Nurses week Cheap gifts from admin.

Nurses General Nursing

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So, with nurses week coming up, I was fondly remembering all the neat swag my employer has offered me as a token of their appreciation.

Over the last four years as a nurse I have received -

A calculator that broke in one week,

A fanny pack that was made out of sheet plastic,

A coupon for a free cookie from the cafeteria,

Shoelaces with the hospital logo,

A lunch bag made out of the same sheet plastic as the fanny pack,

And the only gift that was ever usefull, a badge holder like the drug reps give out where your badge is on a string with a spring.

so what kind of gifts does your institution pony up for?

There have to be some worse ones than mine.

We all know that a cheap trinket from our employer will ensure our future longevity with said institution. So what made you stay working where you are.

Specializes in Trauma, Teaching.

Got a key chain last year, the stone fell out and the ring broke, and what's left is still on the floor of my van.

On the other hand, the administrators actually showed up on the night shift with hot carts of pizza from OUTSIDE the hospital, one of the good places in town!

Specializes in ER.

You know I came from a hospital where they did crap all for the nurses and then went to Maine and they got an unbrella on Nurses' Day and I was very impressed that they even observed the day. Then some of the staff nurses started griping about how it was a cheap thing and useless, and an insult. Well, I just think that insulting a gift says more about the recipient than the giver. Maybe a different perspective is in order...

Remember it's the thought that counts, if you don't think the gifts were meant in a friendly respectful spirit then that is another issue (and a valid one). If I get a keychain, and respected I value that gift. If I don't get the respect I don't bellyache- I leave.

I agree with Jim. I don't need or want any special day or week with gifts whether they be nice or stupid. Give me decent staffing, good working conditions, pay me what I'm worth, and treat me as a professional all year round. I think that's what we all want, right??

I think that part of the reason we ***** and moan about the "gifts" we get on nurses day is that if you ask any one of us we would definitely say that proper staffing, good working conditions and the like are what we would take over a cheap token of appreciation anyday.

yet the cheap token is what we get....

sure a gift is a gift is a gift and gift getters shouldnt complain, its the thought that counts right

well I would have to wonder what kind of thought went into some of these "gifts"......

save your money, treat me properly for the whole year instead of just for one week in may, try to improve the profession within your facility and that would make for happier nurses

Specializes in Med-Surg, Long Term Care.

hapeewendy said:

I think that part of the reason we ***** and moan about the "gifts" we get on nurses day is that if you ask any one of us we would definitely say that proper staffing, good working conditions and the like are what we would take over a cheap token of appreciation anyday. yet the cheap token is what we get....

sure a gift is a gift is a gift and gift getters shouldnt complain, its the thought that counts right

well I would have to wonder what kind of thought went into some of these "gifts"......

save your money, treat me properly for the whole year instead of just for one week in may, try to improve the profession within your facility and that would make for happier nurses

This sums up what everyone has been saying on this thread and says it best for me. Well-said, hapeewendy! :)

Well I found out we are getiing T-shirts and a pen. Boy maybe I should consider not going off to grad school after all.

happy nurses week everyone.

Craig

Originally posted by kaycee

I agree with Jim. I don't need or want any special day or week with gifts whether they be nice or stupid. Give me decent staffing, good working conditions, pay me what I'm worth, and treat me as a professional all year round. I think that's what we all want, right??

Yup:cool:

I do not understand where you all are coming from. Do we shower the doctors with gifts on Doctor's Week? Nurse's Week was created to recognize the value of nursing, not to give nurses presents.

I think that's the point VictoriaG, we don't want crappy gifts (that's what they are). Just a little recognition. I'd give up all my coffee mugs and fanny packs for a pat on the back.

Is there really even a doctor's week?

Heather

Originally posted by VictoriaG

I do not understand where you all are coming from. Do we shower the doctors with gifts on Doctor's Week? Nurse's Week was created to recognize the value of nursing, not to give nurses presents.

not complaining about the gifts but about how ridiculously insulting they are. If administration truly recognized the value of nursing or even about the patient, they would stop worrying about the bottom line and provide adequate staffing and support.

Don't treat my like poopoo 360 days a year and then hand me a shoelace and say "oh, here, see, I do appreciate you." Sorry, I'm not stupid and I don't buy into it.:cool:

Interesting thread but I am torn...been on both sides. But- I am shocked at the response of the nurses who receive the "junk" stuff you all are mentioning. What do you expect?

