Nurses Week is the perfect opportunity to show the incredible nurses in your life how much you value their hard work and dedication. But finding the right gift can be tricky. Forget the generic pens and lukewarm pizza parties – this year, give gifts that truly resonate and express genuine appreciation. We’ve consulted with nurses themselves to curate a gift guide that highlights what they really want and what to avoid, ensuring your gesture is met with gratitude and not a polite eye-roll.
Nurse holding a thoughtfully wrapped gift, smiling genuinely
Have you ever received a beautifully wrapped gift only to find something disappointing inside? The same can happen with Nurses Week gifts. Well-intentioned gestures can miss the mark, leaving nurses feeling undervalued. Think back to the free, company-branded trinkets that often circulate – while perhaps meant to be kind, they often fail to convey true appreciation for the demanding and vital role nurses play.
After years of relentless dedication, especially navigating the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, nurses are vocal about prioritizing their well-being. Meaningful Gifts For Nurses Week should reflect this shift, focusing on self-care, relaxation, and practical items that make their demanding jobs a little easier. Let’s dive into what gifts will truly make a nurse feel seen, appreciated, and supported during Nurses Week and beyond.
Top Gift Ideas for Nurses Week: What Nurses Really Want
Nurses have spoken, and their message is clear: they value gifts that acknowledge their hard work and contribute to their mental health and overall well-being. Here are some highly recommended gifts for Nurses Week, directly inspired by nurses’ preferences:
Self-Care Essentials: Ria’s Whipped Shea Butter
Constantly washing hands and using sanitizers takes a toll on nurses’ skin. Marie Davis, a CNA and creator of Ria’s Whipped Shea Butter, understands this firsthand. Developed to combat her own eczema, this nourishing hand lotion is a thoughtful and practical gift to help nurses care for their hardworking hands. It’s readily available on Amazon, Walmart, and Etsy.
Practical Problem Solvers: Hair Tie Hub
Small conveniences can make a big difference in a nurse’s busy day. Britney Khuu, CNA, recognized the common struggle of misplaced hair ties and co-created the Hair Tie Hub. This portable holder is a brilliant and affordable gift for nurses with long hair, preventing those frustrating moments of searching for a hair tie during critical tasks.
The Gift of Recognition: Bonuses, Pay Raises, and PTO
For Rakiema Sellars-Pompey, RN and DNP candidate, true appreciation goes beyond trinkets. She emphasizes the need for tangible recognition of nurses’ value through bonuses, pay raises, and additional paid time off (PTO). These gestures demonstrate that administration truly understands and values the immense contributions nurses make to the healthcare system. “Nurses are the cornerstone of the hospital system,” Sellars-Pompey states, highlighting their indispensable role in patient care. Meaningful financial incentives and time off are powerful ways to show nurses they are genuinely respected and valued.
Support Systems: Transport Subsidies
Beyond individual gifts, systemic support can significantly impact nurses’ lives. McCarthy suggests transport subsidies as a way to alleviate financial burdens for nurses who rely on public transportation. This kind of support acknowledges the daily challenges nurses face and contributes to their overall well-being by reducing commuting costs.
Relaxation and Stress Relief: Aromatherapy and Self-Care Products
Giorgio Falcão, BSN, RN, advocates for gifts that promote relaxation and stress relief. Self-care gifts for nurses such as aromatherapy products and calming candles can help nurses de-stress after demanding shifts. A simple bottle of peppermint oil, for example, offers a soothing and practical way to ease tension headaches and promote a sense of calm.
Skincare Regimens: Toner and Cleanser
Extending self-care to skincare is another thoughtful approach. Gifting skincare products for nurses like a small bottle of toner or cleanser encourages nurses to prioritize their skin health, especially after long shifts and exposure to harsh environments.
Indulgent Self-Care: Massage or Facial Gift Cards
For a truly pampering gift, consider spa gift cards for massages or facials. These treatments are not just indulgent but therapeutic, helping nurses release physical tension and mental stress accumulated from the physically and emotionally demanding nature of their work. Massage and facial gift cards are excellent gifts for nurses week, offering a productive way to recharge and return to work feeling refreshed.
Mini Spa at Work: Chair Massagers
If spa gift cards are beyond the budget, a chair massager can provide a convenient and accessible way for nurses to relax during breaks. A unit-wide chair massager in the break room allows for quick stress relief. Just ensure it’s regularly sanitized for shared use.
Fueling Wellness: Gifts That Support Healthy Eating
Promoting healthy eating habits is another way to show you care. Providing healthy snacks or gifts that support meal prep, like gift cards to health food stores or meal kit services, demonstrates respect for nurses’ well-being and encourages healthy choices amidst demanding schedules.
Wardrobe and Tools Upgrade: Uniform Vendor Gift Cards
Gift cards to uniform vendors are incredibly practical, allowing nurses to purchase essential items like scrubs, badge reels, stethoscopes, and calipers. These one-stop shops cater specifically to nurses’ professional needs.
