Top 10 Greatest Gift Ideas for Nurses – 2018 Edition

best gifts for nurses - featured imageNurses help keep us safe, healthy and feeling great. If you know a nurse, you can show your appreciation for all they do by giving a gift. But what types of gifts do nurses want and appreciate? Don’t worry if you’re not sure, because we’ve got the cure. We’ve rounded up 10 of the best gifts for nurses in 2018 plus we’ve also created a complete shopping guide:

Find a great gift – STAT. Here’s what to look for:

Nurse Craft Bags (One Dozen)

These cute gift bags add a special message of thanks when giving a nurse a gift. Each bag features a red stethoscope in the shape of a heart along with the message “You’re the Best.” Also includes matching red tissue paper to surround the gift inside.

These are high-quality bags with bright colors and plenty of cheer. They work best for small gifts like a T-shirt or coffee mugs. Each set includes 12 bags. Perfect for thanking a team of nurses, whether you’re a co-worker or a patient.

First Year Nurse Guidebook

With the full title of First Year Nurse: Wisdom, Warnings, and What I Wish I’d Known My First 100 Days on the Job, this book provides invaluable wisdom for anyone entering the nursing field for the first time.

Although packed with plenty of valuable technical info, this isn’t a dry manual. Instead, the book features a variety of insightful, encouraging and even hilarious quotes from real nurses. Helps new nurses feel prepared and inspired.

Topics covered include how to communicate with colleagues, keeping stress levels down, how to prioritize tasks and much more. While the information is as valuable as a textbook, it’s presented in a fun way sure to engage readers. Like having a knowledge veteran nurse as a close friend.

Hot Sox Women’s Medical Socks

These knee-high black socks feature cool and cute graphics of stethoscopes, scrubs and other nurse-related imagery. Designs are a combination of white, blue and red which creates a stylish look. Socks are made from 50% Nylon, 47% Cotton, 2% Spandex and 1% Rubber.

But more than style, the socks are also soft and comfortable. Note that, although the socks fit well, these are not medical compression socks. Still, they’re a great way to add a bit of fun and flair to a standard nurse’s outfit.

Personalized Stethoscope Coffee Mug

This delightful mug features a detailed illustration of a heart-shaped stethoscope along with any name you like printed alongside. High-quality ceramic mug is microwave and dishwasher safe. Holds 11 ounces of coffee, tea or even wine after a long shift.

Aside from printing a name, personal artwork or images can also sometimes be printed on the mug. However, you do have to contact the manufacturer Stir Crazy Gifts directly to go over the details. Overall, this is a fun, durable mug with a highly detailed and heart-warming illustration. Plus, adding a name or image makes each mug one-of-a-kind.

Nurse Keychain from Infinity Collection

This beautiful charm keychain is made specifically to inspire and celebrate nurses. The silver-plated keychain includes three charms: a dual-snaked medical symbol (called a Caduceus), a stethoscope and a pendant which reads “she believed she could so she did.”

Makes a great keychain for work-related keys. Keychain is small enough to easily fit into a pocket, but makes a jangly noise so they’re hard to lose. Also includes a jewelry pouch for easy, damage-free storage.

Fun Express Nurse Rubber Ducks Party Favors

This set of ducks is sure to quack up any group of kids, patients, nurses and others. Each two by two-inch cheerful rubber duck is wearing a nurse’s uniform and hat. Four different characters are randomly available in the set of 12: a duck carrying a clipboard, one carrying a medical bag, another with a stethoscope and a fourth with a heart pin.

These rubber ducks don’t have a squeaker but they do float upright and squirt water from a hole in their beak. They’re a fun token of appreciation for a nursing staff, and also a good choice for nurses to hand out to young patients. Invite these dozen ducks to your next party.

Hoodie for Nurse / Mom

“I am a Mom and a Nurse — Nothing Scares Me” reads this hilarious hoodie. Perfect for letting the world know that you mean business – but you’re also caring and compassionate.

More than just a cool message, this hoodie is also warm and comfortable. Made from a 50/50 cotton polyester blend with 7.8-ounce thick fabric. Available in black, blue, gray and white. This is a classic fit hoodie with ribbed sleeve cuffs and a bottom helm. Simply toss in the washing machine to keep clean.

A great gift for anyone who is both a nurse and a mother. Quick to pull on and off, but still able to protect against winter weather, this hoodie can be very useful for nurses who work near the emergency room doors in cold parts of the country.

Nurse’s Insulated Lunch Tote Bag by EatRite

Designed for, and loved by, nurses all over the world, this lunch tote from EatRite is stylish, durable and very useful. Carry lunch, spare clothes and much more. The bag is made from thick neoprene, which is the same material used by scuba divers. Simply add an ice pack to keep your food ice cold for up to 12 hours. A reinforced zipper keeps all items secure.

