Christmas Gift Commiseration Thread

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I felt a bit like Clark Griswold when I opened my holiday gift from my administration... it was a gift card to Amazon (OK, better than nothing, although I did tell my husband if it was anything less than $50, I'd have to quit.  It was $50 - luck for them LOL) and a card that was e-signed by the leadership team. As in, they had the cards mass printed for the entire faculty (there are only like 40 of us...) with their signatures printed in the cards.  That stung a bit. 

 

Anyway, every year at the holidays, us school nurses chuckle and commiserate as our teacher friends carry full arms of holiday gifts out to their car each afternoon, while we might get one or two cards or appreciation gifts. I felt like this was especially bad. 

 

What were your best and worst holiday gifts over the years? 

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Admin gave me a giant thing of chocolate this year.  Seriously...not going to fit in my pants once I finish that off.  My worst gift was when I worked home health.  They gave us $5 starbucks gift cards.  My best gift was a mom of FFs handed me a box and said "don't open it until you get home."  It had a few bottles of wine and a note that said "Sorry if my children drive you to drink" ? I can't complain about the way our school does staff gifts.  Our parents organize a fund that parents can donate to and it's evenly distributed among staff (teachers, admin, support staff, janitors, kitchen staff--everyone) in the form of debit gift cards.  Any time I get a card from a student I cry like a little baby.  That's my favorite.

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I mean, when I worked in the hospital I never got anything, so.... LOL.

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Specializes in Peds.

I have been blessed with a wonderful administration and staff for the last 7 years.  I still get lots of goodies from students (especially FF) and this year I was given a wine advent calendar!  Feels good just to have the next 2 weeks off and away from COVID land.

 

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1 minute ago, cowboysandangels said:

I have been blessed with a wonderful administration and staff for the last 7 years.  I still get lots of goodies from students (especially FF) and this year I was given a wine advent calendar!  Feels good just to have the next 2 weeks off and away from COVID land.

 

that's awesome! I have found in my 3 years of SNing, that I usually get one or two gifts, and always from families whose kids I NEVER see. I think the parents (well, let's be real - the moms) take the faculty list and buy the same thing for everyone, and I love it! Starbucks gift cards - yes, please! 

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Specializes in School nursing.

My admin actually gave the entire staff $100 Amazon gift cards before Thanksgiving as a thank you. They came with personal hand-written cards. My job has become higher level this year and I've gotten a chance to actually work more closely with high-up admins and thought this was truly lovely. I suspect something similar will happen for Christmas (we usually get at least a $25 Amazon gift card), but it happens typically either right before or is timed as a New Year's gift.

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9 minutes ago, JenTheSchoolRN said:

My admin actually gave the entire staff $100 Amazon gift cards before Thanksgiving as a thank you. They came with personal hand-written cards. My job has become higher level this year and I've gotten a chance to actually work more closing with high-up admins and thought this was truly lovely. I suspect something similar will happen for Christmas (we usually get at least a $25 Amazon gift card), but it happens typically either right before or is timed as a New Year's gift.

yeah, this is more what I was hoping for. I feel like $50 "bonus" is literally the least they could do for me, considering how much more and higher-profile work I've taken on (we're fully in person this entire SY). Not to sound snarky - a gift is a gift - but of course there can be bad gifts LOL

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Specializes in school nursing, ortho, trauma.

Usually I exchange a small gift with the elementary admin (not my boss).  I don't usually get anything from the rest of the administration.  Occasionally, I have a student that will bring me a gift, but it's rare.  

 

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Specializes in School Nurse.

My bosses gave me a blank card with just their two first names on it LOL. 

Thankfully my secretaries and I all do a gift exchange. I definitely feel the love from them more than admin LOL

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Specializes in school nurse.

Some admin give gifts???

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Specializes in kids.

LOLOL!  Ya, no.....not here.  In other jobs a food gift card, a check from the provider, as well as a great dinner out.

Maybe this year will be different??

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Usually I get a gift or two from teacher friends (We exchange sweets or coffee gift cards, something little), and our PTO give us each a check.  

This year, my admin gave me a bottle of wine and a gift card for a local restaurant that has good takeout, the supt gave each building nurse a 75.00 amazon card, the teachers as a whole gave me a visa gift card, and the Sped teachers gave me a gift card to Binny's!  I feel the love.  We've been open, in person, for hybrid (half the school in the AM, and half in the PM) since August, with no shut-downs. I've never worked so closely with administration.  It's been rough this year.  I've never worked so much overtime in my life. But I feel like I've gotten to know the "higher-ups" better, and this craziness has bonded us.  It's nice to feel like it's been appreciated!  

All of that said, nothing will ever top the sweetest note that I got from a graduating 8th grader 2 years ago.  She had a lot of medical issues, and a fair amount of anxiety, so she spent a lot of time in my office.  She was a sweet girl, though, and I really didn't mind helping her.  She wrote the most heart-felt letter, and I still have it on my bulletin board in my office, since it really did remind me of why I do what I do:) 

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