Professional Comfort: Quality Scrubs
While hospital-provided scrubs serve a purpose, investing in quality scrubs offers nurses comfort and professionalism. Brands like Moxie Scrubs, designed by nurses, prioritize both function and style, making them a step up from standard issue.
Foot Care Focus: Quality Shoes and Shoe Gift Cards
Quality shoes are paramount for nurses who spend long hours on their feet. Gift cards or discount codes to shoe suppliers allow nurses to choose footwear that meets their specific needs and preferences, ensuring comfort and support during demanding shifts.
Support for Long Shifts: Compression Socks
Compression socks are practical gifts that directly address the physical demands of nursing. Aim for 15-20 mmHg compression to provide relief for tired legs and even offer benefits for nurses who travel, helping to prevent blood clots on long flights.
Essential Equipment Upgrade: New Stethoscope
A stethoscope is a vital tool for nurses, and a high-quality one is a truly thoughtful and valuable gift. Personalize it with a name tag to avoid mix-ups in busy healthcare environments.
Personalized Touches: Monogrammed Items
Adding a personal touch elevates any gift. Reusable water bottles or coffee mugs personalized with a nurse’s name or monogram are thoughtful and practical, especially in shared break rooms where items can easily be misplaced. Nice quality, personalized items show extra care.
Mental Wellness Support: Journals and Quality Pens
In today’s healthcare environment, nurses carry significant emotional burdens. A gratitude journal paired with a fun-to-write-with pen is a gentle way to acknowledge their experiences and encourage self-reflection and processing. It communicates, “I see you, and I want to support your well-being.”
The Always Appreciated: Amazon Gift Cards
When indecision strikes, an Amazon gift card is a universally appreciated gift. It provides nurses with the flexibility to purchase exactly what they need, whether it’s personal items, groceries, or something for their home.
Gifts to Avoid Giving Nurses: Steer Clear of These
Just as important as choosing the right gifts is knowing what to avoid. Nurses have voiced their frustrations with certain types of gifts that can feel dismissive or out of touch. Here are gift-giving mistakes to avoid this Nurses Week:
Pizza and Ice Cream Parties: Outdated and Underwhelming
Rakiema Sellars-Pompey points out that break room pizza and ice cream parties can feel belittling. “We aren’t in grade school,” she emphasizes. Instead of these generic gestures, opt for gift cards that allow nurses to enjoy a proper, healthy meal.
Shift-Specific Freebies: Excluding a Large Portion of Staff
Offering Nurses Week perks only during day shift hours excludes night shift and weekend staff, missing a significant portion of the nursing team. Ensure gifts and appreciation efforts are inclusive and accessible to all staff members, regardless of their working hours.
Unhealthy Snack Overload: Consider Health and Wellness
Avoid gifting candy and other empty-calorie snacks. If providing food, opt for healthier options like nuts or protein bars that offer sustained energy and align with a focus on nurses’ well-being.
Basic Supplies as “Gifts”: These Should Be Standard Provisions
Hand sanitizer, badge covers, and pens are essential supplies that should be readily available to nurses year-round, not presented as a Nurses Week gift. Gifts should be something extra, not just basic necessities.
Company-Branded Promotional Items: Avoid Turning Nurses into Billboards
Sherry Williams, aka Nurse WOW, advises against company-sponsored items like lunch boxes, towels, or umbrellas emblazoned with the company logo. While nurses may appreciate their workplace, they don’t want to feel like walking advertisements. Focus on gifts that are genuinely for them, not promotional tools.
Thank You Postcards Featuring Executives: Missed Opportunity for Genuine Connection
Postcards featuring photos of nursing executives, while perhaps intended to be appreciative, can come across as impersonal and out of touch, especially to overworked nurses. Focus on more direct and meaningful expressions of gratitude.
Meet Our Contributors – Nurse Experts
Marie Davis, CNA
Marie Davis, CNA LinkedIn Profile
Marie Davis is the founder of Ria’s Beauty Collection, a skincare and haircare line born from her personal experience with eczema. Launched in 2015, Ria’s Beauty Collection is committed to giving back to the community through various charitable initiatives.
Giorgio Falcão, BSN, RN
Giorgio Falcão, BSN, RN LinkedIn Profile
Giorgio Falcão is a registered nurse and PMHNP candidate working at Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center in New York City since 2019. He is pursuing a master’s in nursing at Hunter-Bellevue School of Nursing and holds a BSN from CUNY School of Professional Studies.
Rakiema Sellars-Pompey, BSN, RN
Rakiema Sellars-Pompey, BSN, RN LinkedIn Profile
Rakiema Sellars-Pompey is a registered nurse with a BSN from 2009 and emergency nurse certification. A veteran of the Army, she is currently working towards her Doctor of Nursing Practice at the University of San Diego.
Sherry Williams, RN (Nurse WOW)
Sherry Williams, RN LinkedIn Profile
Sherry Williams, known as Nurse WOW, is a registered nurse specializing in hyperemesis treatment and preventative wellness. Nurse WOW Health & Wellness Services in Dallas offers holistic treatment programs and essential health services.
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