While lots of people will be dancing at costume parties or taking their kids trick-or-treating this Halloween, many pediatric travel nurses will be working. But that doesn't mean they won't get into the spooky spirit!
Here are some ways those in travel nursing jobs across the country will be celebrating Halloween:
They wear costumes to work
Many travel nurses come to work dressed up in creative costumes for Halloween. Some hospitals even designate each day of the week leading up to the holiday as a special themed costume day, like "Under the Sea Day" or "Sports Day."
Not only is it fun for staff to get in the Halloween spirit, but the costumes brighten the faces of the children who are in the hospital and not able to participate in traditional trick-or-treating.
"At least when I am at work, I can make their Halloween a bit more silly, and a lot more fun than 'just another day' at the hospital," wrote Ani Burr, RN in a post for Scrubs Mag.
They throw a Halloween party for patients
While lots of kids are racing from house to house outside, filling their candy bags to the brim, many travel RNs bring the Halloween festivities to their pediatric patients.
"Many travel RNs bring the Halloween festivities to their pediatric patients."
Some host a Halloween parade, where patients can show off their costumes. Or staff members will band together to throw a Halloween party in the cafeteria or playroom. For example, Spirit of Children, which is the charitable arm of the Spirit Halloween costume store chain, works with staff to host Halloween parties at hospitals and other health care centers.
They go 'reverse trick or treating'
At Indiana University Health, employees hold "Reverse Trick or Treating Friday," where they dress up in costumes and stop by each patient's room to deliver small toys. The team didn't give out candy due to dietary regulations and allergy concerns, and wear costumes that are silly and fun instead of scary.
"The absolute joy on these kids' faces was incredible," said Paul Haut, M.D. in an interview with Hospitals & Health Networks Magazine. "It's kind of ironic when you have a sick child who actually wants to be here because we're doing something that he sees as really fun. That tells you we've successfully done distraction and helped them see how their lives can be normalized, despite the fact that he has these issues going on."
As you can see, no matter where travel nurses are working, they can make Halloween fun and memorable for children in the hospital.