Know a nurse and need to buy a gift for them? And then you think about it – what exactly is the best gift for nurses? Umm . . . I mean, what do you give them – pens, name badges . . . a blood pressure cuff? What exactly do they need?
Pressed For Time? Here Are Our Top 5 Recommendations:
Having a hard time even beginning to think of a gift idea, much less a gift you think they might like? It’s one of those quirky things. You sit down and think “I need to buy Angela something for her birthday – ooh, she’s a nurse. I should get her something . . . nursey.”
The nurse could be your friend, and in that case, you know that Angela likes Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (yeah, Angela’s a weirdo). So you could just give her a personal gift. But wouldn’t a nursing gift be cool? And what if the nurse you’re buying a gift for is just an acquaintance?
The ultimate question is, what is a good gift for a nurse? That’s what you do when you buy someone a work-related present right? Whether it’s for a birthday, holiday, anniversary, or promotion – when you give a work gift it’s usually something that they would use regularly on the job or something that makes their life easier.
That’s the approach we took with this ultimate guide to nursing gifts. We wanted to create a list of the best nursing gifts that are useful, relaxing, fun, funny – and most of all, are gifts that any nurse would love to get.
BEST GIFTS ON AMAZON FOR NURSES
What are the best gifts on Amazon for nurses? Funny you should ask. The gifts ideas you see stretching out below on the page all can be found on the Amazon marketplace. We’ll even provide you links so you can check them out yourself.
TOP 10 BEST GIFTS FOR NURSES
1. Bigox Disposable Face Mask (50 Pack)
Yes, the events of 2020 have taught us the importance of personal protection equipment – and how hard it can be to get sometimes. COVID-19 is still very much a reality and unfortunately, shortages of PPE are also a reality. Help your nurse out; buy her a box of facemasks. Even if her hospital has policies against using your own PPE, she can still use them to run to the store.
These 3-ply disposable masks with ear loops have a melt-blown polypropylene filter layer and a fittable nose clip. These are general-use masks and may not be usable in a hospital setting, but perfect for your nurse to use out in public.
- General use mask
- 3-ply design
- 4 colors
2. Keurig K-mini Coffee Maker
That’s right – coffee is life. Especially for nursing students, night shift nurses, or any nurse who needs that cup for the long haul. The Keurig K-mini coffee maker is the perfect single shot dose of caffeine to get your nurse going. It’s small and fits just about anywhere but still brews a 6 – 12 oz cup of coffee.
- Only 5 inches wide
- Makes 6 – 12 oz cups of coffee
- Travel mug friendly
- Compatible with a reusable filter
3. Personalized 22oz Nurse Tumbler
Keep your iced tea cold or coffee hot with this personalized nurse-themed 22-oz tumbler. A perfect add-on if you’re getting them a Keurig. Put your nurse’s name or a touch of daily inspiration with a personalized print which you can enter when you buy it. The tumbler is double-walled, vacuum-sealed stainless steel – so it’ll take daily abuse while doing one the most important jobs for a nurse – guarding the coffee.
- 22 ounces
- Stainless-steel
- Double-walled
- Lid and straw
- Personalized name or word
4. Nurse Water Bottle
Wonder why you always see nurses with water bottles? Staying hydrated is an absolute must on long shifts because dehydration will ruin your workday all around. Keep your nurse properly hydrated with this premium, BPA-free bottle with any easy to drink from Chug Cap and inspirational 360-degree design Nurse: definition graphic.
- BPA-free
- Chug Cap
- Leakproof
- Ice guard
- Carry loop
- Made in the USA
5. Compression Socks
If you didn’t know, compression socks are a nurse’s secret weapon. For anyone on their feet 12, 14, or 16 hours at a time, compression socks are a must-have piece of gear. Providing gentle, but firm, constant pressure to the feet, ankles, and calves – compression socks help to increase blood flow and reduce pain and swelling. No nurse can have too many pairs of compression socks.
- 15 – 20 mmHg compression (the “sweet spot’)
- Knee-high
- Breathable fabric
- All sizes
- Lots of colors and patterns
6. LifeAround2Angels Bath Bombs
It’s hard to unwind from a long, stressful shift or week of clinical and non-stop studying. Help your nurse to relax and unwind with a set of relaxing bath bombs. The LifeAround2Angels bath bomb set – is the bomb – with 12 different handmade Fizzies, Shea Butter, and Cocoa Butter bath bombs. Not only great for relaxation, but these little balls from heaven also help to moisturize and revitalize your skin.
