Ok, need to ask this question about "gifts"

Nurses General Nursing

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Hey guys

I'm a nursing student. Will graduate in May 2006.

I just had my OR clinical rotation two weeks ago.

The nurse I had in charge of me was just THE best. I'm not kidding - so kind, helpful, warm, gracious, accomodating - in short, FANTASTIC!

I mean, I reached quite late the 2nd day of the rotation (car trouble :rolleyes: ) and was quite stressed out because I thought I'd blown it. She didn't skip a beat - gave a hearty laugh, cracked a few jokes, put me at ease and instantly tried to find the next available patient so that I could make the most out of what time I had left.

So at the end of the rotation - I left with this big grin on my face. I'd learned TONS. I'd probably have stayed there all wekk if they'd let me! :roll I LOVED it SO much.

So anyway, I've been thinking "There's gotta be a way I can say "Thank You!" to this wonderful nurse". She was a great nurse and a good instructor too.

So I went right ahead and bought a thank you card from hallmark.

Would it be correct/right for me to give it to her? I plan on writing a little note thanking her and then dropping it off at reception desk to be delivered to her.

Any ideas ladies and gentlemen? :)

Thank You!

As long as you are done with your rotation, you can give her the card now. But please consider having your instructor contact her manager as well. Your thank you is a personal message; a note from your instructor would be a professional documentation of excellence that might benefit your preceptor on her next job eval.

Miranda

That is probably better than you writing to her supervisor . . .as long as your instructor really does it.

I agree - if your rotation is over - send the card.

steph

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When I was in clinical the nurse I was assigned to changed every time and I don't think had any effect on my grade at all.

Giving a nice thank you card is a great idea and also writing a note to her supervisor is a good idea too.

We all need the pats on the back - makes us not eat our young :roll

steph

p.s. I think I'd just go with a heartfelt thank you card and a note to her supervisor and not a gift . .. . that might look like brownnosing to some unfortunate folks - sad but true. :sniff:

unless you know she is down on her luck ..she needs nothing from you except the ty note to her and the note to her advisor

trust me ..teachers don't need any more teacher gifts unless it is fresh cut flowers ...or perhaps chocolate if you actually know she loves chocolate

the written note is sooooooooooooooooo much more appreciated

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Specializes in ER/Trauma.

Yay! More wonderful advice :D

Thank you!

I'll write a nice personal note. I'll instruct my professor just so that my institution is in the loop. Then I'll drop off the card at the hospital.

Does that safe and fair? :)

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Specializes in ER/Trauma.
unless you know she is down on her luck ..she needs nothing from you except the ty note to her and the note to her advisor

trust me ..teachers don't need any more teacher gifts unless it is fresh cut flowers ...or perhaps chocolate if you actually know she loves chocolate

the written note is sooooooooooooooooo much more appreciated

Thanks for your input.

She isn't really my "instructor/teacher".

She isn't exactly my preceptor either.

Urk! How do I explain what she is?!! :uhoh21:

She's just the nurse who was 'guiding' me for barely two half days. :wink2:

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I'm glad you had a good experience in the OR with what sounds like an excellent preceptor. She certainly deserves a mention to her supervisors for a job well done:wink2:

How about a generalized "thank you" letter for the rest of the OR staff as well as your preceptor? Everyone does liked to be thanked, even if they were in the background. Surely they (I hope) contributed something to your learning experience?:wink2:

MsHB

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Hey guys

I'm a nursing student. Will graduate in May 2006.

I just had my OR clinical rotation two weeks ago.

The nurse I had in charge of me was just THE best. I'm not kidding - so kind, helpful, warm, gracious, accomodating - in short, FANTASTIC!

I mean, I reached quite late the 2nd day of the rotation (car trouble :rolleyes: ) and was quite stressed out because I thought I'd blown it. She didn't skip a beat - gave a hearty laugh, cracked a few jokes, put me at ease and instantly tried to find the next available patient so that I could make the most out of what time I had left.

So at the end of the rotation - I left with this big grin on my face. I'd learned TONS. I'd probably have stayed there all wekk if they'd let me! :roll I LOVED it SO much.

So anyway, I've been thinking "There's gotta be a way I can say "Thank You!" to this wonderful nurse". She was a great nurse and a good instructor too.

So I went right ahead and bought a thank you card from hallmark.

Would it be correct/right for me to give it to her? I plan on writing a little note thanking her and then dropping it off at reception desk to be delivered to her.

Any ideas ladies and gentlemen? :)

Thank You!

Write a note to her manager as well. It is good for her eval. There is nothing more important than thanking someone who is especially good. The acknowledgement (for me) is the most important thing we can do for other nurses.

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Specializes in ER/Trauma.
How about a generalized "thank you" letter for the rest of the OR staff as well as your preceptor? Everyone does liked to be thanked, even if they were in the background. Surely they (I hope) contributed something to your learning experience?:wink2:

MsHB

Hey! Neat idea! I feel do :imbar :imbar :imbar that I didn't include them in.

Come to think of it, there were pretty accomodating too :)

Okie - so any idea on how to expand this "thank you" session of mine :D

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Specializes in ER/Trauma.
Write a note to her manager as well. It is good for her eval. There is nothing more important than thanking someone who is especially good. The acknowledgement (for me) is the most important thing we can do for other nurses.
Ok,

So waaaaaaay too many people have tole me to write up an "eval" to her NM/Super.

I'm certainly going to look into that too now :D

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Specializes in Staff nurse.

...yes, a note to her NM will be on the nurse's "permanent record" :) AND look good for future yearly review. A card to anyone who has helped you thru the clinicals IS appreciated. After I did my nurse extern on nights, I gave 2 of the unit clerks a card and a goody bag (snacks) for all the help they were to me. One rotation we made platters of cookies for each unit we had clinicals in to thank the nurses and staff for their help. We are all working together for pt. care.

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I'd give it to her in person, perhaps in front of all her peers. That would be a great perk for her.

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Specializes in Public Health, DEI.
So I went right ahead and bought a thank you card from hallmark.

Would it be correct/right for me to give it to her? I plan on writing a little note thanking her and then dropping it off at reception desk to be delivered to her.

Whyever wouldn't it be? I'm sure she'd appreciate your kind words.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.

Good idea Roy. It's totally appropriate to give the nurse you worked with a thank you card and she would appreciate it.

Also send a card to the unit, post it on the bulletin board or give it to the manager, thanking them for the experience. That's always a nice gesture too.

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