🧡 Grace on the Floor: What a Thanksgiving Shift Taught Me About Staying Grounded When It’s All Too Much
A nurse, finding grace.
The Shift That Broke the Schedule (and Almost Me)
It was Thanksgiving Day, and I was walking into a shift that felt impossible before it even began.
Half the staff had called out. The unit was full. Every call light seemed to echo twice as loud as usual.
I’d told myself I was fine with working the holiday—it came with the job.
But somewhere between missing family dinner and juggling one too many patients, the pressure started to close in.
I could feel it—heart racing, breath shortening, thoughts spinning.
And then came that familiar whisper:
“You’re behind. You’re failing. You can’t keep up.”
That was the moment I realized something had to shift—inside me.
Let’s dive in!
The Truth About Holiday Shifts
If you’ve worked a holiday as a nurse, you know the strange mix of emotions:
Gratitude for the team who showed up beside you
Guilt for the family time you’re missing
Exhaustion you try to laugh through
And quiet pride that you’re doing work that matters, even today
Holiday shifts test your heart as much as your body.
They ask you to hold space for everyone else’s celebration while keeping your own spirit steady.
That’s why I brought in a pie that morning—pumpkin, store-bought, nothing fancy.
I figured if I couldn’t have Thanksgiving dinner, I could at least bring a piece of it with me.
It sat in the break room, untouched for hours—but somehow, it anchored me.
A reminder that joy could still exist here, even in chaos.
“I brought in a pie that morning—pumpkin, store-bought, nothing fancy.”
The Moment I Realized I Was Spinning Out
Midway through the shift, everything felt heavy.
I was charting late, answering call lights, trying not to cry in the med room.
And then, something small shifted:
A patient smiled.
Another nurse cracked a joke about how “pie counts as a vegetable.”
I laughed—a short, shaky laugh—but it broke the tension.
That laugh was my reset.
It reminded me that emotional regulation isn’t about not feeling stressed—it’s about remembering you still belong to yourself, even in the middle of the noise.
A nurse taking a deep breath in the break room.
The Reset: How I Found Ground Again
I stepped into the supply room for 60 seconds.
Closed my eyes.
Took one deep breath.
Then another.
And I remembered the things I’d told my students and my colleagues:
Take your time.
You can only do one thing at a time.
You’re allowed to pause before you walk into the next room.
You are not behind—you are in motion.
So I gave myself grace, right there between IV tubing and gloves.
The Lesson I Didn’t Expect
Later that night, I cut the pie.
I handed out slices to whoever passed by—techs, nurses, even a float from another floor.
It wasn’t about the pie, really. It was about presence.
About creating a small moment of normal in a place that’s never normal.
That’s when I realized:
Gratitude doesn’t always look like a thankful heart.
Sometimes it looks like showing up, steady and imperfect.
Sometimes it looks like breathing instead of breaking.
Sometimes it looks like sharing a piece of pie when everything feels too heavy to hold.
Thank you!
A Thanksgiving Reminder for Every Nurse
If you’re working this holiday—if you’re tired, stretched thin, or missing home—know this:
You are not alone.
You are doing sacred work.
You don’t have to be calm every moment—you just have to find your way back to calm.
Bring a snack. Bring a pie.
Bring something that reminds you you’re human, too.
Because that’s what nursing needs most on the hard days—humans who still remember how to care.
🎧 Want a Quiet Moment to Regroup?
If your next shift feels overwhelming, take a few minutes with my “Grace on the Floor” Audio Reflection.
It’s a short guided moment to breathe, ground, and remember your enough-ness—especially on the holidays that feel like too much.
You CAN do this!
💬 Join the Conversation:
Comment below!
Share your stories in the comments or reach out—I’d love to hear from you.
Are you working during the Thanksgiving holiday? How will you slow down and give yourself grace?
Any NCLEX tips or stories you'd like to share with your fellow new nurses?
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