- 12 different bath bombs
- Shea Butter, Cocoa Butter infused
- Aromatherapy scents
- Highest-quality ingredients
- Made in California, USA
7. Bandaid Badge Reel
Everyone needs a reel for their ID badge from nursing students APRNs. Get them a cute badge reel that looks like a little emoji Bandaid. What a great way to make a first impression on little patients too or even adult patients with a sense of humor. Made from quality materials to stand up to abuse with a springy, retractable design.
8. J.R. Watkins Hand Cream
There are no solid numbers on how many times nurses wash their hands daily, but the average is around 200 times. That’s a lot of washing – it also means that nurses’ hands can often get dry and cracked. That’s no good. Help your nurses keep their hands healthy, supple, and soft with a nice hint of lavender. J.R. Watkins hydrating hand moisturizer has shea butter, cocoa butter, and avocado oil. All ingredients are natural, USA sourced, and cruelty-free. Produced in the USA.
- 3.3 oz
- Shea Butter, Cocoa Butter, Avocado Oil
- Lavender scent
- Cruelty-free
- USA made
9. Personalized Stethoscope Charm
Give your nurse a little flair for their stethoscope with a hand-made personalized charm. Sure you could get them a stethoscope name tag with their name on it, but these charms have a lot more . . . um, charm. Handmade by TheSilverDiva you can choose between several designs and put your nurse’s name on it. Usually ships in 1 – 3 weeks.
- Unique, handmade design
- Hand stamped
- Made from aluminum
- Measures ½” wide
10. Nurse Coloring Book (Adult Version)
Coloring books aren’t just for kids anymore – this one especially. This coloring book is full of nursing- and adult-only dark humor. The name may give it away “This Nurse Needs A Mother F@cking Nap”. Fun, irreverent, foul-mouthed, and funny, this coloring book is a great way to unwind, destress, and lower your anxiety. So that means they’re perfect for nursing students and nurses alike. Just be careful the person you aren’t gifting it to is sensitive to swear words because there’s a few of them in there.
- 8.5” x 11” page size
- Large format
- Stress-relieving patterns
- Printed single-side
BEST GIFTS FOR NIGHT NURSES
Did you know the legend of the vampire wasn’t actually based on some Romanian dude named Vlad the Impaler – no, it comes from the long history of night nurses. Yeah, ok – kidding aside, night nurses live nocturnal lives and that means sleeping in their coffins while everyone else is running around in a sunlit world. Here are some gifts perfect for night nurses to help make sure they get the sleep of the dead.
11. Blackout Curtains
When your bedtime is 8 am and that pesky sun insists on beaming happily into your bedroom, blinds aren’t going to cut it. Banish the sun to forever night with a good, thick, and sturdy set of blackout curtains. Sleeping with any kind of outside light prevents you from getting a full rest, plus, the curtain to some extent can help mute outside sounds – like kids squealing.
- Curtains only, not pole
- Set of 2 curtains
- Blocks up to 99% of UV light
- 42” x 63”
- Machine washable
12. White Noise Generator
There’s nothing easier to fall asleep to than the sound of white noise – in this case whooshing air. White noise mimics the sound of the mother’s heartbeat in the womb, producing calmness, relaxation, and drowsiness. Plus it helps drown out the sounds of the outside world. The Yogaslee Dohm Classic is perfect for night nurses, or anyone who has trouble falling asleep. Small, easy to take with you, and simple to use.
- Original sound machine
- Noise-canceling
- Personalized sound experience
- Good for sleep or privacy
13. Sleep Mask
There’s nothing better than an eye mask for the total darkness you need to fall asleep quickly. But the MZOO Sleep Eye Mask is much more than a little piece of frilly fabric with a headband. This sleep mask has a thick, soft memory foam pad to cradle and reduce the strain on your eyes while blocking out the light. In fact, there’s no actual pressure on your eyes at all.
