Preceptors: your favorite thank you gift

Nurses Relations

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Specializes in critical care.

I've been off orientation for a little while now and still haven't done a formal "thank you" gesture for my preceptors. I was thinking about giving them a Christmas gift with a thank you card.

They are both female, one with teenaged kids, the other with an infant and toddler. Both have been in nursing roughly 4-5 years, I think. One is an ADN, the other is recently a BSN, which I believe is a source of pride and achievement for her. Neither is overly flashy or into necessarily feminine things.

I think they'd enjoy something practical that might be personalized somehow, and I'd rather stay away from jewelry (just because I know what it's like to be a picky jewelry person receiving jewelry as a gift). I'm all about creative ideas and thinking outside the box.

So what has been your favorite gift from an orientee? If it was something that doesn't fit all the stuff I just mentioned, that is totally okay! I'm interested in any and all ideas. Or, if you've given a nurse a thank you gift that you did a great job on, what did you get or do?

Thank you, AN, for helping me think this through. :)

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

Pens! Nothing like working pens that I don't keep having to trash.

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Specializes in nursing education.

If you see they like lunch or coffee from a certain place, a gift card is something you know they will use. At least that is what I'd like.

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Specializes in MICU, SICU, CICU.

Here is what I would like to receive:

A well chosen card

A gift bag with some combination, not all, of the following items:

pens, burts bees tinted peppermint lip gloss, the Neutrogena Norwegian hand cream (that I can not find in stores), or the Gold Bond hand cream in the small size, some new black socks, keurigs, a new coffee cup or reusable plastic cup, chocolate candy, some hair clips or ties as I am forever losing all of these things and maybe a paperback novel or book of crossword puzzles. I keep forgeting to bring some vicks vaporub to work to put inside a mask to block out horrible smells and that would be greatly appreciated! But that's just me.

I would not expect or want a student to spend a lot of money on a gift. You could make a nice little gift bag from the drugstore or a dollar store.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

A simple thank you is always welcome. If they like coffee a gift card is always nice. A coupon with a small amount off for a spa day.

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Specializes in critical care.

Funny a few of you mention coffee - that's what a friend of hers suggested. These are great suggestions!! I really love the little grab bag of needed-on-the-job things. Keep 'em coming!

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Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.

My favorite thank you gift I recieved was / is a very nice stainless steel large coffee mug with a lid. It hold just the rightr amount of coffee for me, is easy to clean, and is very difficult to spill. I got it from a student 4-5 years ago and still use it nightly.

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Errrr, chocolate! Some nice chocolate, maybe something unique. Unless you know that they don't like or are allergic to chocolate, in that case, a condolence card would be in order!

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Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.

A very nice card with a sincere note about what you enjoyed most about working with that particular preceptor. Best gift I ever got. I didn't turn down the brownies that went with it, either!

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Emergency, CEN.

Best thank you ever: a card with a sincere note. I tucked it into our family photo album.

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Depends what they like! Personally I've received gift cards to restaurants, movie tickets, jewelry, spa gift cards, goodie bag with snacks & toiletries, sweaters, scarfs, socks, and many coffee mugs, coffee gift cards, and specialty coffee.

My personal favorites were the coffee mugs & restaurant gift cards to places I wanted to try or favorite restaurants. Those orientees got to "know me" enough to know I love coffee & eating! Making it personal it best because then the person will enjoy the gifts more.

It's not to say your preceptor wouldn't enjoy a spa day or jewelry but that isn't me.

If it's a student that I precept, I always appreciate food for sharing with the unit that is brought in on their last shift such as homemade cookies, bagels, or a fruit platter.

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