Gifts from Patients?

[C'wing]

Today was my 1st clinical at Med-Surg unit. It went out great (except those butterflies knots in my tummy). At the end of the shift, my client wanted to give me gifts (small gifts like phone card, canteen coupon, magazine...etc).

Am I "allowed" to receive anything from patient cares?? I know I'm not supposed to take their money n' stuff, what about gifts?

[purplemania, BSN, RN]

Be careful not to cross the line of professionalism. It is easy to do when you begin to consider a patient on a personal level. That is one reason most facilities discourage gifts of significance, like money. Pizza and candy to share with co-workers is generally ok.

[Burnt Out, ASN, RN]

We are given flowers, cake, candy, food baskets all the time...and our manager has no problems with it.

When I first started working, one of my patients had a beautiful, wooden vase (it was small) with flowers in it-I told them I had never seen anything like it. Next day, she was discharged and her DH gave me the vase! I didn't want to take it, but my charge nurse said that something small like that was ok.

I have been offered money, but I always decline to take it...I tell them that they need to just keep it. :)

[kc ccurn]

Every hospital has a policy. Ours states that we can't accept gifts over $50.00. Usually the gifts are food in nature. One family did give out gift certificates for a spa day to the nurses that took care of their son. These were received after he was discharged.