- Zero eye contact design
- Soft memory foam
- Blocks all light
- Quality materials
BEST GIFTS FOR NURSING STUDENTS
14. Stethoscope
The one piece of equipment that every nurse and nursing student needs is a stethoscope. And not just any stethoscope, but a good, reliable one like the 3M Littmann Lightweight II. You get the quality of the leader in stethoscope manufacture, Littman with a tunable diaphragm, and next-generation design all at a great price. It has everything that a nursing student needs plus having the performance to take them into their first job.
- Tunable diaphragm
- Latex-free
- Comfortable ear-tips
- Lightweight design
15. NCLEX Study Guide
Every nurse has to take the NCLEX exam at the end of nursing school to become a licensed nurse. And every nursing student has to study like crazy to pass it. The best way to prepare for the NCLEX exam is with a good NCLEX study guide like the top of its class Saunders Comprehensive NCLEX Review. It’s got all the questions, all the quizzes, and all the test-taking strategies your nursing student needs to know to ace the NCLEX the first time.
- 5,200 practice questions
- 75-question exam
- Audio summaries
- Access to online resources
BEST GIFTS FOR FUTURE NURSES
Getting a gift for a nurse-to-be? As we said, there’s a lot of gear that new nurses need for the job – and that can add up. So we’ve got some basic gear ideas that are good for all future nurses, plus a little piece of inspiration to help them along.
16. Scrubs
Nurses can never have enough pairs of scrubs and chances are your future nurse doesn’t have a lot of extra pairs yet. Help them out and buy them a set or two of scrubs. Barco’s Greys Anatomy scrubs are professional, durable, and stylish – plus they’ve got quite a few colors to choose from. Perfect for any nurse, male or female.
- V-neck design
- 77% polyester, 23% rayon
- Moisture-wicking
- Comfortable
- Drying
17. Nursing Bag
Every nurse will need a nursing bag. This bag, the Nurse Mates Ultimate Bag is designed for nurses by nurses but can pull double duty in the classroom or the hospital. It’s got tons of pockets and lots of storage but isn’t bulky. It’ll hold all your gear and then some. Lots of colors to choose from – used by nurses across the country.
- 13 x 19 x 14 inches>
- Lightweight
- Sturdy nylon design
- Shoulder strap and handles
BEST GRADUATION GIFTS FOR NURSES
18. EKG Necklace
Give your nursing school graduate a gift with a motivational message. The EKG Heartbeat necklace from Quan jewelry is the perfect choice, with three metal tones to choose from and an awesome inspiring message.
- Three tones: silver, rose gold, gold
- Inspiring message
- Perfect for a new nurse
19. Crocs Bistro Unisex Work Clogs
Sure, giving shoes is kind of a hard gift, since you have to try them on, but with the Crocs Bistro Work Clog, chances are if you know their size it’ll be fine. There’s a reason so many nurses wear clogs, and Crocs clogs in particular. They’re comfortable, slip-resistant and easy to clean. Grab them a white pair or if it won’t clash with uniform regulations, some with a little more color.
- Good for men and women
- Crocs Lock slip-resistant tread
- Pivoting heel straps
- Certified comfort
- 1.3-inch heel
BEST GIFTS FOR NEW NURSES
What does that freshly-minted RN need? Chances are they’ve got a lot of their gear already, so we’ve given you some gear plus some useful fun that’ll help them attack their new job on the run with a sense of humor.
20. Quick-Reference Cards
Yeah, all that stuff your nurse learned in nursing school unless he’s got a photographic memory, it doesn’t hurt to have some help. Give them the NRSNG Scrubcheats quick-reference cards. This laminated deck is small enough to fit in your pocket while being filled with essential information on everything nursing.
- Comprehensive information
- 56 color-coded cards
- Laminated
- Lifetime warranty
21. Oh Sh*t, I Almost Killed You
All the little things they forgot to teach in nursing school, plus some pretty hilarious stories. This read by Sonja Schwartzback is chock full of not only humor but useful information that can only be learned on the job. Give your nurse a headstart plus a good laugh.
- Part how-to guide, part comedic memoir
- Written by a nurse and blogger Sonja Schwartzback
- 166 pages
BEST RELAXATION & SELF-CARE GIFTS FOR NURSES
Self-care and relaxation gifts are always a hit, whether you’re a hard-working nurse or not. It’s hard to cleanse all the stress a nurse builds up on those long shifts. Give them the tools they need to relax when they finally get home.
