Nursing school graduaton gift ideas
April 12, 2024 11:45 AM Subscribe
My "baby" (mid-30s) sister is graduating nursing school soon! I want to get her a gift to mark the occasion but I am stumped. She already has a job lined up in Pediatrics, and in general is passionate about pediatrics as well as labor & delivery. She already has The Fancy Stethoscope, and I've already given her a set of personalized Leatherman Raptor medical shears. I will also be giving money, but want to give her something tangible, too. All ideas welcome!
Best answer: Fun badge stuff? A lot of the peds staff I work with are into kid friendly badge reels, have small fidget items on their badges, or have little "stethoscope buddies"/accessories.
posted by obfuscation at 12:17 PM on April 12 [3 favorites]
posted by obfuscation at 12:17 PM on April 12 [3 favorites]
Something for the kids? Stickers or temporary tattoos? Maybe a puppet that can talk to fearful kids?
posted by toucan at 1:10 PM on April 12 [1 favorite]
posted by toucan at 1:10 PM on April 12 [1 favorite]
I was gonna say cute scrubs. There’s some with cheerful kids patterns that my kids loved.
posted by St. Peepsburg at 1:17 PM on April 12 [1 favorite]
posted by St. Peepsburg at 1:17 PM on April 12 [1 favorite]
Before getting scrubs, I’d check to see if her future employer supplies them and/or requires specific colors.
posted by maleficent at 1:29 PM on April 12 [1 favorite]
posted by maleficent at 1:29 PM on April 12 [1 favorite]
Before getting scrubs, I’d check to see if her future employer supplies them and/or requires specific colors.
Sorry, yes, should've mentioned this, but many scrub brands do offer a range of colors to meet major employers' requirements.
posted by praemunire at 1:36 PM on April 12
Sorry, yes, should've mentioned this, but many scrub brands do offer a range of colors to meet major employers' requirements.
posted by praemunire at 1:36 PM on April 12
Best answer: Gift certificate for a fancy foot massage!
posted by rrrrrrrrrt at 2:07 PM on April 12 [1 favorite]
posted by rrrrrrrrrt at 2:07 PM on April 12 [1 favorite]
Best answer: My DIL has just finished nursing school, too, headed for NICU, so not too unlike your sister. Similar to rrrrrrrrrt's comment I've put this foot roller on a gift list for her (I keeping running gift lists for my nearest & dearest). Maybe a bunch of things foot-comfort related: the spa certificate, foot massager, foot cream, luxurious socks?
Nurses are always looking to write things down. I was in hospital for three months and saw them write on their hands, paper towels, whatever. I bought my DIL a wrist-strap that can be written on and erased, and while it works, she's not allowed to wear anything below her elbows. That might be a concern for your sister's practice, too, but a Rocketbook pocket notebook (eraseable) and Frixion pen might work.
In the Olden Days, the traditional gift for a graduating nurse was a nurse's watch, that pins to a scrub top and hangs upside down. Amazon has lots of them (search term "nurses's watch") from serious styles to cute. A pediatric nurse might like one of the cuter, kid-friendly styles.
posted by angiep at 3:10 PM on April 12
Nurses are always looking to write things down. I was in hospital for three months and saw them write on their hands, paper towels, whatever. I bought my DIL a wrist-strap that can be written on and erased, and while it works, she's not allowed to wear anything below her elbows. That might be a concern for your sister's practice, too, but a Rocketbook pocket notebook (eraseable) and Frixion pen might work.
In the Olden Days, the traditional gift for a graduating nurse was a nurse's watch, that pins to a scrub top and hangs upside down. Amazon has lots of them (search term "nurses's watch") from serious styles to cute. A pediatric nurse might like one of the cuter, kid-friendly styles.
posted by angiep at 3:10 PM on April 12
Nurses used to wear a watch, sans band, that they would pin on their chest area. It read upside down...They are still available, but don't know if they are still a thing.
posted by Czjewel at 3:32 PM on April 12
posted by Czjewel at 3:32 PM on April 12
Best answer: Fancy pen? Piece of jewelry? Offer to buy the diploma frame?
posted by raccoon409 at 3:53 PM on April 12
posted by raccoon409 at 3:53 PM on April 12
Best answer: Some further ideas:
Pens!! I love Zebra Gel Clip pens (I get them from jetpens.com) because they can clip onto my scrub pocket for easy access and they come in many colors (I like the practice of taking report in one color and then writing down updates in a different color, or different colors for subsequent days). Pens are ALWAYS disappearing, so many nurses won't treat themselves to nice pens, but they're so pleasant to have. A mid-tier pen is really the sweet spot here - a truly fancy pen will simply not get used because it's too nice, or will be lost/stolen immediately.
+1 to compression socks. Nice ones are kind of pricy but worth it. I also love the foot massager idea that others put forth.
Does she have a name label on her Fancy Stethoscope? There are lots of cute personalized ones available on Etsy! I don't have one but I want one.
I lived by my pediatric vital signs badge card during my peds clinical. Here's one example.
posted by mandanza at 4:32 PM on April 12 [2 favorites]
Pens!! I love Zebra Gel Clip pens (I get them from jetpens.com) because they can clip onto my scrub pocket for easy access and they come in many colors (I like the practice of taking report in one color and then writing down updates in a different color, or different colors for subsequent days). Pens are ALWAYS disappearing, so many nurses won't treat themselves to nice pens, but they're so pleasant to have. A mid-tier pen is really the sweet spot here - a truly fancy pen will simply not get used because it's too nice, or will be lost/stolen immediately.
+1 to compression socks. Nice ones are kind of pricy but worth it. I also love the foot massager idea that others put forth.
Does she have a name label on her Fancy Stethoscope? There are lots of cute personalized ones available on Etsy! I don't have one but I want one.
I lived by my pediatric vital signs badge card during my peds clinical. Here's one example.
posted by mandanza at 4:32 PM on April 12 [2 favorites]
A really good pair of shoes of her preference: Danskos, Hokas, On Cloud, etc. and a little fun retractable badge lanyard clip
posted by coppermoss at 6:25 PM on April 12 [2 favorites]
posted by coppermoss at 6:25 PM on April 12 [2 favorites]
Sleep eye mask, ear buds, lavender spray, nice pillow, white noise machine. Nurses need sleep!
posted by SyraCarol at 8:52 PM on April 12
posted by SyraCarol at 8:52 PM on April 12
Best answer: Does she have a well-made tote bag or backpack to take to and from work? If you search on Amazon for "nurse tote bag" you should find lots of options.
If you have a more substantial budget, Lo & Sons bags are lovely.
posted by champers at 3:05 AM on April 13 [1 favorite]
If you have a more substantial budget, Lo & Sons bags are lovely.
posted by champers at 3:05 AM on April 13 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Give her a home made gift certificate for any drug app she wants. I use the Davis' Drug Guide all the time (even at home), Unbound Medicine and Nursing Central are also part of the same group. You can look up side effects, contra-indications, half life times, etc. You may also want to ask her whether she would like you to pay for memberships to any National or State RN groups. She will need continuing education credits (which the hospital will likely cover), but the groups hold seminars, offer discounts of all kinds and look really good on a resume.
Also, Starbucks (or Dunkie's) giftcards and really good hand cream.
posted by dancinglamb at 10:12 AM on April 13 [1 favorite]
Also, Starbucks (or Dunkie's) giftcards and really good hand cream.
posted by dancinglamb at 10:12 AM on April 13 [1 favorite]
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posted by praemunire at 11:50 AM on April 12 [5 favorites]