Best Christmas Gifts for the Nursing Student

Looking for a last minute gift for that special nursing student? These gift ideas vary in price range and sentiment, so you can pick up a special something that fits what your heart and budget desire. Nurses Announcements Archive Article

Best Christmas Gifts for the Nursing Student

Paper purchased. Ribbons stacked up. Scissors and tape ready to go. How about the gifts? Are you feeling a tad Bah humbug and a little slow with your purchases? Or maybe just perplexed about what to get for a nursing student in your life? Whether you're considering purchasing for a girlfriend or boyfriend, fellow student nurse, sister, or friend, the perfect nursing student Christmas gifts are plentiful. For those of you still in need of a little holiday inspiration here are a few great choices for that special person!

GIFTS UNDER $25

Vacuum Insulated Water Bottle

Most nursing jobs are go, go, go which makes continuous hydration critical. Since a continuous IV line and foley catheter aren't recommended (every nurse could use these!), an insulated stainless steel 18/8 25 ounce 750 ml classy looking water bottle is a good start. Prefer iced or hot tea? Water, soda, hot chocolate, or coffee? This bottle is designed to keep liquids hot for up to 12 hours and cold for up to 24 hours, meeting the needs of all. A smaller 17 ounce 500 ml water bottle is also available for under $20.

Engraved 7 inch Sterling Silver Cuff Bracelet

Imagine rough shifts, tough shifts, and downright ugly shifts. Add in a few challenging exams and maybe a little jewelry therapy is in order. This sterling silver bracelet comes with the engraving "You are braver than you believe Stronger than you seem and Smarter than you think". Perfect inspiration for the nurse who may be going through a bit of a struggle or just in need of a little boost during the school years.

Enjoy the Journey Bracelet

The ole saying that life is about the journey and not the destination is one of my favorites. The destination is often delightful, but the journey is often colorful and vibrant, filled with a variety of opportunities, people, and passions. Those experiences shape us into the people we become. For the nursing student in the thick of things, a little reminder to 'enjoy the journey' may be just what is needed.

GIFTS UNDER $15

Savvy Networking for Nurses: Getting Connected and Staying Connected in the 21st Century by Keith Carlson (also known as Nurse Keith)

This information packed networking guide is a good pick for the older nurse, younger nurse, and everyone in between. Both males and females, the tech saavy, and the tech challenged will find benefit. The insight offered about networking, what it really is, and how to best incorporate it into practice, is sure to help any nursing student in advancing their career. The author adds in some social media wisdom discussing a multitude of platforms that can boost the nursing career trajectory and instill new confidence. Available as a compact paperback book for $14.95 or kindle version for $8.95, this makes for a great gift or stocking stuffer.

Engraved Pen, Stylus, and Penlight All in One

While you're on a shopping roll consider adding this engraved multipurpose pen. Not only will the nursing student have a practical writing device, but a penlight for neurological assessments, and a functioning stylus for tablets or smartphones is included. The nurse-to-be will appreciate the engraved message, "Do you Want to Speak to the Dr. in Charge or to the Nurse Who Really Knows What's Going On?" A little lighthearted humor good for any day of the week.

Customized Coffee Cup

One thing that keeps nursing students going is the vision that someday the tests will come to an end and the nursing degree and license will be earned. Keeping that visual close in heart and close in hand (literally!) can be just what a person needs to keep trekking on. Purchase this classy coffee cup and add a name and/or a personal message that can bring the student a boost during those early mornings and late night hours.

GIFTS UNDER $10

Compression Stockings

Let's face it. Compression stockings don't exactly come to mind when thinking of the perfect gift, but the reality is nurses often spend hours on their feet. Showering a nursing student with compression stockings is a true gift that will keep on giving day in and day out. Many nurses pay the price years down the road with varicose veins so this tiny investment is worth its every penny. Why not help prevent those varicose veins early on?

Syringe Highlighters

Seeing that organization is the key to nursing school success, what better idea than to gift the student nurse with a syringe highlighter (or many!). Color coding study content is invaluable as one navigates the pages of reading and study guides. A little syringe highlighting fun can keep the future goal of being a nurse bright (no pun intended)!

Haven't found the perfect gift yet? Search online under "gift ideas for nursing students" and you'll hit on thousands of nifty gifts. There is certainly something for everyone. These are merely a few ideas to that stood out to me. Best of luck with your shopping and Happy Holidays!

So what are your favorite picks for nursing students? Or have you received nursing related gifts that you really enjoyed? I can't wait to hear from you!

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NurseHeart&Soul

About NurseHeart&Soul, MSN

NurseHeart&Soul has 20+ years of acute care nursing experience across the critical care spectrum. She is a passionate nurse author and educator committed to supporting nurses on their journey. She believes every nurse deserves the resources and support they need to rise to their potential. Her peers describe her as “a nurse’s nurse” and a “true inspiration”.

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Specializes in Cardiac (adult), CC, Peds, MH/Substance.