22. Back And Neck Massager
Who’s got the time to go get a professional massage – never mind the cost, the tipping and the annoying music. With the Naipo Shiatsu Massager, your nurse will be able to get a full Shiatsu massage for their neck, back, shoulders, legs and feet. That’s about everything. All the knots and all the stress just worked away – all they’ll have to do is hold it in place and enjoy the ride.
- Adjustable intensity
- 8 deep-kneading Shiatsu massages
- 3-D rotating rollers
23. Aromatherapy Diffuser
While your nurse is on the couch with her Shiatsu massager, she could enjoy the soothing scent of lavender and chamomile from the Pure Daily Care Ultimate Aromatherapy Diffuser with 10 essential oils. Soft puffs of relaxation emanate from this ultrasonic diffuser with 7 ambient light settings and quiet operation – ensuring maximum relaxation.
- Ultrasonic diffuser
- 10 aromatherapy oils
- 7 ambient light settings
- Scent recipe guide
BEST FITNESS GIFTS FOR NURSES
Staying fit isn’t easy with a physically demanding job like nursing. There’s not a lot of time in the day, so help your nurse get in shape with these two fitness packs. With a yoga set for balance, concentration, and stress relief and a kettlebell set for toning and fat burning, they can do it all in the comfort of their home without having to spend time at the gym.
24. Complete Yoga Set
The Syntus 9-in-1 Yoga set gives you everything to get your Down Dog and Warrior One on. You get a strap with 12 loops, 2 EVA foam blocks, 4 resistance bands, and instructional books for Yoga, Pilates, and stretching. Not only do you work your physical body with yoga, you’ll also help to relieve a lot of work stress from long shifts.
- Full kit
- Strap, blocks, and resistance bands included
- Instructional booklet
25. Bodyweight Workout Cards
You don’t need to buy an expensive gym membership so your nurse can get in shape. Bodyweight exercises are one of the safest and most effective ways to sculpt and tone muscle while blasting fat. The Bodyweight Exercise Card Deck lets you deal yourself out a full hand of punishing full-body workouts for beginners to advanced levels. Best part – you can do them anywhere.
- 50 cards
- Whole-body exercises
- Easy to use
- Use anywhere, anytime
BEST INSPIRATIONAL GIFTS FOR NURSES
The passion and dedication nurses have for their jobs is inspiring to us all. Let them know with an inspirational gift that shows them how much we value them.
26. Inspirational Bracelet
Get your nursing school graduate an inspiring yet sassy bracelet that says “Do no harm, but take no sh#t”. Made from surgical-grade stainless steel it is hypoallergenic and nickel free. It’ll be something she loves to wear and will definitely remember.
- Surgical steel
- Hypoallergenic
- Funny inspirational message
BEST GIFT BASKETS FOR NURSES
There’s nothing better than a great gift basket – whether it’s all the bath and body stuff for a DIY home spa treatment or a basket full of goodies that you can’t help snacking on. We’ve got two great gift basket ideas that any nurse, nursing student, or sentient human will love.
27. Home Spa Treatment
This gift basket goes way beyond bath bombs. The Spa Luxetique gift basket is everything your nurse needs to soak, scrub, and soothe away all the grime and stress sweat of a long day at the hospital. With bath bombs, body lotions, bath oils, bubble baths, and more, all with a relaxing lavender scent, who needs an expensive spa.
- 10 items included
- Includes bath bombs, hand wash, hand cream, shower gel, body lotion, body butter, bath salts
- Body puff and woven bag included
28. Awesome Snacks & Munchies
Oh, we hate to promote eating unhealthy snacks laden with calories and high-fructose corn syrup, but mmmmmmm . . . Rice Krispies Treats. The CraveBox Care Pack is chock-full of all the sinful little goodies that you know you shouldn’t eat, but are going to anyway. A great gift for a nurse for any kind of occasion – but you might want to buy them those bodyweight workout cards so they can work off the calories.
- 45 treats
- Includes: Cheez-its, Rice Krispy Treats, Chex Mix, Tootsie Pops, Pringles, Oreos, and more
BEST UNIQUE GIFTS FOR NURSES
If you’re looking for a unique gift for your nurse, we’ve got something that they’ve probably never seen before.
