Nurse Appreciation

[tyffsta]

Hello! I am a new nurse, just started ICU position 2 weeks ago. I have to say I was SOOO nervous about fitting in, not being experienced, & the whole "nurses eat their young" thing. I have been pleasantly surprised at just how patient, caring, understanding, & helpful my team is! Teamwork on our unit is beyond superb! I would love to do some type of appreciation gifts for my team & was looking for input. The majority of our nurses are well experienced (10+ years), travel, & retired military with a few of us newbies in the mix. I would like to do something thoughtful but not over the top. Something everyone would actually be able to use. Any ideas are greatly appreciated!

[JBMmom, MSN, NP]

Glad to hear that things are working out well for you! Many ICU nurses have a reputation for being less than welcoming. I think that sometimes we tend to be just a little more focused and less personable, but for the right personalities it can be a great environment. I'm sure that your coworkers don't expect anything, and are glad to have someone joining their team who is enthusiastic and can see the positive. If you do want a gift, edible treats are always a nice pick me up. If you're looking for sometime more permanent, blinged up badge holders are nice. Everyone likes a good pen. Nicely wrapped small soaps can be good. Although I think that just being a good member of the team is probably all your coworkers could want. 

[Davey Do]

2 minutes ago, JBMmom said:

If you do want a gift, edible treats are always a nice pick me up.

With all due respect to tyffsta andJBMmom, I disagree with this .

If you feed them once, they'll show up on your doorstep wanting more.

 

Seriously, tyffsta, JBMmom's idea of edibles is a good one. Sharing food, breaking bread, gives an impression of closeness and camaraderie.

I I I I I I I I I I would suggest something healthy, like a fruit & veggie tray. Or maybe a nice big veggie pizza.

Mmmmmmm... veggie pizza...

Leave the cheap, high calorie, non-nutritional snacks for administration to give.

[JKL33]

Hello, and congrats on the new job!

It's wonderful that you are going to be able to learn in a supportive atmosphere!

Question though: Are you thinking way ahead about how to convey your gratitude towards the end of your orientation, or were you thinking of doing something in the more immediate future?

I'll just be straightforward about why I'm asking...?...

If you were thinking of doing this in the very near future I would advise rethinking that. This is my personal opinion but I don't think the optics are great on that; it can seem very much like overcompensation or attempts to manipulate others' opinion of you. And of course, what would be superior (again, my opinion) would simply be a willing and ready attitude for learning along with basic friendliness/kindness. That is the only "gift" that I would want from any new coworker, even if they were my orientee. Also, your day-to-day pleases and thank yous will go a long way, especially if you are specific ("It really helped me understand better when you explained xyz. Thank you for working with me today.")

Best of luck with your orientation!! ?

 

[amoLucia]

I agree with JKL33 - you've only been there 2 weeks. You might want to wait a bit.

Also food is a bit difficult - you plan to feed 2 dozen folk and all of a sudden , you'll have every housekeeper, food service worker, therapist, MEDICAL RESIDENT STAFF (notorious for showing up). Like sharks or bears, the others seem to smell the larder.

Some places are frowning on bringing in food during covid times. Keep this in mind.

I could see you bringing in some very NICE specialty coffee for use in the floor coffee pot (assuming you're allowed one).

Just know - DO NOT LEAVE THE COFFEE ON THE UNIT. It will disappear within an hour!! Sorry to say this as you're a newbie but this is an indisputable reality of workplace occurrences. It happens!

[RNperdiem, RN]

If you run into your manager, mention how helpful your coworkers are being. If you can be specific, that is even better. Mention how Nurse X started that difficult IV for you and how Nurse Y showed you how to do this and Nurse Z that. Praise to the manager helps your coworkers professionally if done honestly. 

[NightNerd, MSN, RN]

This is such a nice sentiment, and I'm really glad to hear your team is so supportive!

Words of appreciation are often both very meaningful and overlooked as an important gesture. Verbally thank people when they help you or teach you something. For your preceptors at the end of orientation, a handwritten thank you note is always nice.

If you feel compelled to give a gift tp your preceptors - which is completely not necessary - err on the side of small and meaningful. I once trained a nurse who bought me and one of our coworkers who also trained her a pack of these particular cookies we were both obsessed with. That was super thoughtful and I still think about how nice it was that she noticed that about us.

If you're thinking of something for the whole team, maybe wait until you've been there a little longer - just concentrate on becoming as good a team member to them as they are to you! Maybe toward Nurses' Week or something you could bring in some kind of food or treat - but even that is truly above and beyond.

[SmilingBluEyes]

Also with COVID our policy is right now, no shared food whatsoever is allowed.

Might want to be sure about the whole food thing. And wait; the honeymoon may end, who knows? I am glad you are happy now however!! Welcome!

3 hours ago, RNperdiem said:

If you run into your manager, mention how helpful your coworkers are being. If you can be specific, that is even better. Mention how Nurse X started that difficult IV for you and how Nurse Y showed you how to do this and Nurse Z that. Praise to the manager helps your coworkers professionally if done honestly. 

I like this idea better than food.