Holiday gifts for your staff

meanmaryjean, DNP, RN · Oct 18, 2015

Do your folks have a properly working coffeepot? Microwave? Toaster? That is something everyone can use and won't break the bank. How about a 3# can of coffee and some fancy teas every month for the coming year?

springchick1, ADN, RN · Oct 18, 2015

Do your folks have a properly working coffeepot? Microwave? Toaster? That is something everyone can use and won't break the bank. How about a 3# can of coffee and some fancy teas every month for the coming year?

If you do that, just make sure it's approved. Our safety officer took our toaster ovens out and said they were a fire hazard:(

NeuroRehabRN · Oct 18, 2015

We have a Keurig and the company keeps a stock of coffee/tea, and a full break room with microwave, refrigerator, etc.....Maybe I could do lunch bags??

meanmaryjean, DNP, RN · Oct 18, 2015

We have a Keurig and the company keeps a stock of coffee/tea, and a full break room with microwave, refrigerator, etc.....Maybe I could do lunch bags??

ONLY if they're not all alike. Because seriously, nothing like a fridge full of identical lunchbags to incite lunchtime frenzy!

springchick1, ADN, RN · Oct 18, 2015

ONLY if they're not all alike. Because seriously, nothing like a fridge full of identical lunchbags to incite lunchtime frenzy!

Our hospital gave is lunch bags one year that were identical. Most people wrote their names on them or tied a ribbon around them. It wasn't that bad.

vampiregirl, BSN, RN · Oct 18, 2015

Awesome to be thinking ahead!

What specialty & environment (hospital, physician office, home care etc) of nursing are you in? We might be able to give you some more specific/ personalized suggestions that way....

jrt4 · Oct 19, 2015

We always struggle with this every year as well. I enjoy my staff but I really do not have the cash to get all 50 people something really nice. You can usually get a pretty nice gift for all staff if you order bulk items. Last year we got lanyards for all the staff that had the name of our hospital on them. They went over pretty well and I believe we got 100 of them for around $200 or so. I also get something extra for my charge RNs. Last year I got them a $5 coupon for the coffee shop at the hospital. I think the year before I got them each a bottle of wine.

In my experience its not really about the cost when they know its coming from your pocket. Its more the acknowledgment. I also include a little personalized letter of thanks to each staff member which takes a significant amount of time but I believe its meaningful.

llg, PhD, RN · Oct 19, 2015

Wow! You all get "real" gifts. My hospital hasn't done that in years. They stopped giving away hams and turkeys over 20 years ago. All we get now is a plastic XMAS tree ornament with the name of the hospital and the year on it -- so we can build a collection over the years. (yeah, right)

BiotoBSNtoFNP · Oct 20, 2015

I got a little bath and body works hand sanitizer last year w a hershey kiss taped to it. Everyone got the same scent too, so we couldnt even trade (fight) over the different options!

NeuroRehabRN · Oct 21, 2015

Awesome to be thinking ahead!
What specialty & environment (hospital, physician office, home care etc) of nursing are you in? We might be able to give you some more specific/ personalized suggestions that way....

The main facility is a post-acute brain injury rehab facility and the other two are long term care.

There wouldn't be an issue with lunch boxes getting mixed up since we only have one to two nurses working at a time at each location :).

KThurmond · Oct 22, 2015

Thats really nice of you. :)