Preceptor Gift Ideas?

Nurses General Nursing

Updated:   Published

I wanted to get some ideas from all of you. I just finished up my preceptorship last week and was really pleased with my new preceptor and the floor I was assigned. Everyone was so nice to me from the LPN's to the CNA's. I wanted to get something nice for both my RN and the other staff. As a RN, what would you like to have as a thank you? I thought about sending over pizza for lunch one day for the whole group, but, that's hard to do with all the different shifts. I thought about flowers too. Any ideas????

HollieRN

61 Posts

I just finished a clinical rotation and to celebrate, our whole group (10 of us) and our instructor went out for lunch. We all chipped in $2 or so, and one of the girls made an easter basket w/ chocolates and candies and stuff. We got her a card, and slipped in a picture of all of us in the lab (in our scrubs hehe) playing w/ one of the dummies ... It was hilarious. And she seemed pleased :)

Even if easter's passed, you could still do the chocolate and candy basket idea ... I don't know many people who would object to that ;)

Jenny P

1,164 Posts

Specializes in CV-ICU.

jfpruitt, a couple of lovely smelling roses or a thoughtful hand-written card for the preceptor and a bouquet for the whole staff (or a 1 lb. box of chololates for each shift) would be enough of a Thank You gift for this new floor for you.

If you go overboard; that may raise some suspicions or hostilities later if you have a problem with someone on the staff.

My PERSONAL opinion is that a handwritten note to the preceptor and a bouquet of daisies for the staff would be the perfect touch myself. A hand-written note takes more effort than most people want to take these days; it requires a personal effort that ready-made thank you cards don't have. Most hand-wriiten cards I have recceived over the years are saved because of the effort involved. And a small bouquet of daisies always seems so cheery to me.

I gave mine a BIG bottle of her favorite hand lotion, plus a card. A big popcorn can might be nice for the Unit.

I gave mine some hand lotion, a lip balm and some herbal shampoo in a pretty box, with a card with a nurse with angel wings I bought lots of candies for the floor and wrapped them up so they looked like flowers ... I hung about for the surprised and happy grins when they realised it was goodies instead

I gave my preceptor in intership a gift certificate for burger/ice cream shop. The amount of 25 dollars was just enough apparently to buy the entire family ice cream after a baseball game that her son was in. She seemed to appreciate it. As for the entire staff, chocolate is always appreciated. It is tough to have enough to cover all three shifts because goodies usually go really fast.

P_RN, ADN, RN

6,011 Posts

Specializes in ORTHOPAEDICS-CERTIFIED SINCE 89.

I precepted a lot of senior nursing students doing leadership. One of my favorite "gifts" was a little handmade nurse figurine that had grey hair and glasses. You don't see those every day.

One time I received a really ugly polyester scarf that looked like the K-Mart dollar sale. I still enjoyed having that student to precept. I didn't always get a gift, but most of the time I did get a card or personal note.

live4today, RN

5,099 Posts

Specializes in Community Health Nurse.

I gave both my preceptors a scrub top that they both loved! I also gave them a personal card. :nurse:

Rhoresmith

261 Posts

When my daughter was in the hospital in Chicago I had Swiss Colony send three boxes of pettifours one with 1 shift 2nd shift and 3rd shift on it. That way each shift had there own I made the one to day shift a little bigger because there are more people on days. So you can send one for each shift or they have some small individual boxes that would be great for each person. I know this is not the same thing but it would work for this situation also. I would also include a hand written card or note that is aways apreicated

Rhonda

susanmary

656 Posts

Write a personal note/card to your preceptor -- you don't have to give an expensive gift. Perhaps a candle, stationary/note cards, small gift certificate, some gourmet coffee, etc. I gave my preceptors a large candle from Yankee Candles. If you want to do something for the floor, even a large box of good-quality cookies -- something like Pepperidge Farm would be great. Keep it simple -- you could bake brownies or cookies.

LaVorneRN

145 Posts

Food is always acceptable-a nice touch to the breakroom decor(heehee) and shows everyone on the shift you precepted your appreciation for their support. Brownies, sandwiches(like from Subway), ice-cream n fixins(one tub, syrup, cherries, bananas) are some of my personal favorites from some of the new grads that have come my way. As an CNA this was a sweet gesture especially when you sometimes can't stop to eat. I have known preceptors to get gift certificates to the Body Shop, restaurants, figurines, nice pens, and frames. It depends on the relationship and how the experience was for you. The nurses I know who precept are worth their weight in gold and I wish they could be mine. Just make it fun and let it show your appreciation.

gizzy76

126 Posts

My preceptor in my rural rotation at the end of 3rd Year was male and I racked my brains out from the beginning of my 6 weeks to figure out what to get him. By the end I knew him well enough to know that he loved coffee so I bought him a fancy travel coffee mug for work and his fishing trips and I also baked his favorite type of cookies. He was quite pleased with the gift and kept thanking me all day for it.

For my final practicum preceptor I got her a scented candle with matching scented body wash and hand lotion that came in a small kit. I also added a fun coffee mug with her fave candies inside. She loved it.

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