Gifts For Nurse Appreciation Day

SmilingBluEyes · Nov 23, 2003

Where I work the docs get so many perks; they don't need gifts....really. Just as ONE example: they have a lounge where 24/7 THEY have access to food/snacks and a large screen TV. We don't even have an open cafeteria at night to BUY food, let alone get it free. They spend $1000s and 1000s to recruit doctors...a lot more than the $250 sometimes spent on nurses for hard-to-fill positions....gift baskets for doctors? They are hard-pressed to even send us a Christmas card as a unit, let alone FOOD or anything substantial. We make them PLENTY of $$$$ however.....yep we do!

..oops wait, sorry I thought we were talking NURSE appreciation here......I did not think I stumbled on the wrong thread?

but it's interesting to note: regarding appreciation gifts, the doctors received really nice barometer/clock combinations while we received mugs. I know who's appreciated, oh yes....it's really clear to me!

But after all my rambling, really I meant what I said before:

I would happily forgo "gifts" for respect. really that is what matters to me.

fab4fan · Nov 23, 2003

Speculating: Good point; guys get completely ignored.

It used to drive me crazy how all the "generous" gifts were always gone by the time 3-11 or 11-7 got there.

SmilingBluEyes · Nov 23, 2003

Originally posted by carolce
I am a writer doing a story on nurse appreciation day. What kind of gifts - particular gift baskets - do nurses like to receive for nurse appreciation day? Individual or for a group? What kind do you receive and who sends them?

Thanks for the info. If you would like to be quoted in the story, call me at 1-800-729-6338. The story is for Gift Basket Review.

Thanks, Carol Childers

So lemme know when you print this article...I want to SEE it and see if ANYthing said here really MAKES it.....

Please please this issue is serious and we are NOT meaning to SLAM YOU but this is honestly how we feel. This trascends silly gifts to placate the "Troops", honestly. I hope you understand what a hot-button issue you unintentionally stumbled into and take it for what it's worth! Thank you and best wishes.

unknown99, BSN, RN · Nov 23, 2003

The best gift we recieved as nurses from the hospital I work at was a gift certificate to the local day spa. It was absolutely divine!!!

Hellllllo Nurse, BSN, RN · Nov 23, 2003

Doctor's Day? Did someone say Doctor's Day?

But, EVERY flippin' day is Doctor's Day. :rolleyes:

Speculating · Nov 23, 2003

Originally posted by fab4fan
It used to drive me crazy how all the "generous" gifts were always gone by the time 3-11 or 11-7 got there.

I was going to say that too. They usually get what first shift has all ready scrounged through. 11-7 is lucky to get anything at all except maybe a mock code! Certainly, there is never anything left from the drug reps after day shift gets at them.

flashpoint · Nov 23, 2003

Our hospital divides up the things that drug reps, families, etc bring so that both shifts get an equal amount. Also, if a certain person is mentioned in a thank you card, etc, management makes sure that the food or whatever is put out when that person is actually on duty.

We usually get a luncheon (prepared by the cafeteria staff) and that's about it. One year we got first aid kits (a few bandaids, alcohol preps, betadine preps, and a pair of gloves in a Ziploc)...LOL.

Ideas for a basket??? I like lotion and bublle bath...gift certificate are always nice...pens...calculators...mini drug books...shoe inserts...stechoscope name tags or covers...food...sigh...don't know what else.

Oh...one year I won a door prize at the annual Christmas party...it was a 1998 calendar...the party was December 18, 1998...sigh.

Home Health Columnist / Guide · Nov 23, 2003

Sorry----thinking of Christmas/Holiday baskets.

Our referral sources getting baskets are the discharge planners/case managers at local hospitals and snf's mostly nurses and social workers with about 7 docs out of 25 gifts planned. Also planning door prizes for staff with gift certificates.

For Nurse Week we had a luncheon at each referring facility. Three discharge planners at one city hospital who give us their overflow (75-100 referrals/month) got hot lunch from italian restaurant next door to my office that I delivered personally along with our liason.

We have had a luncheon each year in our homecare office with different food. This year staff chose gourmet hoagies. Gift was new zippered tote bag. Last year, was deluxe beach towel and flash light, sturdy unmbrella previous year. Administration also did Pizza party thank you after OASIS start up, JCAHO prep etc. Ice cold bottled water available during heat waves so we do ok.

I do remember getting those large packaged candy and nut tier gifts from Pulmonologist who's unit I worked on each Christmas/Nurse Week, even dinner at his home one year for our staff when we were ALL new grads on his floor!

Also agree, RESPECT and sane working conditions is more important than gifts.

carolce · Nov 24, 2003

To all who responded to my query about gift baskets/gifts for nurse appreciation day - I truly thank you. I do understand - and have seen the inequality of appreciation/gifts - in the medical profession. I have a sister who is a respiratory therapist, a sister-in-law who is a nurse, a mother-in-law who was a nurse, and I worked in a hospital public relations department for a few years. And you are right - nurses and support staff at the hospitals and clinics deserve a lot more respect than they are given. God bless you all!

My husband who is developmental pediatrician always turned to the nurses for their guidance when he first started out in internship and residency. He tries to have a cheerful attitude and kind words when working with them, knowing they are the backbone of the institution. Every Christmas holiday, we've sent in baked goodies or tins of popcorn (sorry, ya'll) for everyone to share. After reading your answers, I'lll be sure to pass on that info to all doctors I know - and remember to pass on good words for the nurses I encounter in my everyday life.

Thanks again for the information, I do appreciate it - and everything you do!

God bless you all!

Carol

barefootlady, ADN, RN · Nov 24, 2003

On Appreciation Day have gotten one size fits all Tshirts(hospital logo imprinted), mugs, lanyards, best was soft sided cooler. Use it frequently. Hate doc's that send one of something for whole unit, they know there are usually 2/3 shifts, send box of candy or tin of popcorn for each shift, they can draw name for tin among selves.

Hate the holiday meal thing, no time to eat, food is cheap, usually skip it now. Have been given gift certificate to store for turkey/ham at Christmas time. Store said certificate had to be honored in so many days, gave mine to sister, store too far away for me to use in allotted days. Had to work all holiday season anyway.

I would really appreciate a gift certificate to WAlmart. There is one of those everywhere. BUT, the biggest thing would be respect and fairness in dealing with me and other nurses. We are always there, we are human, we have families, we need to be considered when we say, we need a day off, we worked last year on this holiday, we are sick from dealing with influx of flu patients, we don't need mandated on holiday because of call ins,

and a sincere thank you for hard work when crisis has occurred would be nice.

Carol, did hubby ever send a thank you card to the nurses who gave him such good guidence/help in the beginning? Did you ever say thanks to a nurse you could count on to give hubby message in time of crisis?

Sorry this reply has gotten so long. Guess I needed to rant a little.