Instructor Thank You Gift

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Hi, I just thought I would ask other students what an appropriate gift would be for a clinical instructor, as a 'thank you' for the end of semester? I have a really wonderful clinical instructor who has gone out of her way all semester to be nice to all of us students. She has been a real pleasure to work for this semester. I am really grateful that we did have her because this is my first nursing semester and I was worried about what it would be like. If anyone could give me some ideas on appropriate gifts for her, I would greatly appreciate it. Next week is my last clinical day and I would like to be able to surprise her with something.;)

Wow, a "traditional group gift"? Is this a tradition everywhere, because it's not done at my school. This semester (our first) we were only with each clinical instructor once a week, for five weeks, so we really didn't "bond" or anything. But I would never have considered it. I pay my tuition, which pays their salary, that seems good enough of a gift!

Kelly

The way it is generally seen in society, you pay for your haircut...so isn't that good enough when the hairdresser cuts your hair and you look spectacular? No, we give a tip (gift in essence). This instructor did not just 'do her job'. She went way above and beyond the call of duty to make the last 14 weeks a pleasure for all of us first semester students. You hear the war stories of horrible clinical instructors. Well, this one was pleasant...she was nice...she made us all feel calm and confident even when we were not right on certain things. That is why I would want to surprise her. For not just doing her job, but for doing it better than required.

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Thanks to all who posted replies for me. Many posted ideas on gifts from a group and all the awkward things that can arise from this. I am not trying to ask from the GROUP viewpoint, but rather just from ME. Just a token to say thanks for this lady going above and beyond the call of duty in her job. She did not just 'do her job' as some have insinuated she already receives her salary for. She was pleasant, knowledgeable, kind, considerate, and most of all ... made our clinical experience a very positive one. And I feel quite strongly on that last one because, I know that if I had a domineering and unpleasant instructor this first semester, I think I would've thrown in the towel.

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Well, this one was pleasant...she was nice...she made us all feel calm and confident even when we were not right on certain things. That is why I would want to surprise her. For not just doing her job, but for doing it better than required.

Right, I wasn't questioning this particular instance, I was questioning the use of the term "traditional group gift" - implying that it's always done. I had never heard of it.

Kelly

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Thanks to all who posted replies for me. Many posted ideas on gifts from a group and all the awkward things that can arise from this. I am not trying to ask from the GROUP viewpoint, but rather just from ME. Just a token to say thanks for this lady going above and beyond the call of duty in her job. She did not just 'do her job' as some have insinuated she already receives her salary for. She was pleasant, knowledgeable, kind, considerate, and most of all ... made our clinical experience a very positive one. And I feel quite strongly on that last one because, I know that if I had a domineering and unpleasant instructor this first semester, I think I would've thrown in the towel.

Although I am not a CI, I currently teach middle school students. The most memorable and thoughtful gifts I have received are cards, notes, letter, and poems. (I keep them in a scrapbook to get through the tough days.) If you purchase a card and write a message conveying the sentiments you've expressed here, your instructor will be touched. If you want to purchase a gift, I would suggest a nice pen or a gift card to a bookstore or Starbucks. I would spend more than $10-$20. It's the thought that counts, right?

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I too, agree that nursing students are poor and can't afford all these appreciation gifts.

Now I'm going to stir up the pot and ask how much you like getting the nurses something at the end of clinical rotation. I hate this tradition. The floor nurses rarely make our experience better. Of course, there are exceptions, but many of them treat us like giant PIA's, despite the lengthy breaks they take once we hit the floor.

That's one tradition I'd like to see end.

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My school doesn't seem to have a gift-giving tradition - maybe because we have the same hospital and CI for the entire program. I think it would be odd to get my CI something now, and then have her for 3 more semesters. At the end of the program I could see doing something though, even if it was just to take her out to eat. I don't love her, she's just OK, but if OK gets me through a tough program...I did post a little while back about wanting to do something for the nurses on my first floor - they were all great, took the time to help us out, everything. Same thing on my second floor. We got moved with no warning, so I didn't ever get to bring a gift up, but I was thinking about taking llg's advice and writing a thank you to each floor, signing my name, and thanking each nurse that worked with me and the CNAs, charges, etc. who helped out answering questions and the like.

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I've got a little bit of a different problem. Some members of my clinical group don't care for our instructor this term and have come right out and said they would not be contributing to her gift at the end of the clinical.

I was the person who organized and obtained the gift for the first instructor for the first portion of our clinical. I don't care to do it again. However, I'm afraid if I don't take it up, the others won't organize to get her something. I'm thinking about just getting her something from myself, but I think she'll be hurt by not receiving a traditional group gift.

How to handle this?

I was in the same position as you are. What I did was purchase a card for everyone to sign and then put a $10 gift card inside to the corner coffee shop she frequents before clinical. I thought it was I nice gesture and decided not to take money from anyone b/c we already pitched in to get the floor employees food and a thank you card.

It looks like I may be the one doing it again for this rotation as well.

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My fundamentals instructor was recently retired when our school ran into a wall trying to staff all of our classes. They asked her back and she came to the rescue. So she literally came out of retirement to teach us as her last class. We gave her a nice little clock that had an engraving on it that said thanks from your last nursing class. It was from one of those little gift engraving places in the mall. It was a beautiful wood clock with a silver plaque on it. I think it was only about $40 but it was so beautiful and she cried and cried. It was great

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