A good friend of mine was recently accepted into a highly competitive nursing program, and I would really like to get her a nice gift, but at am at a loss as to what. Do any of you have unique or fun ideas? They don't necessarily have to be nursing related, but I thought something to help her along her way would be kind of neat. She already has stuff like a stethoscope etc., and gift cards aren't fun to give...

Here are my ideas and feel free to tell me if they are bad or good... she likes wine, so I was thinking a custom painted wine glass, or handmade glass wine stopper. If neither of those, a handmade pen and pencil set. What do you think?

Any other ideas would be welcomed and appreciated! Thanks!

This was just discussed on another message board I visit. One gift suggested was to get her a "girls day out". Pick her up take her shopping, go to lunch and go get a pedicure or massage. They said she would be stressed, on her feet a lot and this would help to relax her.

Another gift people suggested was a nice watch with a second hand.

here is the thread... http://www.twopeasinabucket.com/mb.asp?cmd=display&thread_id=3074351

Cleaning service.

With the way ive been feeling recently with school

A gift certificate to a psychiatrist....

But seriously as a student nurse I would have loved

Pen light

Bandage scissors

watch with second hand

Book bag

Or

A few set days to get me out of the house

meals that had already been made and just needed to be heated

Someone to watch my kids for a few hours

Nclex books

monogrammed lunch bags are available now.

One of my friends gave me a gold necklace with a caduceus and "RN" in the middle. It meant the world to me and I still wear it.

I like the pen and pencil set idea... when I was in school, I had a "lucky pencil" that I took every test with. The one time I didn't have it, I failed the test by one point!

My husband gave me a pink Littman stethoscope with an engraving. That was a wonderful gift :)

My mother has a shadow box that holds her nurses cap and a brass engraving of her school and year of graduation inside the box.

I always thought giving a shadow box with a blank brass plaque and a place for a nurses cap would be a great gift and an inspiration to encourage a student through nursing school.

It might sound kind of useless, but one of my favorite gifts is a letter opener I got from my brother. Since I'm a former Marine, it has the Eagle, Globe and Anchor on it, but obviously you could look for one with something nursing related or just have it engraved with a name and RN or a message.

Even though it's usually easier to tear an envelope open with my finger, I tend to use it if I'm opening mail at my desk at home.

A gift certificate for a day at the spa.....nursing school can be stressful! I got this when I graduated and loved it.