay in 2024?
Nurse holiday pay is generally a variation of your normal hourly pay. And that amount depends on where you’re working. As with any time of the year, higher-demand opportunities tend to pay more than others. At the same time, pay will also depend largely on certain states, or places within those states.
What’s the going pay rate for your specialty? You can use our job search tool to see current pay per week for a specific specialty or in a certain location. You can also sort all jobs by highest-paying to see what assignments are currently paying the most.
How Much Is Holiday Pay for Travel Nurses?
Travelers sometimes earn the same rates as permanent workers when they work holidays. And if you're traveling, you should expect to work those shifts. After all, that’s part of the reason why travelers earn more in general — because you're expected to fill in at a time when many core staff members are on vacation.
If you're a traveler, you may also be able to earn more during the holidays by picking up extra shifts — there's almost always a demand that time of year. If you have the availability, it can be a good time to put in lots of hours and build up some big earnings in a relatively short period.
How Much Will You Earn this Holiday Season?
If you’re interested in earning nurse holiday pay this year — or if you’re looking to have some time off — always check with your recruiter for specifics before you begin your next assignment — especially if you plan on having that time off.
And for everything else you need to know about your next assignment, head to the HealthTrust jobsite for job listings that are fully transparent, showing you every detail of the assignment, from facility address to how much you'll get for housing every week. And when you direct apply, you’ll get access to priority opportunities and pay rates you won’t find anywhere else. Check it out here.
Holiday Travel Assignments Are Going Fast!
So, what will you earn for nurse holiday pay this year? The first step is making sure you have an assignment lined up for the holiday season — you can see what’s available here. And discover more about the benefits of traveling with HealthTrust here.