29. Medical Dictionary Art Set
These 8 x 10 images from vintage anatomical illustrations are both striking and beautiful. Flowers growing out of a heart, skull or lungs on a background of heavy medical jargon provides a stark counterpoint to the color of these beautiful prints. Anyone would love to have these prints, not just nurses.
- Handmade artwork
- 8 x 10 standard frame size
- Beautifully rendered
30. My Quotable Patients Journal
Do you have a nurse friend who’s always telling you outrageous patient stories – like that one that turned to them when they took off their shirt and said . . . whoa, can’t finish that story here. But maybe your nurse friend can. If they have a bit of the writer in them, try giving them the My Quotable Patients journal so they can record the hilarity.
- Beautifully made
- 108 large, roomy pages
BEST THANK YOU GIFTS FOR NURSES
What’s the best way to say thank you to a nurse? Nurses care for so many people day in and day out. They deserve a little “thank you” and a lot of respect for what they do. Here are two great ways to show your appreciation to a nurse.
31. Blankets And Hugs Kit
This gift kit is like receiving a continuous hug you can wrap around you all day long. Pamper your nurse with warm comfort and relaxation with this 5-piece blanket, neck pillow, eye mask and socks combo pack. Positive vibes all around.
- 5-piece set: blanket, neck pillow, eye mask, socks, tote bag
- Super soft microfiber
- Machine washable
32. Chocolate Caramel And Crunch Gift Basket
Yeah, this is the second unhealthy food item recommended on our list. So what? There’s no better way to say thank you to your hard-working nurse or nursing student than to give them something delicious to eat like chocolate-dipped pretzels and caramel corn.
- Handmade chocolates and caramel corn
- White chocolate and dark chocolate pretzels
- Chocolate almonds
- Ghirardelli chocolate squares
BEST CUTE GIFTS FOR NURSES
It’s hard to choose the best cute gifts – there are too many choices and cute is such a subjective term. But we did find two items that made us say awww, more than once.
33. Cute Socks
Yes, these socks are super cute – I mean just look at the ones with the Corgi print – aww, little guy. But, these socks just aren’t knee-highs with a cute print – they’re also compression socks, which we listed above. That makes them perfect for working at the hospital too. They give a firm compression, suitable for people on their feet all day of 20 – 30 mmHg.
- 4 pack
- Medical-grade compression socks
- Knee-high length
- Lightweight, breathable fabric
34. Cute Cartoon Nurse Pens
Aw, so cute – these pens have little cartoon nurse toppers on them. What more needs to be said? You get 10 pens, each with its own little character made out of polymer clay, which is also molded to the pen. Write with black ink – being that cute, you’d think they all wrote in rainbow sparkles.
- 10 pens
- Cartoon nurse characters
- Black ink
ESSENTIAL NURSING GEAR MUST-HAVE GIFTS
There are just some things you need every day. An essential item. Essential nursing gear isn’t flashy, cute, or fun. But it gets the job done day in and day out. Here’s a couple of essential nursing gear ideas that live in any nurse’s bag.
35. Trauma Shears
Sometimes you gotta cut stuff – like bandages, tape, and clothing. A good set of shears is a staple in every nurse’s kit. The Madison Supply 7.5” shears have premium fluoride-coated non-stick steel with a blunt tip, impact-resistant handles and they’re fully autoclavable. Also comes with pink handles.
- Premium trauma shears
- Non-stick coating
- Autoclavable
36. Nursing Clipboard
When you got a lot of charting to do, you need a good reliable clipboard. This clipboard from Tribe RN has not only a sturdy flat surface to write on with a spring clip to hold your charts in place; it also has 1” of internal storage and a very handy medical cheat sheet and gives you access to an online resource library – Bonus!!
- Full-size medical clipboard
- 1” internal storage
- Spring clip
- Medical cheat sheet
- Online resource library
BEST GEAR ACCESSORIES GIFTS
Sometimes it’s the little things that can make a big difference in organization and time management. To help keep all your nurse’s pens, thermometers, shears, etc. easily accessible so they don’t have to fumble through their pockets we’ve got a pocket organizer. To keep them on track we’ve got a great nursing watch.
