Clinical etiquette: card for nurse on the floor??

[njmomstudent]

Hello everyone. I'd really like your input on this if possible. I got to do my ICU rotation today for clinical and it was fantastic! I was handed off to one of the nurses, and it was mostly an observational experience since our instructor was back on the regular floor with all the other students. We are allowed to perform tasks according to how comfortable the nurse is with us when we rotate, and I did get to give alot of meds today. She basically took me under wing and was amazing!! She took so much time out of her day to explain things to me. My instructor was surprised that she kept me with her all day since "she usually doesn't bother with students". Anyway, this nurse had a recent death of someone very close to her, and was discussing it with me openly. I was wondering if a sympathy/thank you card would be out of line?? Or perhaps skip the sympathy and just a thank you?? I really do want to thank her for spending so much time on me today. I mean, she could have just handed me off to someone else, or just let me follow her like a puppy really. Any advice would be appreciated!! Thanks!!

[maelstrom143]

:pcongratulations! I am so glad you had such an awesome experience. Definitely agree...handwritten thank you note is the way to go. We also took donuts for the nurses, but then kind of felt guilty for being unhealthy...lol.

[aachavez]

of course send a thank you card! I dont know about the sympathy card as you don't know her personally. But those little personal hand written notes mean a whole heck of a lot to someone getting them.

[muesli]

Without a doubt, write a thank you card! It might make the nurses on that floor more open to taking on other nursing students in the future.

[SE_BSN_RN, BSN]

A little note to her manager describing your great experience would be awesome too!

Definately! When I was a student, I had a family member of a patient I took care of (I stood by her as her dad took his last breath, afraid she was going to faint, and held her hand) who wrote a note about me to the hospital who forwarded it onto the dean at my school. I was so shocked. Hand written notes of sympathy and gratitude have gone by the wayside, and that is sad.