We asked nurses how they plan on celebrating Halloween at their workplace. Needless to say, the responses have us buzzing with excitement.
1. “Candy is provided for the residents and kids come trick or treating.” – Brandi G.
2. “I work outpatient but dress up and have candy to pass out to each of my patients. Of course, I keep a stash for all diet needs so everyone gets a treat!” – Charity W.
3. “I am retired now but in the OR I started a below-the-knee costume contest years ago ! What a morale boost for the OR. Great fun, even some of the surgeons participated.” – Donna M.
4. “I managed to get nearly all of my coworkers to dress up for Halloween! The patients absolutely LOVED it and it cheered them all up immensely (I work at an outpatient oncology center).” – Sandy W.
5. “One year we had a haunted house and the residents were involved. Kids went through and other residents passed out candy! They love it!” – Brenda A.
6. “Family members bring children dressed in costumes and residents pass out candy from their ‘homes’ (they sit by their room doors). Some residents dress up as well. It’s fun to watch. The residents love seeing the kiddos.” – Patricia J.
7. “I work in a long-term care facility with mostly elderly residents. Our fabulous recreational therapists are decorating the building in a Wizard of Oz theme and we invite the daycare center next door to trick-or-treat!” – Jane G.
8. “I work in labor and delivery. I make ghosts on a card out of the babies’ foot prints and give them to the mummies and daddies!” – Linda D.
9. “I work in an outpatient facility now: I decorate the triage doors, decorate the glass doors to the peds play room and wear my Halloween scrubs. The pediatric (and some adult patients) smile/comment. We need to have some fun, once in awhile.” – Di M.
10. “I wear my Halloween scrubs and encourage my patients to dress up, too. Even if it’s just a cool bow-tie or mask.” – Aleena D.
How do you bring fun to your patients on Halloween? Let us know in a comment!
I’ve always decorated the nursing station in ICU with my Zombie babies, spiders and witches. Nursing Administration did not like it too much, but when I became an elementary school nurse, the students love my Wicked Witch of the West especially when she yelled at them and Chuckie who stay in the office even after Halloween. The students play with the Zombie babies when they come in and enjoy all my decorations. The principal also tops the season with our annual potluck of bloody intestines, brain cakes, kitty litter, mummy meatloaf and variety of foods as a contest for the staff. It is one of the best holidays in our school!
I work in nursing education. Students and teachers are encouraged to dress up. I wear my Halloween scrubs, decorate the sim lab, and pass out candy from bedpans. Unused, of course.
When I worked in NICU I made premie tps out of Halloween fabric for the babies to wear. We had sterilized them before we used them. I collected them after the holiday had them sterilized again and used them the next year. Made things a little better for their parents and the staff
tps?