37. Pocket Organizer
There are lots of little things that nurses have to carry around with them daily. And there’s nothing more frustrating than having to search through your nursing pockets to find your scissors while you’re trying to take a reading on a patient. This handle little organizer fits into most bag pockets. And while a bit wide for scrubs pockets, it can fit into a lab coat’s pocket.
38. Nursing Watch – Women’s – Men’s
Nurses don’t just wear wristwatches to know how long it’s been since they’ve last eaten. Nurses use watches to track and record patient vitals, administer medication, and for documentation. Give your nurse a great watch that meets uniform regulations, is sturdy and isn’t so expensive that they won’t have to worry about messing it up.
The model here for the women is the Casio LRW200H-7BVCF.
- White
- 12-hour and 24-hour indices
- Round dial, bi-directional bezel
- Water-resistant
For the men, we’ve got the Casio Ana-Digi Solar in white.
- Solar power
- 12-hour display
- Digital clock with alarm, timer, stopwatch
- Water-resistant
BEST SMALL GIFTS FOR NURSES
A gift doesn’t have to be big to have meaning – and usefulness. Here are two small gifts for any nurse that they both need and will love.
39. Badge Reel
Another must-have piece of gear for any nurse is the retractable badge holder. It keeps your ID badge secure, visible, and available for easy access while also keeping it out of the way. This offering from MHERE has great choices of designs and colors.
- 1 ¼”
- 25-inch line
- Serrated alligator clip
- Lightweight, strong design
40. Nurse-Themed Starbucks Gift Card
Hey, maybe you forgot and ran out of time or maybe you just don’t know what to buy. But you know that nurses love coffee and Starbuck definitely sells them some java juice. Get them a gift card that says “Totally Awesome Nurse”
- 25, 35, or $50 amounts
- Or can enter any amount you choose
BEST GIFTS FOR MALE NURSES
Men, we didn’t forget about you. And hey, don’t know about you, but there’s nothing wrong with dropping a bath bomb in the water every now and again then finishing up with a little hand cream. But what we’ve got for our guy nurses today are three great ones.
41. Beard Care Kit
Times have changed and a beautiful chin of hair is all the rage. Male nurses often are allowed to have beards, provided they are neat, clean, and short. Help your murse take care of his whiskers with this awesome complete beard care kit.
- Shampoo
- Beard growth oil
- Beard balm
- Conditioner
- Comb
- Brush
- All organic and natural ingredients
42. Tactical Pen
Nurses need pens for all that charting they’ve got to do. Why not chart with a pen that looks badass and can take out an unruly patient (not that they’d ever do that). This model from Smith & Wesson is made from aircraft-grade aluminum, is refillable, and can be used for self-defense. Great for EDC (every day carry)
- Made from aircraft aluminum
- Refillable
- Can be used as a self-defense tool
43. Murse T-shirt
The Man. The Myth. The Legend. Men getting it done in the nursing world are a growing force. Show them they respect they deserve with this funny nursing T-shirt for men only.
- 5 colors
- Sizes up to 3XL
- 100% cotton or 90% cotton, 10% polyester
BEST PRACTICAL GIFTS FOR NURSES
44. Silicone Wedding Band – Women – Men
It’s great to celebrate your better half with your wedding band – but at work, it can be a hazard or risk getting lost. A diamond can snag and rip a rubber glove. You may take your ring off to wash your hands then knock it into the drain or walk away and forget about it. Give your nurse a practical, silicone band they can wear on the job.
Women’s
Men’s
- Safe
- Hypoallergenic
- Flexible silicone
- Breakaway design
45. Nursing-Themed Hair Elastics
Hey, cute and practical. If you’ve got long hair, you’ve got to keep it out of the way when you’re in the middle of nursing it up. Keep your locks in check with these easy to wear elastics with cute nursing prints. Very sporty and doesn’t pull hair or knot up.
- 8 Nursing-themed elastics
- 5” circumference
- Easy to wear
BEST CHRISTMAS GIFTS FOR NURSES
When ‘Tis the holiday season and it’s time for gift-giving, it’s easier to justify a larger gift. We’ve got two great Christmas gift ideas that are just right for any nurse.
