Black Friday has been a phenomenon in America as long as I can remember. Of course, not to the extent that it is practiced now. But….Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving and the start of the Christmas shopping season has been around for quite some time.

As the years have progressed the stores started opening earlier and earlier and now most of them are even open on Thanksgiving so you can get a jump start on it all, if that's really what you want to do…..and, of course, you can do all your shopping online and avoid the crowds completely. This would be my option as the internet has become more prolific and is now part of our everyday lives. Why not just have them deliver it to your door and avoid all the hassle? The ultimate timesaver for busy healthcare travelers and travel nurses is of course to shop online.

But, needless to say, most people don't share my aversion to shopping. And that's all good for the commercial and retail industry. So, make sure you are careful out there. Watch for children in parking lots and take your time if you are going shopping. Remember, the holidays are not really about gifts but kindness, compassion and helping others.

Be safe and have fun on Black Friday!

Mary Crawford, HealthCare Employment Network