Do you ever get gifts from patients?

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Specializes in Med surg, cardiac, case management.

I've read suggestions for people who are to be hospitalized, and one that periodically comes up is to get a small gift for your nurse. I wonder if any of you have experienced this?

I thought of this after watching an episode of "Frasier", where Maris goes in for plastic surgery and Niles has to ply the nursing staff with gifts to prevent them from going on strike (Maris sleeps with a pearl-handled revolver under her pillow) :lol2:

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Specializes in Telemetry/Med Surg.

We're not allowed to accept gifts of monetary value.....but I've gotten some great home grown tomatoes from some patients recently. lol

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Specializes in ER/EHR Trainer.

It is against our facilities policy to accept gifts from a patient or his family for good care...this being said, I have had patient's families give me money, food, and presents.

The presents were always small things like a quilted makeup bag or something of that ilk. We are allowed to accept inexpensive things.

As far as, food and money-I have always given money to manager who will buy lunch or breakfast for staff. the same goes for boxes of cookies and chocolates-I share with staff.

Many patient's families refuse to take no for an answer. I have had hundreds of dollars given to me over the past few years. This included a Paramedic's family(on our staff) who knew better. That is why our department manager is the go to for cash. We are not going to upset families by being so rigid in policy, and they are always informed that the "deserving" nurse will be sharing with her peers.

I do know of a nurse who was left a Mercedes Benz convertible by a hospice patient, and many other who have received high end gifts. However, this was in home health care.

Maisy;)

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I've read suggestions for people who are to be hospitalized, and one that periodically comes up is to get a small gift for your nurse. I wonder if any of you have experienced this?

I thought of this after watching an episode of "Frasier", where Maris goes in for plastic surgery and Niles has to ply the nursing staff with gifts to prevent them from going on strike (Maris sleeps with a pearl-handled revolver under her pillow) :lol2:

The hospital I was shadowing at has a "Giver Bowl." This is for this very thing. The money that families or patients give is placed in the Giver bowl. This is normally raided at Christmas for charities like Toys for Tots or Christmas Tree Angels. It is a policy there, as I am sure it is in most hospitals, not to take money, but as long as the nurse or employee isn't putting it in their own pocket..they let it slide as to not offend the patient and/or the family.

I though this was a great resolution...

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I know a nurse who the family was so happy with that they brought her 'daily' gifts - books,fragrance, candy,costume jewelry,gift cards.

Even she was shocked at their generousity.

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As a nurse we are NEVER allowed to accept personal gifts. Of course, a box of candy or some small token is fine, otherwise a polite no is the best answer. Some facilities, especially those who care for people longer term, generally will have some kind of central giving place where a client or their family can donate gifts or money. Those items or the money will then be given as a bonus, possibly for Christmas, or may be used to help workers in need.

However, I have come across patients and families who just won't take no for an answer and refuse to give whatever it is to anyone but you. Many years ago when my daughter was very young, a high end store's truck pulled up in front of my home and delivered a large number of outfits for her. I attempted to take it back and donate the money. The clerk at the store asked how often I shopped there, needless to say, never covered that question, so I was told in no uncertain terms that she had been instructed by the purchaser not to take the returns or she would lose her job. Considering the family who sent it, they shopped at the store very often, had gone through the trouble of finding my address in the phone book, and remembered my daughter who had come to visit only once, I felt stuck between a rock and a hard place. I love caring for my patients. I never knew who was wealthy or poor, never knew who was insured or on aide or had no way of paying at all. So having this box of clothing made me feel so bad, I looked through the box and at the store, this was over 25 years ago, and they had to have spent well over $150.00 on all of this, and I had been a nurse for such a short period of time.

After a lot of soul searching, I went to my supervisor and asked if I could donate the clothing to the hospital. I knew that there had been a lot of the children admitted and discharged who had very little when it came to money and so clothing like this didn't come their way too often. It didn't come my child's way that often, but it felt good knowing that someone appreciated what I had done so much that they wanted to do that for me. So for me to return the favor and give to someone else felt really good.

This was just the first of many of these type experiences. The most expensive was a pair of 2 carat diamond earing's!!! I wanted to keep those so bad, they were so beautiful! But while I really wanted to, I really wasn't tempted to. Again, I said no but their no was louder and longer. I find now that if you just can't get someone to understand that we just don't take tips, then make sure you give it to the DON or the Administrator so it can be dealt with in a honest and fair manner.

Hope this helps, and I have to just add - it does feel GREAT when someone thinks enough of what you've done to want to give you something that's just for you.

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

The same rules tend to be the same here in the UK, generally when patients ask us we tend to point them towards tins of chocolate/ fruit/ biscuits and then everyone can have a dib. We even on occasions had new mugs bought for the ward. Couple of times I have had bouquets of flowers bought and was able to take them home.

On occasions when I have been in hospital prior discharge I have bought a load of pens as I know they always come in handy and also try to buy stuff both healthy or not healthy to suit everyone as a thank you

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Specializes in ITU/Emergency.

I worked for a while in the middle east looking after very rich Arabs and members of a certain royal family. It was generally unheard of NOT to get a gift and these would vary from gold jewellery to envelopes of cash. To be honest, the jewellery was usually very gaudy and very arabic but most girls would save it all up and either sell it for gold weight or have it remade into something more to their taste. And obviously, the envelopes of cash came in handy! Over there, it would be considered rude not to accept the gifts....shame ;)!!!!

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Specializes in icu, er, transplant, case management, ps.

I and another nurse received 14 k gold bracelets from a patient. And we were not required by administration to return them to the patient or turn them over to the hospital. I should state this happen in 1973. The patient was a well known former governor, whose brother was active in politics and the gifts were sent to us six months after his discharge, upon his death. And two letters were enclosed. The first one was from his executive assistant who explained the bracelets had been picked out months before and she was instructed to mail them after his death. The second letter was from him, thanking us for our care and our caring attitude. And he told us he had waited until his death to have them sent. This way, administration could not make us return them to him as he was dead. And seeing his brother was governor of our state, he didn't think they would want to upset him. He was correct on all points. I still have the two letters and the bracelet. And when I need a laugh, I pull the letter out and read it. It never fails to make me laugh. He got around everyone.

Woody:balloons:

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Specializes in ER, ICU, L&D, OR.

Ive gotten everything imaginable. I have actually recieved a set of blow guns from some kind of African Prince. They are still adorning my wall. I have gotten free passes to play golf. I even got a pass to play at Pebble Beach and Spyglass also, did I use them, yes in a heart beat. I have gotten player passes to the Colonial and the Byrons tournament. Also to Arnies tournament at Bayhills. Loved them. Got a personally signed baseball from a well known player in the past. I have gotten dinner passes. Ive always gotten permission for these.

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i had a pt who left me his house, in his will.

he was very well to do, also.

obviously i didn't take the house.

we're not allowed to take gifts.

"impropriety", you know.

but i do tell many of the family members, that i can be bought. :devil:

leslie

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
i had a pt who left me his house, in his will.

he was very well to do, also.

obviously i didn't take the house.

we're not allowed to take gifts.

"impropriety", you know.

but i do tell many of the family members, that i can be bought. :devil:

leslie

I think I would have taken that house...:lol2:

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