46. Fitbit
Did you know that nurses walk as many as 4 miles per shift? That’s a lot of steps. And what better way to help your nurse keep track of all that physical activity than a new Fitbit and activity tracker. So many options with a built-in GPS, heart rate, sleep and swim tracking it can do more than just monitor steps. It’s also so clever when you link it to your phone.
- GPS
- Heart Rate, sleep, swim tracker
- Play music with Spotify
- Up to 7-day battery life
47. Cell Phone Sanitizer
Cell phones are disgusting. Ever seen the studies of how many bacteria are on your average cell phone? No – it’s more than a toilet. Nurses use their cell phones at work. And they’re around sick people all day. And touching their phones. Add that to all the normal cooties and eww. Give them the gift of a clean phone with the PhoneSoap 3 UV Smartphone Sanitizer. Uses UV light to kill 99% of the stuff living on your phone.
- UV light sanitizer
- Fits any phone
- Will also sanitize anything that will fit inside, smart watches, keys, earbuds
BEST PERSONALIZED GIFTS FOR NURSES
A gift is always better when it’s personalized – I mean, it’s got your name on it. Nice! Give them a gift that’s all their own with a great personalized gift like these.
48. Stethoscope Id Tag
Not only a cheery introduction but keeping other nurse’s grubby hands off their stuff is what this personalized stethoscope ID tag is all about. With a cute EKG Pink heart logo and personalization with your nurses’ name, this memorable gift is one they’ll use every day.
- Personalized name
- Available in 1 ½” and 1” size
- Easy to clean
- Plain, cap, rope, or bling bezel choices
BEST FUNNY GIFTS FOR NURSES AND NURSING STUDENTS
No group of people anywhere loves a good – and dark – laugh than working nurses. When you’ve had as many different types of things spilled on you and your retinas burned by things no human should ever see, you’ve got to learn to laugh. Here’s a couple of gifts to tickle your nurse’s funny bone.
49. Coffee & Wine: Before and After Patients
The perfect bookends to a nurse’s day: coffee to start, wine to finish. This clever coffee mug and wine glass combo will cover your nurse’s full day of drinking needs from a nice Columbian coffee to an oaky cab.
- One coffee mug
- One stemless wine glass
- Dishwasher safe
50. Organ Donor Lunch Tote
LOL – nobody’s going to touch that one in the refrigerator. The organ donor lunch tote is both useful and hilarious. Give one to your nursing student, nurse to be or experienced veteran so they can transport their lunch to transplant into their tummies.
- Foam-insulated waterproof lining
- Keeps hot food hot and cold food cold
- The size of a 6-pack of soda
- Not actually for transporting human organs (LOL)
Well, whew!! That’s it. 50 great gifts that any nursing student, recent grad, new nurse, or one that’s seen it all would love to get for any occasion.
How To Gift: Here’s A List Of Gift Giving Tips
What? There are rules for giving a gift? No way – I mean, I’m the one giving the gift – they should just be thankful, right? Not necessarily.
Giving a gift is as old as the first caveman giving his friend a slice of roasted meat. Even animals get into gift-giving – ever heard of crows or ravens leaving presents? (although their motives are questioned)
But when we give a gift, you don’t just have to think about whether or not the recipient is going to just absolutely love it – you have to think of the significance, effect, and perceived need to reciprocate. So we’re going to give you a quick list of gift-giving tips to make sure you give the right gift, in the right way at the right time. So first off, let’s talk about some considerations:
How To Find The Best Gift For A Nurse: 5 Questions To Ask
1. Is It Meaningful?
What does it mean for a gift to have meaning – to be meaningful? If you’re giving a gift to a friend, it’s easy to find gifts that are meaningful, for example, you know your friend loves gourmet teas – so you buy her a bag of Darjeeling #3 and a teapot.
Even if you don’t know someone, well – or even at all – making your present sincere, giving thought to what they may need or want can also make your present meaningful.
Plus, just adding a quick personal note instantly adds meaning to your gift.
TIP: Pay attention to upcoming events (birthdays, graduations), holidays, appreciation days, and awareness days
2. Is It Useful?
Would your gift be useful to the person you’re giving it to? Will it make their life easier? The great thing about giving a gift to a nurse is that they have so much gear, clothing, and tools they use on the job. You’ve got lots of choices of useful items from nursing clipboards to stethoscopes.
