[HoustonRN04]

Hi Everyone. OK.. I'm a new RN. I work in a MICU in Houston, Texas. I just love my job. I worked on the unit as a student, and now I'm orientating as a nurse. Yes, there are challenges, but the beauty of our unit is the team work.

ANYWAY (sorry, I just had to inform you of my excitement) my question is what is a good "gift" to give patients and/or families in the ICU? I work on Christmas, and I hope to bring a little Christmas joy to the unit that day. However, most patients are sedated, not to mention how stressed out the families are. Legally, are we able to give gifts? And so, what are good ideas? (Just something small...)

Please respond if you've heard of good stories, etc..

Happy to be serving as a new RN........ Joanna

[-Emma-]

I can't say that certain nurses have done this for their patient's, but when I came into work the other day, my patients' rooms had some decorations on the wall. They were outside by the room number and some up by the dry-erase boards on the wall at the foot of their bed. Some were decorated with bows. Or you could make or get a small ornament to hang on the wall.

You could let families visit during non-visiting hourse (with the explaination that it is only for that one day).

[gwenith]

Soap, deororant, NICE hair shampoo (you know the non-nit kind). I work in a public hospital and there is never anything like that (we do have soap but it is el cheapo as is the shampoo) but the often either Red Cross or one of the other charities will bring in little gifts of soap etc and they are much appreciated by staff as well as patients.