The tote measures 13 inches by 12.5 inches by 6.5 inches, which is plenty of room for most popular lunchboxes including Bento Boxes and FitPacker XL. Plus, a flat bottom helps keep food secure and prevents tipping. When empty, the tote folds flat for easy storage.

Bag combines fashion and function. Exterior is an eye-catching pink and black with a heart-shaped stethoscope and the inscription “Nursing: Service. Dignity.” A soft handle allows for easy transport.

Wusuaned Heartbeat/Stethoscope Cuff Bracelet

This understated but beautiful wrist bracelet is a light pink with a heart and stethoscope design on one end and a sparkly rhinestone on the other. It’s made from stainless steel which is hypoallergenic, durable and extremely rust resistant. Also lead and nickel free.

The bracelet is .47 inches by .47 inches with a clear rhinestone. Stays on your wrist when you want to wear it but is also flexible enough to easily remove on purpose.

The unique heart-and-stethoscope design clearly identifies the wearer as a compassionate member of the medical profession. Great for adding a sophisticated and feminine touch to any nursing outfit.

Nurse Coloring Book: Sweary Midnight Edition

Every nurse needs some time to de-stress. And while using profanity around patients is frowned up, this swear-filled coloring book is sure to put a smile on any nurse’s face.

Each of the 40 coloring pages contains an intricate design surrounding a hilarious – and often profanity-filled — quote about the nursing profession. Slightly cynical but still compassionate, each one-liner is sure to be a direct hit to the funny bone.

Coloring pages are all single-sided and can be removed with ease. Display them in the break room or behind the desk! High-quality pages can be colored with markers, felt tip pens, gel pens, colored pencils, crayons and more. Two test pages are also available in the book in case you want to try out a specific art media.

How Do I Find the Best Gift for a Nurse?

Nursing can often feel like a thankless profession. Patients can be angry, hours can be long and the pay can be low. While nurses often love what they do, they can certainly feel unappreciated.

With over 2.7 million nurses in the country, the chances are pretty good you know at least one nurse either personally or professionally. Why not show her or him how much you appreciate what they do by giving them a thoughtful gift? Here’s how to find a gift they’re sure to love:

When Should You Give a Nurse a Gift?

There’s really no bad time to give someone a gift. But there are few special occasions in a nurse’s life when a gift is especially appropriate.

If you know the nurse personally – meaning they’re a friend or loved one – you’ll want to give them a gift when they graduate from nursing school. While not many non-nurses can really appreciate what’s all involved, nursing school can be stressful and intense. Graduation is definitely a reason to celebrate.

You’ll also want to give a gift if you know someone who just landed their first nursing job. Here you can focus on a gift which has practical benefits. The guidebook for new nurses as well as the lunch tote, both listed in our guide above, are two gifts any new nurse will likely love.

Don’t forget about employment anniversaries. If you know a nurse who is celebrating her fifth, 10th or other working milestones, recognize their accomplishment with a gift. Giving a gift is appropriate for both nurses you know personally as well as for co-workers.

You don’t even have to know a nurse very well to want to give a gift. If you’ve spent even just a day or two in a hospital, you probably had many great experiences where a nurse helped you out. Giving a gift – even just a small one – is a great way to show your appreciation following a hospital stay.

What Kind of Gifts Do Nurses Like?

In order to find the best gift for a nurse, it’s important to understand what the nursing profession is like. This helps give you an idea of what features they’ll appreciate in a gift.

First, nursing is a stressful job. During potentially any shift, lives can be hanging in the balance. As a result, nurses often appreciate gifts which help them laugh and relax. Examples include an adult coloring book related to nursing, or even fun nurse-themed rubber duckies. Gifts which help nurses de-stress actually help them perform their jobs better when they return to work.

However, despite all the stress, nurses are also very compassionate. After all, why even become a nurse if you don’t like to help people? Gifts which showcase the compassionate side of nursing are always well-received. For example, a charm keychain or wrist bracelet with a sincere, compassionate quote about nursing can help remind the wearer why they love being a nurse.

Finally, nursing is a demanding job. Nurses work long hours and often have an erratic, inconsistent schedule. From time to time, most nurses will start to feel as if they live at work. Practical gifts, such as a lunch tote or keychain, can help nurses with the daily grind.

If you know the nurse personally, such as she’s your friend or wife, you’ll have a better idea of what specific type of gift she’ll like or need. However, even a small token gift given to a nurse you don’t know very well will still be appreciated.

Final Thoughts

The best gifts for a nurse don’t have to be elaborate. A bracelet with a compassionate quote or even something silly like a rubber duckie is enough to show any nurse you understand and appreciate the sacrifices they’ve made to care for others. Using our gift guide above, you’re sure to find the right gift for any nurse you know. After all, giving is the best medicine of all!

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