Completely ignorant and need help

[deadbydawn]

Hello, I myself am not a nurse, do not have any knowledge of nursing, nor do I even have an interest of it in the future. However, I recently have met someone who is becoming very special to me and I'd like to get her a very special gift for the holidays. She will finally be starting her nursing schooling next year and has a very specific plan to travel across the world and help out poor areas. I would appreciate suggestions on what you yourselves as nurses, would have appreciated greatly as an ambitious person getting into nursing. If it helps, she's very ambitious, doesn't particularly care for cute things. Really I would like to get her something that would really make her happy and help her on her start to nursing.

Also, I'm pretty broke, which is why i'm starting this search so early. Just so I have time to raise some cash for it. If its worth it, Id be willing to try and get the money for just about anything (although Id highly prefer a reasonably priced idea). And I must definitely emphasize the point that I am dirt broke.

I know this is a pretty dumb question, but I have admiration for all you nurses and know you all are to nice to find it completely dumb. Thanks in advance, I'm really trying to do a good job on this one. I'm very shy and am very poor at expressing how I feel. Im not materialistic nor is she, but if I got her something that shows that I went to pretty hard lengths to find something that was really practical and shows I care, that would definetly help.

Thanks in advance, your all awsome.

[HonestRN]

A good stethoscope would be my first choice. Next would be a Taber's Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary. Your love, patience and support will go a long way as well.

[llg, PhD, RN]

Make up a little coupon book for her. Put in things like One free massage, a home cooked meal, One free hour of using me as a guinea pig, A homework-free night out, and so on.

Great idea. I'd stay away from any equipment purchase. Nurses have individual preferences about those sorts of things. What might work well for one nurse won't work at all for another.

The promise of your personal time and attention will be valuable and appreciated no matter what.

[deadbydawn]

hmmm..... well, although all of you have good ideas I think the best for my situation is definitely a book. I looked into both the books suggested and they seem perfect. If anyone has any other suggestions on books that would be awesome.

I'd feel kind of funny giving her stuff like shoe's for nursing right now because she hasn't even started schooling for it. She's 25 now and has been on her own since she was 18, so her whole life she's been trying to make the money to do this. So I'd feel funny giving her something she wont have use for until like 2 years from now.

As for the coupon idea, I think its a good idea, but I think she'd find it corny. Especially because we have this awkward platonic close relationship. I just need to give her something that says I really care about her.

I think the book idea may be perfect because I can definitely write something inside the front cover. Plus we normally give each other books we think the other would like, but I've never given her a book on nursing and on a subject I know nothing about. See, I'm very bad with women and people in general (she's one of the few friends I have). But I'd imagine giving her a book would be perfect.

Thank you all so much so far. I think I'll come up with something good based on what you've given me so far.:bowingpur

[EarthChild1130]

I really like the 'Chicken Soup for the Nurse's Soul' books, and Taber's Medical Cyclopedia has been great for me.

[Dolce, RN]

If you want to get her a great book consider one of Echo Heron's. She is an author who practice nursing during the 80s and 90s. Her books are a great read for nurses and pre-nursing students. Although the stories are all true the books are written like a novel. I poured over them in nursing school.

[kohana]

My first thought was a stethoscope as well, but they can be pricey. Perhaps a stethoscope cover along with a planner or pocketbook of nursing notes (eg. meds, assessment technique, lab values).

[canoehead, BSN, RN]

A medical dictionary- that was a great idea, HonestRN, and a pack of highlightersand postits.

Any of Echo Heron's books would do the trick. "Intensive Care" talks about her experiences in nursing school.

Maybe you can find something special on eBay, like a nursing book from the 40's, and write about your hopes for her nursing career. My aunt had an old textbook called "The Art, Science, and Spirit of Nursing" that was kind of cool to read, though no longer accurate. I remember it had a whole chapter about flower arranging.