To add to number 1: Something that's really nice (and generally under $25 combined) is a insulated bottle/mug (Mine was $8 from Walmart and just as good at the $30-50 ones; I've had both) and a sentimental vinyl/sticker to place on it. For the nursing student, that may be their current school, or an activity they love, maybe something sentimental from their past. This could be veteran-related for veterans, the symbol from their school, a monogrammed nurse sticker with their initials, and so on. This is a great gift because, as you mention, it's simply a wonderful gift. However, adding the personalized emblem/sticker/whatever makes it 1) their cup and 2) easy to not have stolen accidentally / easy to recognize as your cup when you're looking through the sea of similar cups at the nursing station.

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Specializes in ED, Critical care, & Education.

Thanks nicktexas!

That is an absolutely dynamite idea! I'm definitely going to try that sometime. I have had many cups grow legs and walk away from the nurses station (almost like the stethescope that seems to sprint out of the ED). So yes, identification of any bottle, personalized or not, should have your name on it!! Engraved preferably!

Any other great ideas out there?

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Specializes in Crit Care; EOL; Pain/Symptom; Gero.

Dinosaur here.

Attractive hair accessories - tortoise-shell clips, barrettes, jeweled combs to get that long hair up and out of the way of abdominal wounds, artificial airways, and radical patient hygiene.

Reference photo accompanying this article for example of "how not to look" while involved in patient care.

Call me a COB; I've earned it.

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Specializes in ED, Critical care, & Education.

PAYNP,

Great ideas about the hair clips etc. Without a doubt those are NEEDED by most nurses and something cute and thoughtful that I'm sure would be well received! Thanks for chiming in.

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Specializes in Family Medicine, Tele/Cardiac, Camp.

Not exactly practical, but there's one woman on etsy who makes ekg necklaces that actually look like ekg's and not like random squiggles. She has NSR, atrial flutter, afib, and even STEMI's. I think she does custom orders too. I don't think she has anything less than $40, but she says they're especially popular around Christmas and graduation time.

Handmade Heartbeat Jewelry by TheLittlestBigSpoon on Etsy

And for the more practical out there, there's another seller who makes these really cute nurse purses with different colored fabric. They're designed to hold your stethoscope, shears, BP cuff if need be, etc.

HOME OF THE ORIGINAL NURSE CASE and custom handbags by LoveAmarie

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Specializes in ED, Critical care, & Education.
Not exactly practical, but there's one woman on etsy who makes ekg necklaces that actually look like ekg's and not like random squiggles. She has NSR, atrial flutter, afib, and even STEMI's. I think she does custom orders too. I don't think she has anything less than $40, but she says they're especially popular around Christmas and graduation time.

Handmade Heartbeat Jewelry by TheLittlestBigSpoon on Etsy

And for the more practical out there, there's another seller who makes these really cute nurse purses with different colored fabric. They're designed to hold your stethoscope, shears, BP cuff if need be, etc.

HOME OF THE ORIGINAL NURSE CASE and custom handbags by LoveAmarie

SnowshoeRN,

Thanks for the added ideas! I love having a variety of resources to turn to at a moments notice and so many of these ideas are great not just for nursing students but for other nurses, too!

Donna Cardillo has many great books for nurses, but a few especially great for new nurses include:

Your First Year as a Nurse: Making the Transition from Total Novice to Successful Professional

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Your First Year As a Nurse, Second Edition: Making the Transition from Total Novice to Successful Professional: 97837591746: Medicine & Health Science Books @ Amazon.com

A Day Book for Beginning Nurses

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A Daybook for Beginning Nurses: 97819353887: Medicine & Health Science Books @ Amazon.com

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Specializes in Hospice, Palliative Care.

One of the gifts I received mentioned in the opening post was compression stockings; it was the best and most used gift.

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Specializes in ED, Critical care, & Education.
One of the gifts I received mentioned in the opening post was compression stockings; it was the best and most used gift.

I wish I would have worn these earlier in my career! I'm so glad you thought that was a cool gift.

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In general my opinion on gift giving is that it's most important to give something that you think the other person will actually enjoy. So I my husband gave me last Christmas this watches http://jonsguide.org/best-top-stuhrling-watches-reviews/, I wanted for casual collection.

I also think book ideas are great. I've been a bit "Bah humbug" this year and I'm going to get a couple of these books for some nurse friends I have.

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Specializes in ED, Critical care, & Education.
In general my opinion on gift giving is that it's most important to give something that you think the other person will actually enjoy. So I my husband gave me last Christmas this watches http://jonsguide.org/best-top-stuhrling-watches-reviews/, I wanted for casual collection.

I also think book ideas are great. I've been a bit "Bah humbug" this year and I'm going to get a couple of these books for some nurse friends I have.

I definitely agree that you want the receiver to ENJOY the gift. I hope your friends enjoy the books. Thank you for taking the time to comment. Very cool watches. I appreciate you sharing.

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