Being scheduled to work a holiday is a possibility for any nurse, so if you’re taking a travel assignment over the holidays you should speak with your recruiter to know what the hospital or facility requires. 

<p>
  Do travel nurses have to work holidays? The simple answer is probably,
  depending on
  <a
    href="https://www.crosscountrynurses.com/blogs/travel-nursing-schedules-what-you-need-to-know"
    >when your contract begins and ends</a
  >. Before choosing an end-of-year assignment, you may be wondering if working
  holidays as a travel nurse is right for you. If you want to spend time with
  friends and family, can you get holidays off as a travel nurse? Or maybe you
  want to work and are wondering whether you&rsquo;ll receive holiday pay or a
  holiday bonus. These are questions you&rsquo;ll want to ask and have answered
  before you decide on your end-of-year travel nurse assignment.
</p>

<h2><strong>Can You Get Holidays Off as a Travel Nurse?</strong></h2>

<p>
  Holiday scheduling for nurses is different in every hospital, so if
  you&rsquo;re concerned about whether or not you will be required to work,
  it&rsquo;s best to find out before you sign your contract, if possible. If you
  know for sure you will need to take specific dates off, let your recruiter
  know so these arrangements can be approved in advance. Of course, you probably
  became a travel nurse in large part because of the flexibility it offers, and
  you know that if you prefer, you can simply choose not to work at all during
  the holiday season.
</p>

<h2><strong>Holidays as a Travel Nurse: Choose Your Climate</strong></h2>

<p>
  <a href="https://www.crosscountrynurses.com/travel-nursing-jobs"
    >Nursing jobs</a
  > with holidays off are few and far between, as hospitals are typically
  open 365 days per year. The great thing about travel nursing, though, is that
  you can choose where you spend your holidays. If you prefer a warmer climate
  and decorating a palm tree instead of a pine tree, choose an assignment along
  the
  <a href="https://www.crosscountrynurses.com/travel-nurse-city-guide"
    >East Coast or in the South</a
  >. For nurses who like a more picturesque holiday setting, complete with
  snowflakes and ice rinks, there are plenty of options available in the North,
  throughout the Midwest and in the Pacific Northwest. Additionally, if you have
  friends or family members that don&rsquo;t live nearby, it can be a wonderful
  experience to choose a travel assignment that lets you spend the holidays with
  them. Travel nursing also provides the opportunity to experience specific
  holiday events, such as winter music festivals or popular New Year&rsquo;s Eve
  celebrations, like the one in New York City&rsquo;s Times Square.
</p>

<h2><strong>Nurse Holiday Pay: Could it be Worth Your While?</strong></h2>

<p>
  Perhaps the most important question regarding this subject is, do travel
  nurses have to work holidays at the same pay rates as non-holidays? Some
  hospitals are willing to pay special holiday rates for nurses who are willing
  to work on days most people want to take off. Other facilities may offer a
  holiday bonus. These are details you should be sure to address with your
  recruiter before your contract is signed. In any case, the ability to choose
  whether or not and if so where you will work during the holidays is a true
  gift when it comes to travel nursing
</p>

<p>
  Ready to wrap up your latest assignment and look for your next gig?
  <a href="https://www.crosscountrynurses.com/travel-nursing-jobs"
    >Search our current travel nursing opportunities.</a
  >
</p>


How Travel Nurses Manage Working Over the Holidays