In most companies- the budget for employee benefits is limited. (Usually those that write the budget don't think it is important enough to warrant alot of money). It is used not only for nurses week- but for every other departments other "day/week/etc.." There actually is housekeepers day, laundry workers day, etc. The person who is responsible to purchase items is limited to their budget. Unfortunately- if you are in a small facility (with only 25 nurses) even spending $15.00 on each one is $375.00. Although the larger hospitals have bigger budgets- there are is also more staff. Consider the prns, the part timers, all 3 shifts. And- for $15.00; what would you get? Not much. Of course we can blame "administration" because "they" dont appreciate us; but like I said; they have budgets that limit them. Do you expect your nurse manager to pay for things out of their own pockets? (Been there-done that. Not going to do it again-they complained about the gift) Should managementoverceed the budget so the nurses are more appreciative (for a day) and take a chance on losing their job? (Not staying "in budget" is reason for termination in alot of companies) We all know that even if we got elaborate gifts; we would ridicule it and say "they should have...."

I am not "selling out" on my peers- but due to a change in the administration of a facility I consult in; I have to come up with the gifts for nurses day. Due to medicare/medicaid cuts; there is a very limited budget and I have to buy for 13 nurses. Even an empty mug is $6.00 each.

I am sure whatever I come up with will not be valued by the floor staff. They will smile when they get it; then go to the nurses station and complain/ridicule it and say that "they should have given us a raise instead" (be realistic!) Of course they want more staff, better pay, to "be appreciated every day" yadda...yadda...

What do I as an RN want for Nurses Day?

1. For the floor staff to quit whining about being "short staffed". If their peers would quit calling in and come to work; they would not be "short staffed" Some of the energy used to complain about it should be used to help come up with ideas to recruit staff

2. To not be told for one whole week that they are overworked. We are all overworked and there is not a very bright light at the end of the tunnel (welcome to healthcare)

3. Do not assume that because I sometimes am in an office behind a desk that I do not have alot of work to do. Not only will I be in the building for at least 10 hours- but I will take work home and get phone calls into the night to solve "nursing" problems when the licensed staff cannot supervise the building. (I am not complaining- I chose to take a management position) I spend the greater part of my time trying to figure out how someone made such a huge medication error, recruiting staff (that you will drive out of the facility by your rudeness), defending the care you are providing to irrate family members, pacifying the medical director, counseling the previous shifts nurse that you have done nothing but complain about because of what she didnt do before you got here, shuffling the schedule to make sure there is at least some staff in the building, writing evaluations (so you might get a raise), checking admission/discharge paperwork (that is never complete), scheduling inservices (that you will not come to), and designing some kind of gift for nurses week (that you will not like)..yadda...yadda

4. Most of all- I would love to just have the nurses appreciate that there is a week set aside to recognize them. I would be thrilled if one of the nurses in one of my facilities came up to me and handed me a cheap keychain and said "Happy Nurses Week." If you came into this profession looking for recognition and praise- you are sadly mistaken. Nurses are overlooked, overworked, and overtired. I realized this during my first clinical experience in school. But- I didnt choose to become a nurse to get a pat on the back or expensive gifts or to become rich. I became a nurse to give compassionate care to my patients. Everyday is nurses day because everyday at least one patient smiles at me...that is gift enough.

When you get your cheap piece of "junk"- appreciate the fact that you had what it took to get through school and have what it takes to stay in the profession. No gift has enough value to compete with that. Happy Nurses Week-

Klare

Ah, yet another fine example of propaganda in nursing.

#1 Because most places are staffed by acuity, even when they are "fully staffed," they are still severely understaffed. I still see a lot of canellations.

#2 Speaking for myself, I am not looking for a pat on the back, but rather the lack of the insult.

#3 Just curious, Why should nursing in general not expect recognition for a hard job, well done, every other career field is aloud to expect it. Everyone is sure quick to point out when a nurse makes a mistake.

I especially like hearing a legitimate complaint being referred to as "whining". Oh, hey, let me take my 5 minute pee break and figure out a way to recruit new nurses, NOT.

Oh, Hey, and while I'm at it, why don't I remain quiet and submissive,and not "complain" about being overworked so as not to encourage improvements in nursing. PULEASE!

When nurses are overworked and understaffed, it is just plain dangerous to the patient, which is the situation in many instances. This is the 21st century and this should not be the case. Have A Good One:cool:

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