Every year, hospital executives face the same challenge: how to keep units fully staffed through the holiday season. Between vacations, higher patient volumes, and rising demand for flexible scheduling, November through January can put extraordinary pressure on your teams.
This year, instead of scrambling in November, you can prepare now. The solution lies in Canadian and Mexican registered nurses through IntelliStaff Medical.
Fast Onboarding: Nurses Ready When You Are
Unlike other visa categories, the TN visa is designed for Canadian and Mexican professionals and has no lottery, no waitlist, and no cap. Nurses can begin working in the U.S. as soon as they have an offer letter.
Your hospital can plan potential onboarding dates to align with their national holidays, ensuring you have nurses ready before your own crunch times:
September 17 – Right after Mexico’s Independence Day.
October 14 – Right after Canadian Thanksgiving.
November 3 – Right after Mexico’s Day of the Dead.
That means your hospital can bring in highly qualified, many bilingual, bachelor’s-prepared nurses well before American Thanksgiving, giving you coverage exactly when you need it most.
Canadian Nurses: Available After Their Thanksgiving
Canadian Thanksgiving falls in early October. Once celebrated, Canadian nurses are available to move to the U.S. Since they don’t celebrate American Thanksgiving or Black Friday, they’re often more than happy to cover those shifts when your permanent staff wants to be with family.
Mexican Nurses: Available After Their Fall Holidays
Mexico’s two biggest fall holidays are:
Independence Day (Sept 16) – Mexico’s largest national celebration.
Day of the Dead (Nov 1–2) – A deeply important cultural and family event.
Both occur before U.S. Thanksgiving. That means by November 3, Mexican nurses are ready and eager to step in, giving your hospital reliable staffing throughout November and December.
Why International Nurses Will Cover the Hardest Shifts
The holidays that create the biggest coverage gaps in U.S. hospitals—Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day—often aren’t conflicts for Canadian and Mexican nurses.
Canadian nurses don’t celebrate U.S. Thanksgiving.
Mexican nurses have already celebrated their key fall holidays before arriving.
By December, many international nurses are away from family and motivated to work the holidays to earn extra pay and integrate with their new team.
Hospitals can encourage holiday coverage by:
Holiday Bonuses – A reward for each major holiday worked.
Stackable Incentives – Extra bonuses for working multiple holidays.
Flex Days in January – Rest time once the busy season passes.
The reality is that many international nurses actively want to work these days, making your holiday staffing more seamless than ever.
Holiday Calendar: U.S., Canada, and Mexico
Here’s how the major holidays line up—and why Canadian and Mexican nurses are ideally positioned to fill gaps during U.S. holiday staffing shortages:
| Date(s) | United States | Canada | Mexico | Nurse Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16-Sep | — | — | Independence Day | Mexican nurses available Sept 17 onward |
| Oct 14 (2025) | Columbus Day (minor) | Thanksgiving | — | Canadian nurses available Oct 15 onward |
| Nov 1–2 | — | — | Day of the Dead | Mexican nurses available Nov 3 onward |
| Nov 28 (2025) | Thanksgiving | — | — | Canadian & Mexican nurses open to work |
| Dec 24–25 | Christmas Eve & Day | Christmas Eve & Day | Christmas Eve & Day | Many international nurses willing to cover shifts for bonuses |
| Dec 31–Jan 1 | New Year’s Eve & Day | New Year’s Eve & Day | New Year’s Eve & Day | Many international nurses eager to work for holiday pay |
The IntelliStaff Medical Advantage
Over 1,100 registered nurses ready to come to the U.S.
Highly qualified: bachelor’s degrees, many bilingual, fluent in English (native or academically tested).
Seamless onboarding: Nurses can start Sept 17, Oct 14, or Nov 3.
Unlimited hiring power: The TN visa allows hospitals to hire as many Canadian and Mexican RNs as needed—no caps, no delays.
Secure Your Holiday Coverage Now
By planning ahead with IntelliStaff Medical, your hospital can avoid the last-minute scramble, protect your permanent staff from burnout, and guarantee safe, consistent patient care throughout the holidays.
This year, let Canadian and Mexican RNs be your solution to holiday staffing—so your patients and your teams can thrive during the busiest time of year.
