[WDWpixieRN]

On our last clinical day last year, we had a 1/2 day and then went to lunch. We paid for our instructor's lunch...we weren't a very organized group, so it was probably a bit uncomfortable for her the way we were throwing $$$ around the table at each other, lol....I think we forgot about a card!!

I DO think it should be based on how the group feels....I don't think anyone should feel it's required to participate or do something for an instructor that you didn't care for....

[charebec65]

As others have experienced, we had a half clinical day on the last day of clinicals. The second half we would usually go out to eat somewhere. After everyone ate, the instructor would do evals with us individually while the others chatted. We would then present a small gift which most would chip in a couple of bucks for. Also on the last day, we took in cookies, doughnuts, something like that, for the nurses and aides we worked with.

I bought my preceptor a pretty nice gift but she spent a lot of time teaching me a lot and got no extra pay through work for being my preceptor.

[onlyhope]

out of all my clinicals we only gave a gift to two instructors because they were exceptionally good instructors. it was never an expected thing and i never really thought of it as inappropriate.

[MySimplePlan]

We brought in a goodie tray this week for the nurses on our floor. They barely lifted their heads to acknowledge our presence, let alone thank us for the pastry. Yeah - I can't wait to pay for THAT again.

As for the instructor's gift, it bugs me. I can barely scrape together gas money some days to get to clinical. I don't see that many instructors go out of their way for the students...what does that mean? They're at clinical, they do their jobs with us, and we all leave. I've never gotten any extra help. She was lovely, but there was nothing extra there.

I've got a contract with my nursing school. I pay them, and they show me how to be a nurse. These end of clinical expenses confound me.

[colorado ER RN]

we did a group card and group gift, like one year we did a personalized nursing mug-she liked to drink coffee, something small that she could remember us by.

[HenryH0]

we always gave our instructors a gift at the end of clinical rotations but then again our school kind of set the bar on that one
the students would buy a gift for the unit, the college would buy a gift for the unit, the students would buy a gift for the instructor and the instructors would buy a gift for the guest speakers
in fact i had one clinical rotation where the instructor bought each one of us a little gift

[AllieRat]

I've only done it for my clinical instructors and its always a group gift. If the individuals want to chip in they are welcome too but I've never gone over $10 mostly its just a basket filled with goodies that are a particular fit to the instructor. For instance just finished my peds rotation and I put together a basket complete with coffee, a mug, and chocolate (our instructor is a choco/coffee nut).. It was a small jesture but it was enough to show our appreciation.. Now I never expect anyone to contribute and I say if they want they are welcome to but its not expected. Course we're talking at the most $1-2 each so that won't break the bank for most students. I try to bring goodies as well for the unit even though they are not always receptive and for the most part have been nasty IMHO to us as nursing students I get more respect at my job as an extern which is really sad.

Course have to add I only do it for those instructors that embody the type of nurse I'm striving to be! Enough of the damn "real world" already.. I'm so tired of nurses who use that as an excuse to substandard nursing care.