By Ariel Jacobs for Medelita
Whether its for a birthday, a holiday, or just a little something special to show someone that you care, here are some gift ideas for the nurse in your life! With gifts for every size budget, you will surely find something on this list that will put a smile on their face.
1. A Professional White Lab Coat
The symbolic white coat is no longer reserved for physicians! Though historically lab coats have only been worn by physicians, today more and more nurses are embracing high-quality medical lab coats to complete their professional look. With custom name and title embroidery, they can show off their nursing credentials and wear their white coat with pride. Opt for a lab coat made with performance fabrics, which will repel fluids, wick away sweat, and are generally lower-maintenance and have greater durability.
2. Personalized Nursing Scrubs
Nursing scrubs that get softer with every wash? I dare you to find a nurse who doesn’t dream of that. Scrubs are a wardrobe staple for nurses—they can never have too many! But these nursing scrubs are unparalleled in their comfort (crucial for 18 hour shifts), durability (can last over 100 washes without fraying or fading), and fit (purposeful tailoring is flattering and gives unrestricted movement). Add an extra special touch with personalized embroidery in fade-resistant thread!
3. Audiobook Subscription
Nurses are always on the go and don’t have as much time to do the things that they enjoy, such as pleasure reading. Give your loved one the gift of an Audible audio book subscription. These services will allow the nurse in your life to catch up on their summer reading list during their commute, while running errands, or doing chores.
4. A Sleek New ERKA Stethoscope
Every single handmade ERKA stethoscope is a unique masterpiece: elaborately polished and chrome plated by a master craftsman. Just like a set of personalized nursing scrubs or custom embroidered nursing lab coat, each of these stethoscopes can be personalized with an individual laser engraving or a customized membrane. For an extra special touch, you can also choose from a wide range of different tube colors an chest-pieces to render a nurse’s everyday life a little more colorful.
5. A Versatile Underscrub Tee
Most underscrub tees are meant solely to give you an added layer of protection under your scrubs, but not this one. The Core One Underscrub Tee is as versatile as it is soft and comfortable, making this the perfect gift for the nurse who needs to seamlessly transition from the hospital, to the grocery store, and even to the gym. The buttery-soft performance fabric is lightweight and wicks away moisture, and the reinforced seams ensure that this gift will work as hard as nurses do.
6. I Wasn’t Strong Like This When I Started Out: True Stories Of Becoming A Nurse
This book contains true narratives from nurses who remember the difficulties they encountered when they first entered the profession, and reflect upon what makes their career so rewarding and what gets them through their hardest shifts. Perfect for a nurse who might be feeling discouraged, the stories in the book will renew his or her personal strength and will remind them why they became a nurse in the first place—to help people.
7. Prescription Coffee Mug
All nurses need coffee, and a lot of it. This 12-oz mug is dishwasher & microwave safe and is sure to bring a laugh to the nurse who receives it. It looks like an oversized prescription bottle with the label full of detailed descriptions about coffee—sure to lift the mood in any hospital or private practice!
8. The Weeknight Survival Cookbook by Dena Irwin, R.D.
With very little free time to spare, it can be difficult and costly for someone in nursing to make tasty yet healthy meals for themselves throughout the week. A cookbook full of simple, nutritious recipes that can be made in 10 minutes is absolutely perfect for saving time and staying healthy.
9. FitBit
On a nurse’s busiest days they can end up walking miles and miles—give them the gift of being able to track that exercise! In such a demanding career, it can be difficult to factor in time for working out but a wearable device such as FitBit allows you to track how much activity you have actually done during the day. It also tracks your sleep and lets the nurse in your life monitor their own health data and stay motivated with their health.
10. Keurig Coffee Maker
Another time saver for those who are short on time, a Keurig machine is a must. Gift it with a box of K-Cups in their favorite brand of coffee, or get them a Keurig My K-Cup Reusable Coffee Filter so that they can make their preferred gourmet coffee in an easy-to-clean, reusable filter. This contraption will end up saving time and money!