Ideas That Work: An Easy Way to Inject Some Holiday Spirit

Practical pearls from your colleagues

All staff members at NANI Vascular in Fort Wayne, Ind., are required to wear hospital-laundered scrubs to maintain a professional and compliant environment. Since they can’t display their holiday spirit by donning fun scrubs and accessories during the holiday season, Director of Nursing Cynthia Wiersema, RN, BSN, came up with an easy and equally festive way to inject some holiday spirit: holiday socks. “Socks are versatile, easily noticeable and, most importantly, they still allow us to stay in compliance with our perioperative dress code,” says Ms. Wiersema.

The facility has even turned their super socks into an annual holiday tradition and friendly competition. “Each employee can wear their most outrageous, creative, or simply festive holiday socks,” says Ms. Wiersema. “We set up a voting system so that, throughout the day, individuals can cast their votes for their favorite pair of socks. The person with the most votes will be awarded a small prize as a token of appreciation for their enthusiastic participation.”

Ms. Wiersema says the competition is a lighthearted and enjoyable way for the surgical team to express their holiday cheer while still adhering to professional standards. “I believe this event can foster a sense of camaraderie among our staff and create a positive atmosphere during the holiday season,” she says. “It’s an opportunity for us to embrace the festive spirit and spread some joy to our workplace.” OSM