3. Is It Relevant?
Is your gift relevant to the reason you’re giving it? You’ve got lots of reasons to give a nurse a gift: birthdays, graduation, celebrating a new job, an engagement, pregnancy, birth, promotion, etc.
New gear is perfect for someone in nursing school, a recent grad, or a brand-new nurse. For a veteran nurse, you may want to go the other route and get something for them like a spa gift basket to help them relax and decompress.
4. Is It Creative?
Gift cards are nice – and useful, but they don’t rank very high on the creativity scale. Find something quirky, unique or not your average thing. Don’t be afraid to take a chance on a gift that’s off the beaten path.
Maybe you have a streak of creativity yourself. Why not make some DIY nursing gifts of your own?
5. Is It Appropriate?
There’s nothing that could be read into giving a nurse a personalized badge reel. But nurses have a stranger sense of humor than civilians. Their brand of humor can be a bit different. So if you want to dive into some nurse humor with a snarky calendar or T-shirt, you might not want it to be a work gift.
Also, take into consideration that other people may not share the same holidays as you – while it doesn’t come up too often, it’s still good to be aware of.
Tips On Buying Your Gift:
1. Make A Budget
It never hurts to make a budget when buying your gift. Make a budget of say $50, and stick to it. Don’t go over your set budget.
2. Pay Attention
We mentioned it above, but a great way to ensure the gift you give to your nurse is meaningful, relevant, and appropriate is to pay attention. Birthdays, appreciation days, graduations, promotions, holidays, awareness months, etc.
3. Make It About Them
Find a way to personalize your gift. The easiest way is to match their gift with something they like – say someone who likes cats and you get them cat-themed scrubs. Or you could personalize your gift by having it engraved or monogrammed.
4. Consider The Return
It is common both in human nature and certain cultures that if you are given a gift, you have to give a gift in return. It’s called the concept of reciprocity. If you think that the person you’re giving a gift to will feel the need to return the gesture, don’t make it too difficult on them by buying them an expensive, extravagant gift.
5. Gifts For All
Sometimes giving gifts in a public, office setting – say a hospital or clinic, giving a gift to one person can get awkward if nobody else is getting one. Or if only a couple of people get one from you.
Consider group gifting – giving everyone the same or similar gifts. You can dial back your budget a bit and get everyone a little something.
Group gifting is perfect for the holidays.
What Is The Best Gift To Give A Nurse?
When you’re talking about the best gift to give a nurse – it’s really about giving someone a work-related gift. But nursing is much more than a job – it’s a lifestyle. So there’s a lot of gifts for nurses that go way beyond a great set of pens or a Fitbit.
What you have to consider is that nursing is a stressful, tiring job that has shifts as long as 14 – 16 hours of being on your feet, on the go without getting a second to sit down much less grab lunch.
Sure it’s a hard job – but nurses are passionate about what they do. And you’ll see this come out in some of the nursing humor you see online.
So let’s look at the top categories of gifts that are perfect for any nurse:
Gear
Stethoscope, thermometers, badges, scrubs, pens, blood pressure cuffs – the list is endless when it comes to the gear nurses use on the job. New gear is always a good go-to, especially for nursing students and new nurses.
Self-Care
Yeah, nurses deal with a lot of stress, long hours, irregular shifts, and difficult patients. That’s why self-care items like bath bombs, aromatherapy oils, back massages, foot cream, and anything that’s going to help them relax and feel more human is just what the nurse ordered.
Dark Humor
Yeah, nurses have a dark sense of humor and they love gallows humor. It tends to happen when you’ve seen and done as much as they have. From coffee mugs that say “I Will Stab You” with a syringe to books with titles like “Oh Sh*t, I almost killed you” there’s plenty of funny nurse gift ideas to choose from. Just make sure that if it’s work-related that it’s appropriate.
Time Savers
Did I mention that nurses work long, irregular shifts, and often don’t have a lot of time down that isn’t spent trying to sleep or de-stress? If you can find a gift that saves them precious time – like a Keurig coffee maker or a meal prep container set – you’ll be making your nurse’s life much easier.
No matter which one you choose, make it meaningful and heartfelt – and let your nurse know how much they mean to you.